Morocco Remembered

Before more time passes I must record my visit to Marrakech. Arrived in Casablanca early morning, then flight to Marrakech was three hours late so I missed the hotel pick-up and my great romantic idea of someone holding a sign for me at arrivals. Took a pre-paid taxi into town and the driver with the help of his mobil phone found way to Riad Balkisse in the Medina, the old part of the city. Had to go down walking alley to find door that opened into beautiful tiled courtyard with fountain running. My bed was waiting with spread folded back like a fan and rose petals scattered across the pillows and in the large tiled shower. It turned out that I arrived on a major Muslem holiday so there was cooking in the streets and cartloads of sheep carcass and hides being pulled by man and beast. I very consciously noted my way out of the alleys and back streets so I was able to find my way back to the hotel from the central square and the souks (marketplace). I bought myself a wonderful little, silver Berber hand to bring good luck and hung it on my Puerto Rican coqui necklace, and I bought a gorgeous scarf - kind of maroon, two toned with bit of gold thread. Arabic writing is so beautiful it is hard to believe it says something specific. All the decorative tiles are amazing. I visited the Bahia Palace twice as it was incredible. The art museum was closed for the holiday which went on for days. Everyone told me things were very "quiet" because of the holiday, but there was plenty it seemed to me with many shops open, street performances with music, cobras, monkeys and boxing; and lots of hustlers wanting to sell something, guide me somewhere, or just asking for money. I was so happy to  have Riad Balkisse to retreat to and recoupe. I had to find a power adapter to recharge my tablet, it cost just couple of dollars. In India I had to buy a different kind, it cost about four dollars. Then when I got to Australia and had to buy another, it was $26. But the high cost of everything in Australia is another story. My short stay in Morocco was magical, the country is worth a trip in itself, lots to see and lovely people to meet. The countryside reminded me of the southern California I knew as a child. I flew out on Royal Air Morac with a woman captain. I saw her as I was boarding and she gave me a beautiful smile, then as we started her voice came over the loudspeaker, "This is your captain." In three different languages.