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.