A SHARED BIRTHDAY IN CASABLANCA

Africa » Morocco » Grand Casablanca » Casablanca
November 13th 2007

Published: November 13th 2007


BIRTHDAY BOYSBIRTHDAY BOYS
BIRTHDAY BOYS

ME WITH BRYAN
From Ceuta where the ferry dropped us off we made our way down towards the Moroccan border, Ceuta is a Spanish enclave in Africa, on the ferry lots of guardia civil from the mainland to give security to the Spanish king who happen to be there when we arrived, crossed into Morocco without a hitch took about couple hours then off to Tatouin where we stopped to shop for dinner. Set up tent at a bush camp,and after dinner laid out a mat and stargazed for a bit while drinking whiskey from the bottle, with Jamie,Bryan,Zoe, Dave and Chrissie, next day from there made our way to Chefchaouen, went food shopping first thing as our cook group is cooking, bought the freshest chicken ever, killed on the spot and feathers plucked by an automatic chicken plucker, cool! Went to a proper camp site above the city, showers were freezing cold but refreshing. Walked around the area for a bit then while people play frisbee we strarted dinner, me, Dave and Jo, everything went well on our first cooking. The next day most of us went to town and checked out the city, we stopped by a shop where Chrissie and Zoe befriended the owner and some including me bought some souvenir, we got quite q good discount we think, i bought a Jabala jumper thingo that makes me look like Obie Wan Canobie. Left camp and drove to a bush camp near the Roman ruins at Volubilis. As we set up camp Mark found a tiny scorpion under some rocks that made everyone wear their shoes., visited the Roman ruins at Volubilis the next day then got to Casablanca late the same day only to find the camp was closed down so we have to fight with traffic to search for another campsite and had dinner at McDonalds as it was late to cook for us, after setting up our tents we started drinking again and had another introduction as Annabel just joined us here how she found us I have not a clue. Before getting to the camp site we stopped at a supermarket on the outskirts of town and bought loads of booze, Bryan and me sharing a 24 beer cans of San Miguel which we polished off that same night, of course sharing a few with the others.Few people waited with me and Bryan til midnight to meet the day of our birth, this is the first time I have to celebrate my birthday with someone, we had a tent party, with me and Bry is Zoe, Jamie and Danielle,we literally trashed Zoe and Jamies tent we got all drunk and finally went to bed, the next day we went out to see the city of Casablanca decided to walk on the beach, people running, jogging, exercising, fishing, overall the people seems to be very athletic and takes care of their bodies very well.



WIKI INFO:

Ceuta is an autonomous city of Spain located on the Mediterranean, on the North African side of the Strait of Gibraltar, which separates it from the Spanish mainland. Ceuta, together with the other African autonomous city of Melilla and a number of Mediterranean islands, is claimed by Morocco. The area of Ceuta is approximately 28 km².

Ceuta is dominated by a hill called Monte Hacho, on which there is a fort occupied by the Spanish army. Monte Hacho is one of the possible locations for the southern Pillars of Hercules of Greek Legend, the other possibility being Jebel Musa.



CHEFCHAOUEN:

Chefchaouen (Arabic: ÔÝÔÇæä, Spanish: Xauen or Chauen) is a city in northwest Morocco. It is the chief town of the province of the same name.

Chefchaouen is situated in the Rif Mountains, just inland from Tangier and Tetouan. The city was founded in 1471, as a small fortress which still exists to this day, by Moorish exiles from Spain led by Moulay Ali Ben Moussa Ben Rached El Alami to fight the Portuguese invasions of northern Morocco.[1] It was known as one of the main concentrations of Moriscos and Jews who sought refuge in this mountainous city after the Spanish Reconquista in medieval times.[2] In 1920, the Spanish seized Chefchaouen to form part of Spanish Morocco. Spanish troops imprisoned Abd el-Krim in the kasbah in 1926 after defeating him with the help of the French force. Spain returned the city after the independence of Morocco in 1956.

Chefchaouen or Chaouen, as it is often called by Moroccans, is a popular tourist destination given its proximity to Tangier and the Spanish border. The name simply refers to the characteristic shapes of the mountain tops that tower over the town, that look like the two horns (chaoua) of a goat. "Chef Chaouen" should
CHEFCHAOUENCHEFCHAOUEN
CHEFCHAOUEN

CHICKEN PLUCKER IN THE MARKET
literally mean "look at the horns". Though there are few modern sights, its mountainous location provides a calm and relaxing atmosphere. There are allegedly over two hundred hotels in this tiny mountain village in order to host the summer swarm of European tourists. One distinction possessed by Chefchaouen is its blue-rinsed houses and buildings, a tradition that comes from the town's former Jewish population.

Chefchaouen is a popular shopping destination as well, as it offers many native handicrafts that are not available elsewhere in Morocco, such as wool garments and woven blankets. The goat cheese native to the area is also popular with tourists.

The countryside around it has a reputation for being a prolific source of marijuana, as the land is unsuitable for much else. The Chefchaouen region is one of the main producers of cannabis in Morocco. Hashish is subsequently sold all over town, but is mostly the domain of native Chaouenis.






GIL BRIONES
PHOTO CREDIT: ANDREW KERR TravelBlog: ... full info
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In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa, successive Moorish dynasties began to rule in Morocco. In the 16th century, the Sa'adi monarchy, particularly under Ahmad AL-MANSUR (1578-1603), repelled foreign invaders and inaugurat...more info

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B DAY TENT PARTYB DAY TENT PARTY
B DAY TENT PARTY

BRYAN,DANIELLE,JAMIE,DAVE


Comment on A SHARED BIRTHDAY IN CASABLANCA




Comments
Date: 25th November 2007

Far from Toledo
Hi Gilbert! Looks like your are having a super good time!!!!! Now I have two blogs to read....yours and my daughters'....she is keeping good track of Joe in India! Her blog is www.stormisees.blogspot.com if you want to check out their trip in your "spare" time!

From Blog: A SHARED BIRTHDAY IN CASABLANCA
Date: 2nd December 2007

Wow!
Hey Gil! Wow, you barely got back from Asia and now you have already set off on your journey around Africa. Have to say very impressive! Some great photos you have taken and it looks like you have a lively crowd, should be some fun. I will continue following your journey as you pursue south, can't believe you'll see charles in capetown, that will be sort of surreal i guess! Have fun. Keep posting. Jonny

From Blog: A SHARED BIRTHDAY IN CASABLANCA



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