Morocco and People
Well, I made it to Morocco, and besides all the letters being in the wrong place on the keyboard, its going ok.
Fortunately for me, “Internet” is spelled Internet in every language, even arabic.
Over the last 2 days, I have spent 20 hours on trains, 8 hours waiting at stations, and 4 hours on a ferry. Needless to say, when I finally got to the hostel here in Casablanca, I was happy for a place to sleep.
Ive come to realize that the main point of my journey is turning out to be about the “people”. I’ve met tons of people now, all with different reasons for their trips… some for partying, some for break, some for the sites, and some to find themselves. I met this one guy from my hostel here who has been travelling for 3 years all around the world. He went home for the first time in January, and started right back out 2 weeks ago. His photo album contains some of the most amazing pictures of places most humans will never see. Tibet, tribes in Africa, Mountains of South America, and soon his pictures from this trip into western Africa.
There seem to be alot of people here looking for hiking, trekking, and seeing the countryside. Back in barcelona, people were looking for the excitement of the city and some, for the partying. Me, I’ve decided that I’ve come for the urban people. Everyone is a little bit the same and a whole lot different from everyone else, and this trip of mine will hopefully let me see alot of that.
So I’m leaving the countrysides to my views out of the trains, and to the people who like to trek with their cameras… Me, I’ll walk around a city any day, eat somewhere they don’t speak english, and try to absorb whatever I can.
On the train down to Algeciras, I met a guy planning to take the ferry to Morroco and go hiking in the mountains. His idea was to go somewhere far away and “find himself”. It seemed like a respectable goal, and since we were travelling in the same direction, we figured we’d stay together.
I found out why I went on this trip alone… There are some things that are much better done in groups, others alone, and still others with people who are at least somewhat sensitive to the ways of the people around you.
This guy appeared to be the perfect example of a witless gullible American come to use the country he was entering for his own amusement.
An Example: Here in Morocco, in the cities, they speak French and Arabic. French is the language of the cities because it was the old official language of the French Occupation. I decided to forgo the french and try to pick up some basic arabic… what a good idea. He on the other hand said “nah Ill just learn french”
Note to All: when given the choice of learning the language of the oppressors or the language of the people, learn the language of the people.
In the end when I greated the man at the restaurant and ordered my food I received my meal first and for 3 dirhams (30 cents) less than my companion who ordered before me but greated them in french.
Seriously, I am surprised this guy hasn’t been swindled or robbed yet with the way he simply agrees with every hustler on the street and every fake “guide” who approaches him… After the 3rd time of saving him and the second time of following him into a shady unofficial taxi which charged us twice as much as it should have, I told him I was going my own way and wished him luck on his journeys in the mountains… if he survives.
I am getting on my plane to the UK (via brussels) tomorrow morning. Part of me is sad that I cant see more of morocco, but the other part is looking forward to a real bed, hot water, and a place to do my laundry. It will be a kind of recharging before heading off to Russia for a week on a train.
March 24th, 2005 at 9:46 am
If you are following this website and are wondering whether Mike fell off the edge of the world (I like to keep an open mind about these things), You may be relieved to know that we heard from him on the 22nd, several days after he arrived safely in England.