Waka Waka

Hello everyone!!!

I am sorry I haven't written this weekend! I was away for the weekend in Seville, Spain (a beautiful city in the South) for about a day and then I was in Morocco, AFRICA for the rest of the weekend!! Read below for more!

After about 5 hours of traveling from Seville via bus and ferry we (myself and a few friends from BC in two tour buses filled with other college students studying in Spain) arrived in Tangiers (in Northern Morocco). We had a walking tour throughout the city through the souks (markets filled with spices, clothes, food, literally everything). The souks were so vibrant and filled with tons of people just hanging out and shopping. We got a lot of stares, which I guess is expected when you are traveling with so many young American students!

This is a sign from Tangiers- I have no idea what it means but I did pick up a few Arabic words while I was in Morocco. Waha= okay; La=no; Shukran= Thank you; Salam= Hello - It is not much but surprisingly mostly everyone I spoke to spoke either French, Spanish or English. And many of the signs in Morocco were in both French and Arabic.

Morocco is known for its spices, herbs and of course its mint tea - delicious!!! It was as if they used sugar water and just added a bunch of tea leaves, I am going to try this out with my mint from my mint garden when I get back home in August. Well anyways, we had a tour at the spice store and the sellers there explained to us different spices and herbs. Really interesting. There was even an herb for anti-snoring haha

Moroccan carpets!! We also got a tour of a carpet store and they explained to us different types of carpets made out of different fabrics and decorated so beautifully. This photo is of the carpet I would purchase if I had the space in my suitcase and my own home to put it in. One day I will come back for it.

In Chefchaouen, Morocco - everything was blue and white - exquisite. This was where many Jews and Moriscos came to sought refuge after the Spanish Reconquista. The city had canals of water running through it, markets everywhere and was gorgeous.

I wasn't kidding about the blue.

There I am riding a camel! And behind me is the Atlantic Ocean!! It was as if I was close to home, haha just on the other side of the ocean.

Hercules Cave in Tangier -- the legend goes that Hercules used to reside in these caves and it is believed that Hercules founded Tangiers and made the Straits of Gibraltar with one blow from his sword. Please also note the shape of the opening: it is the shape of the African continent.

Food; no we did not eat with our hands, but we did have couscous and meals with wonderful smells of spices and Africa.

What a great great weekend! I saw so much and learned a ton! I want to go back! Will write back soon!