I forgot to mention the youth hostel I stayed in at Casablanca. It was also all in clay, with clay tones throughout. It was obviously built for summer with a single high roof over the whole complex. It was strange to sleep in a room with walls about 3 times as high as the breadth,… Continue reading Clay hotel
Category: Countries
Night Markets in Marakesh
I’ve just had dinner at the markets in the main square of Marakesh. I chose a chicken couscous, but without a guide I refrained from trying to eat it local style – with fingers. It was challenging enough to work out that the dish of chilli was for dipping the bread. I had wondered if… Continue reading Night Markets in Marakesh
Clay City
A few hours into the bus ride, we neared tall mountains that seemed to be snow right to their base. These were the Atlas mountains and I certainly hadn’t brought clothes for that climate. It’s now the desert or the sea. Near the base of the mountains sits a massive collection of clay buildings, mostly… Continue reading Clay City
Clay Villas
It’s going to be tough to keep up to date on this trip. I have little incentive to waste time in an internet cafe when the life outside is so vibrant. I met an Australian couple at breakfast this morning who were heading to Marakesh, which is as far as I’ve got with my plans.… Continue reading Clay Villas
Moroccan Whiskey
I met a Japanese couple on the train from the airport in Morocco who were just here for the day. This evening they catch a plane to Guinea where they’ll take a course in drumming (him) and dancing (her). We got ripped off by the taxi driver who wanted 50 dirhams ($10) for the trip… Continue reading Moroccan Whiskey
Divorced
Toulouse feels a bit like Brussels as you walk down narrow streets lined with shops to suddenly pop out into a large square. I’m not really in the mood to experience the country this time, though, as I’ve come to get divorced. The process began in about October with a couple of forms to sign,… Continue reading Divorced
Heading to Morocco
When I lived in Belgium, I was disappointed at the way every crime seemed to be blamed on the Moroccon immigrants. The gangs were always Moroccan, thefts were by Moroccons, shootings were done by Moroccons. I’m keen to see these people on their home turf. By Tuesday I’ll be in the country getting first hand… Continue reading Heading to Morocco
Melbourne Cup Origins
When all work at the office stopped just before 3pm and everyone gathered before the big screen to watch the Melbourne Cup, my new Scottish colleague complained that he didn’t get the cultural significance. It started a discussion between a few of us as to why the whole country stops to watch a horse race… Continue reading Melbourne Cup Origins
Long Shower
My Danish guest quit her volunteer job at Greenpeace but the expected replacement job never came through, so she’s spending her days at home. One day this week I came home to find her with a big grin. I asked her what she’d done to make her so relaxed. ‘I had a long shower,’ she… Continue reading Long Shower
History Vandals
Port Macquarie was apparently the fourth colony of whites in Australia, established in 1821. Some features of those early times remain and while they might be recent compared to the history of some cultures, there is little to compete with their age in Australia. I went to visit my parents there over the weekend and… Continue reading History Vandals