Day 13 - Welcome to the Donkey Show

Ok, very quickly an update.

We arrived in Agadir yesterday. Since my last entry we left Marrakesh and traveled by bus through the Atlas mountains to Ouarzazate (everybody try to pronounce that 5 times slowly). This is the town where they have filmed Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, Alexander the Great and Kingdom of Heaven. Very interesting place. We actually quite a efw characters here one old looking hippy dude that told us a couple of stories, one about how he almost met Bob Dylan but was so stoned he didnùt recognize him... and then he asked us if we wanted to be in a movoe in October, we decline because we will already be in Egypt.

Two things to consider though to imagine our recent experiences, it is Ramadan AND almost immediately after my last entry I got pretty sick. No worries, I am completely recovered and will spare you the details. Lets just say that dehydration in the desert during a religious month of fasting wasnt the ideal situation but afterall, this is what I signed up for and I am glad it is now out of the way. On to better things...

From Ouarzazate, we traveled east farther into the desert to see first the Gorge of Dades and then to Tinehir where I believe a plate of spaghetti and cold tomato sauce saved my life ( yes, I am being dramatic).

From Tinehir we drove to the Todra Gorge which was amazing. It was the first day I was feeling better (Friday) and through the Gorge, between its very high, steep walls was the most perfect river with very clear water. Rue and I couldnt help getting in and putting our new water sneakers to their first test... they were awesome. Near the river here was a very cute small donkey and I got close to him to take a picture and I was talking to him, you know like baby talk and then when I started walking away he started screaming and hollerin... then crying. Rue said he fell in love with me... This is my second love affair with a donkey... well with actual donkeys, as many of you know there have been many jackasses!

After this we headed back to Ouarzazate to meet our host for the evening but right before we got into the town we noticed off the very desolate road that there was some fancy houses built around a very beautiful lake, so we pulled in.

It was actually quite strange, it was like a ghost town that had been abandoned, but they were mansions! We pretty much had the place to ourselves except for some fishermen and a super cute pregnant couple with a motorbike enjoying the views as well. From there we watched the sunset and then proceeded watching the sky burst with colors all the way back to town.

Back in town we were invited into a shop for tea and of course later presented with mountains and mountains of silver jewelry from the desert. the shop keeper stressed NOT BERBER, desert! His kitty fell asleep wedged between my thigh and practically in my purse... I think she also wanted some Dirham (money). This man kept asking Rue how many camels he he would take in exchange for me... it was pretty funny.

Our host for the night was a musician that worked at the Hotel Perl de Sud and we sat by the fancy pool while he finished his shift, dedicating many songs to us, lots of classic rock and of course Bob Marley.

Our hosts have been super hospitable not only do they offer us a place to sleep but they over feed us even though they themselves are fasting.

On Saturday we got on the bus again and came to Agadir. Of course when we arrived it was exactly 7pm, when the sun sets and this is the signal for the end of the day s fast. The streets were empty, we could literally walk right down the middle of the highway and of course the bus station was not on our map.

We finally found a teleboutique where we could get change to call our next host. He was immediate in coming to meet us, his name is Hucine and he is a phenomenal guitarist. We are with him now and have also spent time with his brother Brahim and their friend Samir. They are a trip. They cook and sing and dance for us. We are having a blast. They are waiting for me now to finish so we can go to the cafe and meet some other friends sooooo.... I will write again soon and it wonùt be so sloppy, hopefully.

much love and peace
Yazmin

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