Oops I forgot to title the last entry. I always write the whole entry, then decide what the most appropriate title is. Sometimes I get a little overzealous about posting and forget the title.
On a more important note, I am now in Portugal at the Oasis youth hostel. And yes, I have free internet. Score.
They actually had no record of any reservation from the Sevilla Oasis, which was an exceptionally good result, because I knew that if they couldn't find my reservation and I told them that I actually did not need a room since I am taking the bus tonight, I really only need a place to leave my things, etc. , that they would tell me I could hang out for free. That is exactly what happened, with free internet, free waffles and chocolate spread, and clean bathrooms. They even have a really nice living room with lots of couches. Who needs a room anyway?
I did not sleep at all on the overnight bus from Sevilla because even the two seats that I was occupying did not afford me enough space to stretch out comfortably. Luckily, I met two other backpackers traveling alone that don't speak Portuguese, and we all got to hang out together at the Portugal bus station at 5am. We left at midnight and it was supposed to be a 7 hour or 7 and a half hour trip, but there is a one hour time change and it was only a six hour trip. So we hung out and tried to sleep at the bus station until the metro opened at 6:30 and then we headed into town in search of a hostel. I did my usual good job of planning and didn't bother to check and see if the Oasis in Portugal was in the guidebook, but rather assumed that it was since the ones in Granada and Sevilla both were. This one wasn't, of course. So I had no contact information and no idea where it was. All I knew is that it existed. That's okay, the two guys that I was with didn't even have a guidebook, let alone a reservation. And I thought I was bad. Say it with me people.......LONELY PLANET. Invest.
Anyway, we found our way to some breakfast and then hung out outside a tourist office until it opened at 9. The other two found a place to stay and they gave me directions to Oasis, where I am currently hanging out for free. I am seriously considering spending my day in Portugal sleeping and maybe sitting by the water. Any more walking around is out of the question, especially with the blisters and lack of sleep.
I am leaving at 6 or 7 anyway to go catch a bus to Madrid, so I think nap time on one of those couches is sounding reallly good........
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Friday, August 31, 2007
Okay, well there is no one waiting for the internet so this entry will be a little longer maybe. Katie has correctly informed me that Oasis is the best youth hostel of all time, and I have enjoyed the rooftop swimming pool, chocolate spread for breakfast, clean beds, and a tapas tour with a free flamenco show last night. I highly recommend it. They even made a reservation for me at the Lisbon Oasis by means of IM. You know you are in a youth hostel when reservations are made by college students using IM. When the guy told me it was all set and I said, "score", he was extremely amused...and promptly typed that to the person he was IMing. I laughed. I have no idea where he was from.
Oh yeah. Sevilla. I love Sevilla. The tapas are incredible. The weather was great, if a bit hot, and the city is like one postcard after another. I touristed all day and saw all the major landmarks, most importantly the Alcaza and the Cathedral. I took a bunch of pictures of the place in the Cathedral that Christopher Colombus is supposedly buried. I did a little shopping and bought one clean sundress so that I don't have to wear dirty travelling clothes to see my friends in London. They have all been in civilization for a while now so I don't want to embarass myself too much. I figure clean clothes will do. I doubt the cleanliness will get much beyond that, as I have an overnight bus both tonight and tomorrow. So much for sleeping and showering. Sorry guys.
I am getting quite excited to get home, to the point that I don't even care that much about Portugal. I have to spend the day somehow, though, so I may as well make use of it and do some sightseeing. Then I hop a bus to Madrid tomorrow night at nine, I get into Madrid on Sunday morning, and I am going to chill out at the airport all day. I considered taking a day trip on Sunday to El Escorial or to Toledo, but I don't have a lot of money and I don't want to risk missing my flight. Besides, hanging out at airports and bus stations for hours on end is ridiculous amounts of fun.
Oh yeah. Sevilla. I love Sevilla. The tapas are incredible. The weather was great, if a bit hot, and the city is like one postcard after another. I touristed all day and saw all the major landmarks, most importantly the Alcaza and the Cathedral. I took a bunch of pictures of the place in the Cathedral that Christopher Colombus is supposedly buried. I did a little shopping and bought one clean sundress so that I don't have to wear dirty travelling clothes to see my friends in London. They have all been in civilization for a while now so I don't want to embarass myself too much. I figure clean clothes will do. I doubt the cleanliness will get much beyond that, as I have an overnight bus both tonight and tomorrow. So much for sleeping and showering. Sorry guys.
I am getting quite excited to get home, to the point that I don't even care that much about Portugal. I have to spend the day somehow, though, so I may as well make use of it and do some sightseeing. Then I hop a bus to Madrid tomorrow night at nine, I get into Madrid on Sunday morning, and I am going to chill out at the airport all day. I considered taking a day trip on Sunday to El Escorial or to Toledo, but I don't have a lot of money and I don't want to risk missing my flight. Besides, hanging out at airports and bus stations for hours on end is ridiculous amounts of fun.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Thai, anyone?
Yeah, so the blogger page is for some unknown reason in Thai. I had to guess from memory which buttons to click to do this entry. I am in Sevilla right now, on my way after Granada and Cordoba. In Granada I spent the whole morning at the Alhambra, because, well duh, it's the Alhambra. I did some other sightseeing in the afternoon and then took an evening bus to Cordoba, where I got quite frustrated trying to find a hotel. What's that? I should have planned better and booked ahead? Nonsense. All those damn people should have stayed somewhere else. Anyway, I ended up having to pay 30 Euros for a double room with a private bath...the actual price was 38 but apparently bargaining works here too.....after I took my bubbke bath I decided it was worth every Euro!
Sunday, August 26, 2007
I decided to just pay for two hours at the internet cafe since there was no way to finish the blog and read all my emails in one. Now I have twenty minutes left, so I am going to write my last Morocco entry, the top ten things I will miss and the top ten things I will not miss.
THE TOP TEN THINGS I WILL MISS ABOUT MOROCCO:
10. Ca va, la gazelle? Hell nooooooooooo. ca va pas. You are driving me crazy, and besides...I am not a bird.
9. Not being able to walk around by myself at night.
8. Dressing for winter in the middle of summer in Africa. There is a limit to my modesty, and this is well beyond it!
7. Living next to Hash corner, and trying.....unsuccessfully.......to avoid stepping on the hash.
6. Lugging three months worth of luggage across two continents by myself.
5. Bus stations, taxis, and hotels, oh my!
4. Disrespectful guys. I know, this is the second time this has made the list. It deserves at least that for the amount we put up with.
3. Getting yelled at for inviting Pete over to study. After I had permission.
2. HRUBESSSSSSSSSSSSSS.
1. People wondering what you are up to if you walk, talk, or basically have any contact whatsoever with a guy.
THE TOP TEN THINGS I WILL MISS ABOUT MOROCCO:
10. Saying En shallah...God Willing.... for everything, as though my decision to eat chicken tonight is truly dependent on God willing it to happen.
9. Sleeping on the terrace of hotels.
8. Teaching country music to the students, and the excitement when I copied CDs for them.
7. Watermelon for dessert.
6. 3 o clock at Hash corner. Everytime 3 o clock rolls around now I wonder why I am not shopping and running random errands with the girls.
5. Doing impressions of Saad. I might do them anyway.
4. The kasbah in Rabat. Even though we were not always the most responsible visitors.
3. The souqs. Where other than Marrakesh can you buy handmade lamps, a variety of colored potions, and handpainted pottery for 10 or 15 dollars?
2. The hospitality. Walking into a store and getting invited for tea even after I have bought something, or even if I don't buy anything. Getting offered meals, rides, and places to sleep from perfect strangers.
1. Everyone I have met, especially the other TPA interns and students, randoms, and all the English students. I can't wait to see everyone again soon, en shallah.
THE TOP TEN THINGS I WILL MISS ABOUT MOROCCO:
10. Ca va, la gazelle? Hell nooooooooooo. ca va pas. You are driving me crazy, and besides...I am not a bird.
9. Not being able to walk around by myself at night.
8. Dressing for winter in the middle of summer in Africa. There is a limit to my modesty, and this is well beyond it!
7. Living next to Hash corner, and trying.....unsuccessfully.......to avoid stepping on the hash.
6. Lugging three months worth of luggage across two continents by myself.
5. Bus stations, taxis, and hotels, oh my!
4. Disrespectful guys. I know, this is the second time this has made the list. It deserves at least that for the amount we put up with.
3. Getting yelled at for inviting Pete over to study. After I had permission.
2. HRUBESSSSSSSSSSSSSS.
1. People wondering what you are up to if you walk, talk, or basically have any contact whatsoever with a guy.
THE TOP TEN THINGS I WILL MISS ABOUT MOROCCO:
10. Saying En shallah...God Willing.... for everything, as though my decision to eat chicken tonight is truly dependent on God willing it to happen.
9. Sleeping on the terrace of hotels.
8. Teaching country music to the students, and the excitement when I copied CDs for them.
7. Watermelon for dessert.
6. 3 o clock at Hash corner. Everytime 3 o clock rolls around now I wonder why I am not shopping and running random errands with the girls.
5. Doing impressions of Saad. I might do them anyway.
4. The kasbah in Rabat. Even though we were not always the most responsible visitors.
3. The souqs. Where other than Marrakesh can you buy handmade lamps, a variety of colored potions, and handpainted pottery for 10 or 15 dollars?
2. The hospitality. Walking into a store and getting invited for tea even after I have bought something, or even if I don't buy anything. Getting offered meals, rides, and places to sleep from perfect strangers.
1. Everyone I have met, especially the other TPA interns and students, randoms, and all the English students. I can't wait to see everyone again soon, en shallah.
There is no such thing as free lunch...LIES
He promptly offered to take me by the bus station and check with me. I was like, is this guy for real? So I told him it was much too kind and I did not want to take him out of his way. He said no problem, and I shrugged. If he was gonna kill me with a chainsaw, it was too late now.
Not 15 minutes later there we were at the bus station getting all the info. Afterward, he asked if I was hungry...I was starving.........and bought me a really nice lunch and soda at the bus station. I was still trying to figure out what was going on when he took me to take photos from a viewpoint over the medina. He finally dropped me off right on the main plaza near my hotel, but not before giving me 100dH for my ticket tomorrow. I tried to refuse, but he insisted. I left bewildered. He told me he does it for everyone when he is on vacation and the only thing I could come up with is that he was so grateful to have a decent job in Belgium that he truly enjoys sharing the wealth when he comes back. He did not try to flirt with me, bother me, or sell me anything. We were perfect strangers, and he basically accomplished my afternoon agenda, walking to bus, taking bus to Meknes, going toMeknes bus station, getting lunch, and returning to hotel, in the matter of an hour or so. And paid me to do it. He told me he wanted me to leave Morocco with a good impression of Meknes. Well, it worked!! I am 12 dollars richer and in very good spirits.
I met a much sketchier guy who invited me to his house this afternoon, but his insistence that I relax and make myself at home, along with the fact that he kept telling me how he wanted to get to know me, caused me to all of a sudden have a lot of studying to do.
So that's it. I am caught up. Tomorrow morning I take the bus to Tanger, right on the border of Spain, and Tuesday morning I am taking the ferry into Spain. I am probably going to go to Granada, Sevilla, Leon, and then Portugal, before flying to London next Sunday. That is the plan anyway. So far I have not exactly stuck to much of a plan. Or maybe I just didn't have one. Whatever.
Not 15 minutes later there we were at the bus station getting all the info. Afterward, he asked if I was hungry...I was starving.........and bought me a really nice lunch and soda at the bus station. I was still trying to figure out what was going on when he took me to take photos from a viewpoint over the medina. He finally dropped me off right on the main plaza near my hotel, but not before giving me 100dH for my ticket tomorrow. I tried to refuse, but he insisted. I left bewildered. He told me he does it for everyone when he is on vacation and the only thing I could come up with is that he was so grateful to have a decent job in Belgium that he truly enjoys sharing the wealth when he comes back. He did not try to flirt with me, bother me, or sell me anything. We were perfect strangers, and he basically accomplished my afternoon agenda, walking to bus, taking bus to Meknes, going toMeknes bus station, getting lunch, and returning to hotel, in the matter of an hour or so. And paid me to do it. He told me he wanted me to leave Morocco with a good impression of Meknes. Well, it worked!! I am 12 dollars richer and in very good spirits.
I met a much sketchier guy who invited me to his house this afternoon, but his insistence that I relax and make myself at home, along with the fact that he kept telling me how he wanted to get to know me, caused me to all of a sudden have a lot of studying to do.
So that's it. I am caught up. Tomorrow morning I take the bus to Tanger, right on the border of Spain, and Tuesday morning I am taking the ferry into Spain. I am probably going to go to Granada, Sevilla, Leon, and then Portugal, before flying to London next Sunday. That is the plan anyway. So far I have not exactly stuck to much of a plan. Or maybe I just didn't have one. Whatever.
Hitch hiking
So last night my evening was consumed by trying to find my way from the bus station to my hotel on foot with all my stuff because I am too cheap to pay for a taxi. I did get a nice tour of the city on the way though. The hotel was expensive by Morocco standards, but they are letting me sleep on the terrace for 50dH. After I put my stuff down and headed out in search of internet and dinner, I ran into random solo traveler from Barcelona who was also in my hotel, and in search of internet and dinner. He didn't speak any French or Arabic, so I took the liberty of finding us an internet cafe, and then he pretty much paid for dinner except for like a dollar. All in all, quite successful. We ate in the main plaza that overlooks these huge mosaic doors to the ancien medina.
This morning I set out early to take a day trip to Moulay Idriss and Volubilis. Moulay Idriss is like a minor pilgrimage and according to Lonely Planet five pilgrimages to MI are equivalent to one to Mecca. So I saw the Mausoleum and the town and decided to walk from there to the Roman ruins at Volubilis. It was 4 or 5 km, so it took me a little less than an hour. I saw the ruins, held off pesky faux guides, and got someone to take a picture of me. Came, saw conquered. Then I decided to be on my way because I had to walk all the way back to Moulay Idriss and I didnt know what time the last bus left from Moulay Idriss back to Meknes. I was en route when a relatively pesky older gentleman told me that there were buses that came by to Meknes and I could get a ride from the corner. By the way, was I married? Because we could get married and own the Coke stand together and live happily ever after.
I did not wait at the corner for the bus.
About 5 minutes into my trip back a well dressed man in a van pulled over and asked me where I was walking. I told him Moulay Idriss, and he told me to hop in. I am not in the habit of hitch hiking, but I figured, what the hell? I have already slept at two strangers houses this week. Why not? And he told me that he was actually on his way to Meknes but did not mind dropping me off in Moulay Idriss, since its on the way. I was like, wait........did you say Meknes? Actually..............
So there I was in the car with random strange man to Meknes. He told me that he actually works in Belgium now and is just back in Morocco for vacation. A pretty believable story considering the nice clothes, car, etc. He asked me what I was doing and I told him I was on my way to the bus station to see what time I could get a bus to Tanger tomm.
This morning I set out early to take a day trip to Moulay Idriss and Volubilis. Moulay Idriss is like a minor pilgrimage and according to Lonely Planet five pilgrimages to MI are equivalent to one to Mecca. So I saw the Mausoleum and the town and decided to walk from there to the Roman ruins at Volubilis. It was 4 or 5 km, so it took me a little less than an hour. I saw the ruins, held off pesky faux guides, and got someone to take a picture of me. Came, saw conquered. Then I decided to be on my way because I had to walk all the way back to Moulay Idriss and I didnt know what time the last bus left from Moulay Idriss back to Meknes. I was en route when a relatively pesky older gentleman told me that there were buses that came by to Meknes and I could get a ride from the corner. By the way, was I married? Because we could get married and own the Coke stand together and live happily ever after.
I did not wait at the corner for the bus.
About 5 minutes into my trip back a well dressed man in a van pulled over and asked me where I was walking. I told him Moulay Idriss, and he told me to hop in. I am not in the habit of hitch hiking, but I figured, what the hell? I have already slept at two strangers houses this week. Why not? And he told me that he was actually on his way to Meknes but did not mind dropping me off in Moulay Idriss, since its on the way. I was like, wait........did you say Meknes? Actually..............
So there I was in the car with random strange man to Meknes. He told me that he actually works in Belgium now and is just back in Morocco for vacation. A pretty believable story considering the nice clothes, car, etc. He asked me what I was doing and I told him I was on my way to the bus station to see what time I could get a bus to Tanger tomm.
Lessons in Arabic
Yeah so anyway the next day..Friday, I met Driss and Radouane in the morning and went with them and a friend to the nearby village of Ifrane to see the monkeys. I lov e monkeys. All I had to pay for was gas, and I got free lunch because apparently Driss had worked with the firefighters there before or something. Who cares........all I know is I was hungry and chicken and soda magically appeared. However it got there is irrelevant. Anyway we spent the day touristing, which is in fact a word no matter what Webster says, and got back to Azrou in time for tea with Radouane's family. They let me take a shower there, and seriously, this bathroom was incredible.........I mean,,, toilet paper, hot water, mirror, towel, .......so many toys I didn't know where to look or what to do!! There was even soap for washing my hands! I kind of wanted to dawdle and hang out by myself in the bathroom for a while, but that would have been a little weird. It was a fantastic shower though.
The house was soooo nice. His dad works in France so if you can imagine a French salary paying for the cost of living in Morocco....think chandeliers, wood and leather, the whole nine yards. I took pictures, dont worry. So we had tea there and then I cant even remember what we did in the evening LOL! I dunno........but I spent the night at Driss's house, which turned out to be a very unsketchy freebie as his brother, his brother's wife, and their baby all live there. I got dinner there and Driss somehow got the idea that we would be better off communicating in Arabic than in Spanish . Foolish. So foolish. But I learned some more words in Arabic and entertained him with my pathetic pronciation so it was fine.
Where am I? Oh yea, Saturday. So Friday I had gotten a text from Zoe saying that they were going to be in Azrou for the weekend. It was such an incredible coincidence that I decided that I had to stay until they got there on Saturday afternoon to say hi. Besides, I had free lodging, so it would have been stupid to leave. So we went and saw Zoe, Charlie, Sarah, and the new Japanese girl that I had not met before. Sometime before that I got lunch with Radouane and his mom kept speaking to me in Arabic. I don't know if she realized how little I was understanding because I just kept smiling and repeating the same two or three phrases. I imagine the conversation was something like this:
Mom: It is a pleasure to have you over. Welcome to our house.
Diane: Thank you so much.
Mom: Where are you from?
D: Thank you so much. I am a student.
M: Are you traveling alone?
D: Yes, Morocco is beautiful. Thank you.
M: When do you return home?
D: Yes, beautiful. Thank you. I am 23.
M: Will you remember everyone you met in Morocco?
D: Oh yes. Morocco. Yes. Beautiful.
The only time I actually answered her question was when she asked me if I was married because I had to learn the phrase "I'm married" to minimize harassment. Then she asked me if I was going to marry Radouane. I was like, ummmmmmmmmm....I should probably wait till I hav e known him 24 hours. I hear that works out better. Okay, okay I did not say that. I didn't know how to say that I am too young to get married so I said, "I am 23. I am 28, I am married." I think she understood.
Anyway, I got distracted. I left Azrou on Saturday evening for Meknes.
The house was soooo nice. His dad works in France so if you can imagine a French salary paying for the cost of living in Morocco....think chandeliers, wood and leather, the whole nine yards. I took pictures, dont worry. So we had tea there and then I cant even remember what we did in the evening LOL! I dunno........but I spent the night at Driss's house, which turned out to be a very unsketchy freebie as his brother, his brother's wife, and their baby all live there. I got dinner there and Driss somehow got the idea that we would be better off communicating in Arabic than in Spanish . Foolish. So foolish. But I learned some more words in Arabic and entertained him with my pathetic pronciation so it was fine.
Where am I? Oh yea, Saturday. So Friday I had gotten a text from Zoe saying that they were going to be in Azrou for the weekend. It was such an incredible coincidence that I decided that I had to stay until they got there on Saturday afternoon to say hi. Besides, I had free lodging, so it would have been stupid to leave. So we went and saw Zoe, Charlie, Sarah, and the new Japanese girl that I had not met before. Sometime before that I got lunch with Radouane and his mom kept speaking to me in Arabic. I don't know if she realized how little I was understanding because I just kept smiling and repeating the same two or three phrases. I imagine the conversation was something like this:
Mom: It is a pleasure to have you over. Welcome to our house.
Diane: Thank you so much.
Mom: Where are you from?
D: Thank you so much. I am a student.
M: Are you traveling alone?
D: Yes, Morocco is beautiful. Thank you.
M: When do you return home?
D: Yes, beautiful. Thank you. I am 23.
M: Will you remember everyone you met in Morocco?
D: Oh yes. Morocco. Yes. Beautiful.
The only time I actually answered her question was when she asked me if I was married because I had to learn the phrase "I'm married" to minimize harassment. Then she asked me if I was going to marry Radouane. I was like, ummmmmmmmmm....I should probably wait till I hav e known him 24 hours. I hear that works out better. Okay, okay I did not say that. I didn't know how to say that I am too young to get married so I said, "I am 23. I am 28, I am married." I think she understood.
Anyway, I got distracted. I left Azrou on Saturday evening for Meknes.
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