Tea and Taxes

I love learning just how the British people view Americans & America. Three stories come to mind:

(1) I read a book (non fiction) about a British girl who moved to America at age 7 (or 9?) and when asked how she liked American, she proudly responded "well, I think it will be a great country when it grows up"

(2) This weekend I was at the Tower of London (more to come on my amazing weekend with Ashlyn later). We had a tour guide that explained to us "if only you guys had paid your taxes.... All this history could be yours"

(3) I had this online conversation with Michelle (see below). Background - I left me tea in the other room and she brought it back to me. (And yes, anyone who knows me is probably not surprised that I was talking and became absent minded and left my tea.)

Sweet Home Hotel

I think that you just truly feel at home living in a hotel the day that you shamelessly eat food off the carpet. (Don't "ew" at me! They probably vacuum this place more than you do your own house!)

Oh yes, and I cleared out all of the food in the fridge (do they say "fridge" in London? Ill have to notice sometime) so that I can use the baby "fridge" for my own stuff.

Summer coat

I posted a new profile picture today in Facebook. Yes, probably the lamest way to start a blog post, but stick with me. I posted a picture I took this weekend of myself in a coat, scarf, and sunglasses (yes! It was one of the oh, so, few sunny days I've had here!)

I was told from a girl I work with (Elif) said that its very "summery" since, you know, I'm wearing sunglasses. And I mean, definitely a more summer scarf since its not wool and covering my whole neck. I liked her comment. Yea, it is a summery pic for the changing of the weather! (You know, from cold and rainy to slightly less cold and rainy)

Then Memorial Day hit. And everyone is posting pictures that are tan, by the water, and in bathing suits. Well damn. 

Has my idea of a summery pic changed? Sunglasses, a slightly less warm coat, and a "summery scarf" does not a summer make.

Sunscreen in Texas is a necessity to keep from frying past the point of peeking. Sunscreen in London is to "prevent wrinkles" since there might be just a few rays of bad uv rays seeping through the clouds. I wear sunglasses to remember what they feel like. The closest to a tan that I might get this year is store bought.

Summery pic?! Ha. It's all part of your perspective.

Proper research at the proper time

When going on a trip, most people do their proper research (especially when headed to a third world country). I completely missed this memo. I mean, I did my proper research, only problem? I completed the research in a reactive manner. Once I was already sunburned, sick from the water, and randomly bleeding from the head. Perhaps this could be avoided by spending some quality time with google before the trip (and less on Facebook?!?)

I will also note that the random otterbox search was due to my pending question of if I could break out of a potentially sketchy cab using my otterbox case in the situation came to that. 

To avoid unnecessary additional posts I am also going to share some valuable tips from Iberian Air about how to exercise on a plane. Good to know... (See attached image)

Learn from my mistake. Research the hotels (bring toilet cleaner if needed), research safety, look into sanitation of a country and tips on preventative measures (maybe you won't eat fruit and salads and be on the lookout for tampered water bottles). Or? You can live life on the edge (or stupid/lazy) side and make this mistakes the hard way.

A seagull's paradise

Essaouira. The little sea town located two hours west of Marrakech (which I realize is a stupid comment since I literally had to have Nathan point out which country was Morocco on the Africa map WHILE on the trip, so why would I think you would know the actual location of Marrakech? ... And I know, lousy way to impress coworkers with my intelligence)

Essaouira is an old-style down with old-style fishing. You can see boats being pulled in by a group of 10 men, fish being divided up, sold, and cooked around the corner. Nathan walked through a dozen shops in a row that show you the catch of the day (most still alive) picked his fish, and had then grilled right there for lunch. Me as the vegetarian? Just tried to stomach it all (I did fine! Especially since I am overcoming a stomach bug.. Probably for drinking too much water? Or because I have a weak American stomach that needs to toughen up!)

The views are amazing, the simple way of life is humbling, and the beach? Well, I could listen to waves forever. In fact, I am as I write this now. I wish I could take more than pictures since it is impossible to capture the warmth from the sun ()3 brisk breeze, the crashing of the waves, and the white noise of French in the background. (Turns out people speak French in morocco... And I thought it was only in France! Again, my highschool Latin is really not helping me out much here. More so my charade skills - like pointing at the ocean to ask for water and acting out carbonation to explain that I don't want gas in my water.)

Marrakech, the DisneyLand of Morocco

It might have been because we had just come from fes (old, large Medina, non-touristy town) but the easy definition of Marrakech is truly the Disney of morocco (based on my vast one week experience and all of 4 cities thus far to compare it to)

Marrakech is how you picture Morocco. All the buildings are the same red color, modern pottery and tapestry shops, very fancy cacti gardens for the rich and famous, and an authentic hamman (bath house - but try to think of going to the bath when neither your nor the masseuse/salt scrub lady can speak the same language!) The hotels? Right out of sex and the city movie 2. (Not that I'm complaining, I nearly kissed the floor at the Starwood hotel as I entered back into civilization... Okay, it's not THAT clean to kiss... But still) the market was in a large square with the crowds and chaos you would expect. (I don't have any pictures of the market square since I had to leave my camera/phone at home to avoid it being stolen. I'm sure you can google it though!)

I will tell you though that my non-pasty (or as Nathan says "Casper white") skin and the morocco sun finally met. I actually look more like a human than an albino for the first time in months! (I will avoid those pictures too for fear of a lecture from my mom, the nurse. Yes, I wore sunscreen)

The Saharan Taxi

Micha, Nathan, and I took (as we were told) a Saharan Taxi. Aka a Camel ride. We were told that a camel is the best form of transportation across the desert because you give them water and food once and you are good to take them on your journey. People would literally ride them for 45 days. After about 15 minutes though, we had had enough... and only half way done.

The boys complained about their man parts - Nathan even sat cross legged for part of the journey (which I'm sure is completely against some safety regulation.. But then again, so is riding camels led by random Berbers in the desert. No safety video required to ride) and me? Well, I would say that it was the world's slowest taxi I had ever taken. And I've sat in a New York cab in time square during rush hour. I am pretty sure I could walk across the desert faster than the camels and they have two extra legs. It was a good test of patience though!

All in all, it was fun to ride a camel. I will have pictures to come of me in about a month when Nathan gets his camera cord for his computer (if any of his friends randomly read this, can you please send it? Thanks. I'm clearly lacking patience today) oh and we even saw baby camels!

Whiplash Mallory - Fes 180

I named this one whiplash Mallory because that was the name Nathan called me when he explained that he literally felt like he had whiplash as I went from miserable in Fes (see previous post) to loving it.

The reason? Abdullah. He was our guide today and showed us his love for the city. (And opened my eyes to the real Islam - which is not what we think of when we hear of things like the Taliban and Al queda. This man was open and accepting and share his peaceful religion - the side that keeps the holy city of Fes at nearly a zero percent crime rate... Okay rant over)

Abdullah to Mallory "Malry" and Nathan "Malry's brother" through the maze of the old city "Medina" of Fes. He was quite possibly one of the nicest old men I have met. We saw the tanneries, elementary schools, markets, weaving areas, rug stores, pottery and mosaic factories, mosques, and even the Jewish section (on an 8 hour tour that cost USD 25. I gave him an extra 10 because I literally felt guilty.) such an amazing day. Abdullah, who used to teach international law at the university, shared stories from his life growing up in the inner walls of Fes and of the past and present of the unique city.

Do I love our hotel? No way. But did I have the most amazing day in a hidden treasure, kept from modern culture? Absolutely!

7 hour train ride to Marrakech tomorrow (that is... If we don't miss our stop this time!)

Camping in Fes

Okay not really. But it almost feels that way.

Poor Nathan (my work colleague and current travel buddy, and "brother" to anyone who asks in morocco). I will fully admit that after 12 hours of not eating, missing our train station which cost is 3 additional hours of a train, not being able to use the train toilet because you would have to wade through what looked like ankle's level of pee (that smelled like it was there for a century), not being able to find the hotel through a random alleyway in Fes (you can see a picture below), and then when we find it realizing that wasn't exactly the nicest place ever.... I was probably not the most fun person to be around.

I would say I stayed in nicer hotels.... Like every hotel that I've ever stayed in ever (including hostels when studying abroad in college). Nathan says it "has character". I say that my really nice, yet old, hotel in Mayfair London has character. This hotel is.... Unique. The lobby is pretty and the staff is absolutely wonderful (although I question their laundry and bathroom cleaning skills). They couldn't be sweeter and even offered to lend us cash last night when we arrived since we had to find an ATM. And we got free breakfast here! (Another all carb Moroccan breakfast)

A good friend of mine, Virginia, is thinking of maybe taking her honeymoon here. Nathan and I keep debating the pros and cons of a honeymoon in morocco. I think we agree on "yes, if you want something completely out of the norm" but without skimping on hotels...

Today we have a tour with a local. Cultural experience? Here we come!

Good Night Africa

What is it like sleeping in Africa?

(1) Half way through washing your face to get ready for bed the lights go out. It's not raining or lightening. The power just randomly goes out for an indefinite period of time. Good thing I am traveling with an experience African traveller who has a "flashlight app". I fully understand the iPhone of "there's an app for that". (Thanks apple)

(2) The lights come back on and you are awaken suddenly to turn them off.

(3) There are people screaming outside in a different language and (unlike Dallas) you aren't about to go tell at them to keep it down

(3) Climate control isn't quite an option

(4) You think: "should I put on bug spray before bed just in case?"

(5) But.... You get to sleep in a cute little bed in a Moroccan style room and wake up to an amazing Moroccan style breakfast home cooked by the bed&breakfast staff.

Nothing like a good nap on the train ride to Fes!

Poverty with a mix of satellite tv

I am going to show you a close up of the little town on the hills from my previous blog post. I am sitting on the roof of my hotel (they have a seating area, I'm not just climbing random Moroccan buildings) and overlooking a decently impoverished Villiage. Impoverished, yet equip with satellite tv.

I noted the little dish ontop of small, old buildings. Nathan (my colleague who works in Africa) explained that tv is one of the most highly valued treasures in many African villages. Interesting. No door and yet tv.

I do believe that they appreciate a simplistic way of living here. And quite frankly the kids seem to be running around outside. It is just fascinating to see satellite dishes across the skyline of these old Moroccan homes.

What they forgot to teach me in grade school

I think I need to begin by adequately setting the scene.

I am going to Morocco (well, currently I am in morocco but that is just a spoiler alert and irrelevant to the story... But probably another blog post). I am meeting my coworker Nathan in the airport in Madrid and we are going to take the same flight to Tangier. Nathan had called me late the night before to let me know he might not be able to make it to Madrid and ultimately Morocco until 12 hours after me. Note - I don't even know the name of the first hotel we are staying in or if a girl can take a taxi by herself.

Flash forward to the airport in Madrid. I have no way to contact Nathan to see if he made it to Madrid or to get on my email for the hotel instructions unless I get Internet. I am in an airport where English is non existent, trying to find my gate, and desperately trying to get on the Internet to get my instructions.

The Internet? You have to pay. And yes, instructions are all in Spanish. I know things like "nombre" but I literally can figure out half of the other words to PAY for Internet. Turns out you have to set up a username and password. PASSWORD?!? That is one word that I did not know in Spanish. Enough trial and error and I figured it out.... But it is that type of useful vocabulary that they just didn't teach me in my 4th grade Spanish class.

I could bore you with a screenshot of my Internet log on page which is fully in Spanish... Or I can show you a picture of the beautiful scenery that I have been taking in for the last few hours. (I think you'd prefer the latter)

Oh, and I found Nathan - in case you were wondering.

(More blog posts to come from Morocco)