Yarn in Mellah (old Jewish quarters)...KECH!
Linda and Em, strolling through Mellah...very crowded, very fun!
Spice Market!
Marche Maroc - Go Peace Corps!
Sean and Dan at Marche Maroc...the new mohawk is hard to see, but it is there!
Jalaba bead jewellery (Jalabas are the traditional caftans that Muslims wear).
All these items are hand carved from FALLEN boxwood, juniper and oak branches/trees...all the proceeds go to planting new trees (they just did a planting in March). Yeah! Happy Earth Day!
Hand-woven, wool carpets.
Jalaba fabric; hand spun wool. The warp is silk...VERY NICE, VERY EXPENSIVE!
Paper made from trash...LOVE IT!
So cute!
Djemaa L fnaa...the famous Marrakech square - CRAZY at night...monkeys, snake charmers, you name it!
Lunch at Earth Cafe (Vegan/Vegaterian)...SOOOOO good! Highly recommend...although, you need a guide to find it (good thing you know one - me!)!!!Ahhhhhh Marrakech…what a wild and crazy city! Last week Sean and I had the pleasure of participating in "Marche Maroc", a craft fair hosted by Peace Corps' Small Business Development volunteers and partially funded by USaid, which was held in the fabulous city of Marrakech. HELLO ICE CREAM and the magical wonders of modern food establishments…well, and, the craft fair was pretty great too…but let's get down to the nitty-gritty! Can you say sushi!?! Pizza!?! Shwarma!?! (okay, that one much be a little trickier, but it is ohhh, so good!). Well, we worked, walked, said "la" about a hundred times (be prepared to be hassled and treated like a tourist in Kech, even if you speak, some, of the language), and had ice cream everyday of our stay (I am not going to say how many dayS we were there J)!
The craft fair was comprised of artisans from all over the country; each artisan group is currently working with one of the many SBD volunteers and handmade/created all the items that were for sale at the fair. Products range from Argan Oil, hand-picked dried herbs, to elaborate carpets, to hand woven jalaba fabric (luscious, hand-spun wool)…there was even jalaba bead jewelry and dolls wearing traditional jalaba outfits (so cute! – I am putting in an order!)…take a look at the pics, and see what you like…I know people!
On a side note…
It is funny how quickly you adapt…example:
We arrive at our hotel (Peace Corps standard – maybe half a star?); I ask to look at our room (I suggest always doing this before handing over any money or information)…I go up two flights of stairs, unevenly spaced, not even enough head room to stand up, see the bathroom at the top of the stairs – GOOD! I think, I won't have to go down stairs to pee! – proceed to room 28 – NICE, yes, a lock that works (no door handle, just a lock, but a working lock!), I push open the door…OUR VERY OWN SINK? AND IT WORKS! SWEET!...I take a good look around (this takes about 2.5 seconds because or room is basically a full size bed and a SINK!..there is room enough for me to walk next to ONE side of the bed – turning side ways!)…okay, I don't see any bugs in the bed…check…YES, this place is good…ants on the floor, okay, I can deal, but NO ANTS IN THE BED…PERFECT, we'll take it!!! OH, but wait…there is even a shower…granted is on the first floor (technically floor zero, since we are on the second, which is actually the third…but whatever…). BONUS. Sign us up!
Later on during the weekend another volunteer and I were talking about how good the hotel was…and she said "…yeah, and there weren't even any bugs in the bed!"…ahhhhh…my point exactly!
Well…we hope you all are planning on visiting sometime in the future…don't worry…we won't expect you to adapt too quickly J!
Love and Peace to all! Have a wonderful Earth Day!
~em
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