Masato's Southern Europe/Morocco Africa Adventure

[Masato]

10-Hour Bus Ride from Fes to Marrakech

People were complaining and getting sick, lol (lots of windy roads)... but for me it was the first opportunity to shut the fuck up, sit and think/reflect. I watched the lansdscape go by and maybe felt the happiest yet of the days so far






Believe it or not there is a SKI RESORT in Morocco. We drove past/through the lower bits of a mountain range where they get snow and ski. Some of the towns here looked SWISS in architecture and design:


A good friend had previously given me this book, and I too it to read while in Morocco. Suddenly, with some visual experiences of authentic Islamic culture, these stories came to life! I finished the whole book, it was totally enjoyable and I got a big rush/high just contemplating the idea of sufis and truth-seekers looking for wisdom, riches and enlightenment in these lands. I even imagined (?) a brief conversation with a local Jinn :D


One place we stopped for a smoke/pee break there was a street puppy. The shorts I had coincidentally had a bit of dog cookie in the pocket from my dog in Canada. I gave it to him. Likely it killed the poor thing, lol - he's not used to processed commercial shite :D

[Masato]

More of the bus ride from Fes to Marrakech:





In the middle of the desert, we stopped at this hotel/place to eat where there inexplicably existed a lush garden paradise:




Back on the bus and it was more desert for the rest of the ride

[Masato]

[Canuckster]

Fantastic, call me when you get settled, i've got some time off this month, we should get together.

[Masato]

Marrakech

Marrakech was amazing. Right away it was obvious that this is where the money gravitates to. Huge Hotels, big fancy strips... I felt like I was in Las Vegas:







There is a hotel here that is SEVERAL BLOCKS LONG, with a huge wall all the way around it. The rooms start from $4000 per night MINIMUM. This is where the sheiks and billionaires stay. Fucking wild.

I was not in that hotel, but as I said previously hotels there are cheap and once again we scored a fucking 5-star pad:

[Masato]

Marrakech by day:

A busy and lively hive of activity.



I am continually impressed by the soft, kind, energy of all the people I meet. Of course I am being escorted as a tourist to all the safest areas, but I still can't get over how many of of preconceptions of Islam have been challenged;

I did not see beastly men oppressing their wives; I saw real love and affection, tenderness between couples and children, loving fathers etc.
I did not see violence or hatred to me as a westerner; I felt warmth and respect from everyone I encountered.

Even when the trinkett-pushers get in your face too much and I have to get them to leave us alone, there was never a hint of any threat of violence.

The religion somehow creates an atmosphere where the ideals of Islam are embedded into the daily life; I would see many of the older men with huge bruises on their foreheads from decades of prayer, and these people seem to carry respect from the youth, who wouldn;t dare be caught doing anything wrong.

I witnessed 2 young kids get in a fight (around 10 or 11 years old), and immediately 2 men (fathers?) stopped it and scolded them for it. One of the men smacked the kid on the head, but it wasn't from anger or violence, it was justified by all including the kid I'm sure.

I did not see the whole of women oppressed; MANY walk freely around with their hair down wearing western clothes. I would say it was almost 50-50 to be honest. I did not see any fear or revolution in these women, nor any hating from the more traditional women. I saw men treating women with reverence and respect.

Of course these are just the observations of a Canuckistanian on a 6-day tour, but nonetheless it fascinated me.

In the evenings, I saw many people sitting outside peacefully; women gathering together talking, men having deep conversations together, others just sitting by themselves enjoying the cool evening. Apparently the culture there is vary casual about work; people are free to open and close at their leisure, and much time is taken for relaxation and pleasure.

I felt way more on guard in Lisbon, I can tell you that.

[Masato]

This was a NATURAL MEDICINE PHARMACY. They had doctors here with white outfits prescribing all-natural cures for almost any ailment.

We had some doctors and science-minded people on our tour who reacted vehemently against it, but enjoyed the tour as amusement. They openly called the the whole thing bullshit and chalked it up to placebo, saying it is totally unscientific, etc. I had a conversation with one of these guys later, it was fascinating to witness such dogmatism.

Everyone who bought something claimed over the next few days that it worked, lol





There were more rooms even, I just didn't take pics of it all

[Edge Guerrero]

- This one is from us to you:

Hello world
Hope you're listening
Forgive me if I'm young
For speaking out of turn
There's someone I've been missing
I think that they could be
The better half of me
They're in their own place trying to make it right
But I'm tired of justifying
So I'll say to you

(Chorus)
Come home
Come home
Cause I've been waiting for you
For so long
For so long
And right now there's a war between the vanities
But all i see is you and me
The fight for you is all I've ever known
So come home
OOh

I get lost in the beauty
Of everything i see
The world ain't as half as bad
As they paint it to be
If all the sons
If all the daughters
Stopped to take it in
Well hopefully the hate subsides and the love can begin
It might start now... Yeahh
Well maybe I'm just dreaming out loud
Until then

(Chorus)
Come home
Come home
Cause I've been waiting for you
For so long
For so long
And right now there's a war between the vanities
But all i see is you and me
The fight for you is all I've ever known
Ever known
So come home
OOh

Everything i can't be
Is everything you should be
And that's why i need you here
Everything i can't be
Is everything you should be
And that's why i need you here
So hear this now

Come home
Come home
Cause I've been waiting for you
For so long
For so long
And right now there's a war between the vanities
But all i see is you and me
The fight for you is all I've ever known
Ever known
So come home
Come home

[Masato]

Marrakech at Night

This was 1 of 2 places that in hindsight were the highlights of the trip. Marrakech at night was like some doses of a high-powered acid, lol. I was simply tripping balls at the sheer overload of totally new stimuli coming from all directions.




In the distance you see a bright string of light. That is the MARKET. It is boiling with music and drums and smoke from all the food being cooked. I am approaching it, totally not understanding what I am seeing:










We went upstairs to a rooftop patio and I took this pic of the market. Unforgettable

[Edge Guerrero]

More of the bus ride from Fes to Marrakech:





In the middle of the desert, we stopped at this hotel/place to eat where there inexplicably existed a lush garden paradise:




Back on the bus and it was more desert for the rest of the ride

- That's is a very beautifull place.