A good week in Morocco...

We have now been traveling in Morocco for more than 7 days, time for a short interim review.

It's very green here, which I didn't expect, because Andalusia on the other side of the Mediterranean seems barren compared to the places we've seen so far in Morocco. BUT there are reservoirs and rivers here, which are also there in Spain, but apparently there are also wetter winters here. We haven't experienced this so far, it hasn't even drizzled, which of course can change at any time.

We currently always wake up to a clear starry sky, because the sun rises later here than in Bavaria. The muezzin then welcomes the first rays of sunshine, but that is moderate here, it is tradition and part of it. Sometimes we don't have any problems for a short walk, sometimes it's just the same way back and forth. It is important to note that most of the animals here are not kept back by a fence; often the fences do not exist or no longer exist. Chickens, guinea fowls, sheep and goats are constantly walking in front of your nose, although the latter usually have a shepherd with them. In the meantime, our black people are becoming quite relaxed and things are moving forward.

There are animals here that I don't know from home, because today in Volubilis we saw several crested larks, and there was even a stork's nest on one of the pillars. There were already a lot of wintering storks in Spain, we initially saw quite a few here, but now there are fewer again.

Driving in Morocco means being prepared for cyclists, donkeys, riders, shepherds with sheep and goats, tuk-tuks and of course lots of pedestrians; some of them wait on the street and hope for a taxi. This always gives us funny moments, because the locals equate a black bus with a taxi, whether I'm towing our caravan or not... They wave and then are sometimes disappointed, some then wave with a laugh.

That brings us to the people. Who doesn't have a lot of prejudices in their head: they want to sell something, they always just want tips, they are misogynistic, they... I don't even want to continue the list because I can't confirm these prejudices.

The people here are friendly, open-minded and always helpful. Of course there is also the nice man who sells knitwear as well as bread and then tells you that his mother, who is almost 100 years old, made everything. (It could be, I know that?) But so far this has been the exception.

In Chefchaoen, no shopkeeper was angry if you showed interest but then the right thing wasn't there. In the same town, I experienced a leather goods manufacturer gluing my ancient leather bag so that the scraps wouldn't stick out! That was surprising and really warm, I just didn't expect it. Of course I bought a bag from him beforehand, but he didn't have to do that.

There are the parking lot attendants here, there are the market barkers, restaurant hustlers, no matter what I call them, they are all just doing their job and completely understand LA SHUKRAN. You can say no thank you nicely and that usually takes care of it.

We ate three times and were really pleasantly surprised each time. Even in a café in Quezzane they quickly put another dish on our plate, even though the establishment otherwise only sells tea and coffee. Moroccans drink the latter with ATTENTION mint syrup! I don't drink coffee, I doubt Christian will ever try it. I think mint tea is brilliant, but you shouldn't order too much sugar here, the café owner usually understands when you point that out to him, otherwise it comes across as really sweet.

Then I should say something about the market as I have experienced it so far. What I know from Egypt is similar here. There are stalls that sell almost exactly the same thing, they are right next to each other, the barkers are doing their job, BUT here I wasn't having dates thrown at me, I was just able to walk.

We then bought dates for me, as well as lots of fruit and vegetables, which of course should be well washed, peeled if necessary and cooked well as vegetables, but this is due to the water supply.

I'm still surprised when half the calves hang there or the chickens are slaughtered live, but that's just the meat cycle. If I eat meat, I should also know where, how and what. It wouldn't have been any different in Germany 50 years ago if you bought a fresh chicken at the farmers' market. There are now also refrigerated counters that I don't remember finding in Egypt. However, it should be noted that all meat must be cooked perfectly, no matter where I buy it.

So far, Christian and I haven't dared to buy meat in the market, so let's see if that still happens.