Here is some fun info about Moroccan Men:

None of the men in these photos have children why, because they are not married.

The culture here breeds Marriage.

They are not about kicking it, they are about settling down.All that living together for 5+ years with children and no sign of a wedding ring… NOT HERE!!

So, if you know you are a good woman and don’t have time for the games I suggest you come to Morocco and you’ll be hitched in no time…

                                  bachelor #1

 

 

                               bachelor # 2

 

 

                                 bachelor # 3

 

 

                                  bachelor # 4

 

 

                                           bachelor # 5

 

 

 bachelor # 6

 

 

 

 bachelor # 7

 

 

                                         bachelor # 8

 

 

bachelor # 9

         

We are having a wonderful time; yesterday we went shopping for transportation.  Pretty much all of the cars to rent here are manual (I can’t drive a stick shift), then they have mopeds; me on a motorcycle with the girls, not happening.  So that leaves with the choice of horse, donkey, or camel. So after hours of test riding, we finally made a decision.

Meet Jack, our new means of transportation. So today I am shopping for a compass, because tomorrow we head north.

        A sunset like this can only mean one thing.....That i am always blessed!!!!

 

                After a super stressful evening i was delighted to wake up to this

 

 

 

after riding on the bus for about 2 hours, the driver stopped here. my first thought was, all man is this anywhere?? then i heard some say rest stop.....

 

                                 this is anywhere... absolutely beautiful

I got up this morning and went to the CTM Bus Station, asked the ticket agent “what time is the next bus leaving” she said “where do you want to go?”  “Any where” I told her, and with a really strange look she said the bus leaving for; some place I can’t pronounce pulls out in 30 min. I told her “give me 3 tickets there”. And our journey begins……

 Okay, so for my family please read the whole story before you start Freaking out.  So our mysterious bus ride to anywhere, took us to the coast, a little town called Essaouira. We get off the bus and a swarm of people came around us offing to take us to hotels, Riads and apartments for rent, then they offered to take us. They have people here that push your bags in a wheel barrel to the hotel while you walk beside. The girls thought it would be fun, so we pick a Riad from one of the many brochures that were being waved in our faces and we rented a wheel barrel. They girls got in with the bags and this guy did not speak English starting pushing them. I was really impressed…. So we are walking along and in the distance I could see a large body of water in the street, I thought maybe it had been raining allot before we got here. From distance it seemed shallow. I was walking beside the guy and the girls then he bares to the left to get around the water, but it was so muddy that I bared to the right to get on the side walk. The more he walked pushing the girls the deeper the water got. He got a little stuck in the middle of this big body of water with my girls, I was almost freaked out but I maintained my cool. He then backed up and pulled the wheel barrel out of the water and then went up a ramp to the left. I was on the other side of the water. I ran up a little further to where it is not so much water and tried to cut across to meet up with them but it is blocked off by construction. I could still see him but he is really far away by now.  I did not want him to get out of my sight so I lifted up my skirt and jumped into the Large body of water and tried to run threw it, but it was to slimy and slippery to run. All the people around started clapping and screaming “Yeah African Mama Mama” OMG!!!!! Really People!!!!. I was not even looking down because I did not want him to leave my sight. So I made it through the water with god knows what all over legs and feet.  My sandals broke in the water so now I’m on the ground with my bare feet and my sandals still around my ankles. The guy turns right so I started running but it was glass all over the ground. So it was more like hopping really fast. I turned the corner and I could see him again, then he turns right again. Now I am all the way freaked out. My heart is beating out of my chest; all I could think about were these emails I have been receiving about Child Trafficking. My stomach was flipping all over the place. Then I saw him again, he is still at a distance so I’m trying to run/hop faster to get to him. I stepped in something mushy so I look down (yup it was donkey doo doo…… But when I look up I don’t see him. More thoughts of Child trafficking are filling my mind, at this point I am ready to just start screaming but I didn’t, I just kept going forward (With poop all over my feet )in the direction I saw him last. When I got closer I saw him standing still and looking around. When I finally got to him he says in English “Where did you go? I was looking for you..” I was panting, sweating, shoes all tore up, Shit  and glass stuck to my feet, looking all the way crazy. I could not even say anything, I was so relived. I followed him very closely the rest of the way to the Riad. As soon as we got there I ran to my room and immediately washed my bloody/Shity feet and sat on the toilet.  I was thankful for two reasons (1) because my children were safe and sound (2) I had not seen a toilet in a week.  (For the last week it has been African style only) What is it, about being in scary situations that makes people have to use the bathroom???? Lol

Okay so here is my request from all the readers, I love you and I know you only want what’s best for me and the girls, but please for the love of god, DO NOT EAMIL ME ANY SAD OR SCARY STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE LOSING THEIR CHILDREN WHILE TRAVELING!!!!!!!!!!! IF YOU FEEL WORRIED ABOUT US, THEN PRAY FOR US! I LOVE AND WELCOME PRAYER!! Thank you sooooooo much.

P.S. When I promised to spice it up and take you on an adventure, this is not what I had in mind.  I was thinking more like trying new food and riding Camels…lol

All is well that ends well. I wanted to go out and look around but that was too much I got to go to sleep!!!!   

SO OUR SUPER ADVENTURE BEGINS TOMORROW 10-6-2012. I WILL GO TO THE BUS STATION AND PICK A RANDOM PLACE TO START AND WE’LL SEE WHERE THE GIRLS AND I END UP…. THIS IS SO EXCITING!!!!!

Helpful tips when in Africa/Morocco

My daughters had coke a cola for the first time today.  I was not a happy camperL When being hosted in Morocco it is an insult to tell the host no. We ran out of juice and she did not want the children to be thirsty.  They were like wow!! We never tasted this before. So here are a couple helpful tips when eating in Morocco.  It is better to be hosted that to stay in a hotel; you will learn the culture faster and you will eat much better. Every meal is well balanced with veggies, meat, starch, fruit and tea. If you have any allergies it is best to let the person in the house that speaks English know and they will inform the host. (Most likely your host will not speak English) Try not to have more then 3, try not to be a Booshie American.  The host will go out of her way to make things you like. It is best to like everything and keep smiling.  Every day in Morocco the family eats together. Everything shuts down for 2 hours during the day and the children and husbands come home to eat and nap before going back to school and work. When at the table timing is key;, it is respectful to try a little everything. Find the item that you like the most, because every time it is low she will keep adding more and insisting that you eat up. Your host has been working very hard all-day in the kitchen to prepare your meal, you don’t want to insult her. Now getting up from the table is very tricky. If you get up first she will think that you did not like the food and are not enjoying the company. If you try to get up last she will want your company and will keep putting more food on your plate. (I learned this that hard way) The best thing is to eat kind of fast at the beginning and then slow down at your second and third serving (it is customary to have more than one serving of food). Then watch the person next to you or across from you and try to time yourself so when they get up, you can get up. And keep smiling.  The Host will not let you wash dishes, but try to help by offering to wipe the table or sweep the floor, most likely she will say no and insist that you go rest, but keep trying to help she will appreciate it.

Okay so let’s back up a bit... Maheeyah went to school on Monday, I wish I could say it was wonderful, but it was exactly like wonderful but different. The children were so excited and in awe of her hair and personality, that a soon as we walked in they all ran up to her at once and started touching her clothes and hair. (Here is a tid bit of info about Maheeyah, she forbids people to come into her space without being invited, and she does not allow anyone to touch her without her permission. ) she was outraged and mad as hell… So that was pretty much it. She kept her face tight and her arms balled up the whole time. When she was at her desk the child next to her tried to reach out and touch her hair, Maheeyah snapped her head around and growled at the little girl sending the poor child into tears…. Yeah today was less than perfect! Where was Baby Jesus when I needed him?? lol

Marakech is a wonderful town, if you come from America but don’t want to give up any of your American habits... There is rap music blasting everywhere; and even KFC, Pizza Hutt, and McDonalds have made their way to Africa. Most of the homes have Microwaves; It is pretty much the west just with a lot of donkeys. For all of you who know me, know that just will not due, especially the RAP music. OMG!!!I think I’ve heard more rap in the last 3 days than I’ve heard all year. So I got to thinking, maybe Marakech is not really the place for me. I was not expecting America to follow me to Africa. So this is what I’m going to do, we are going to hold off on the schooling for now, and I am going to Backpack across Morocco. I am on the search for the perfect Morocco; the Morocco that has little to no influence by the west. Does it exist?? I don’t know, but I would love for you to go with me while the girls and I travel by foot, bus, train, camel, horse, and donkey. Yes, I said Donkey.  I promised the readers and my girls an adventure and that’s what you’ll get. So get ready, stay tune, we pull out in 3days...

 

International looks good on me...lol.. I am In the hallway of the hotel in Istanbul.

 

 

 

I’m 3,598 miles away from you and still can’t get you off my mind. I guess there’s nothing left to say but…..

 

Nana and Maheeyah having some fun in the sun

If you are ever in Rabat Morocco, you have to stay at Riad Dar Alia, they are so sweet and will make you feel at home. You are going to want that after traveling 16hours..