I was awakened again by the call to prayer at 6am, but it was still cool to hear. We had breakfast with Grandpa Misbahi again, and then said our goodbyes to everyone in the house. It was kind of sad because I really enjoyed getting to know this warm and welcoming family, and our trip with them was really short. But we all exchanged emails to keep in touch.
Our first stop of the day was to the Mausoleum of King Mohammed V. On the grounds is a Mosque, a masouleum, and the ruins of a large mosque. The bodies of the current King's father, grandfather (Mohammed V) and his uncle are in a beautiful building inscribed with Koran scriptures and mosaics. It was breathtaking and I loved the ceiling's design. There was also the ruins from a mosque that had been began, but was never finished. I believe the King Hassan II continued the construction of the mausoleum after his father's death. The ruins were from years ago though, and it would have been too expensive to finish it, so the pillars are still there, but nothing else. It was a beautiful day with a bright blue sky and the contrast between the giant pillars and the sky was awesome to see.
We stopped for coffee in a town named Wesan, and then it was another few hours up the mountains to a village family's home for lunch. Simo came with us because the family did not speak English, and it was easier to have a native speaker translate for us. We had a fantastic lunch of fresh vegetables--avocados, carrots, cucumbers, corn,and tomatoes with tuna and bread. Everyone was really excited to make a sandwiches out of the bread and vegetables because everything was so flavorful. The family also made us a vegetable couscous with cabbage and carrots, which was also great --the only problem was that we were all so full from the sandwiches that we couldn't really eat too much of the couscous! For dessert, we had more fresh fruit-I had a banana and of course, tea! But this tea was steeped with rosemary and basil, so it was even more flavorful than the mint one. It was incredible. During our tea time, we chatted with the farmer and his wife (through Simo) and discusses our studies and also their lifestyle. It was interesting to see Morocco from a rural perspective and the family was extremely intrigued by the American way of life and they asked questions about school, marriage, and our futures.
The farmer then took us on a walk of his land-- it was a beautiful hike up a mountain and we could see all the olive trees and other crops that he grows. The sun was almost setting. so it was really a breathtaking site to be that high in the mountains. overlooking the land. We also somehow got roped into singing for the farmer--so of course, we sand Build Me Up Buttercup by the Foundations...on top of a mountain...in Morocco. It was surreal, but a really fun memory to have.
We said goodbye to the family and thanked them for their hospitality. On our way down the mountain Juan explained to us that this family is a good example of the changes that are happening in Morocco. The farmer's first wife passed away while giving birth because they couldn't get to the hospital in time to save her. They don't have a car, the road was not paved to get down the mountain and the closest hospital was over an hour away. After his wife passed away, the farmer's mother decided to make a change. The grandmother, who cannot read or write, went everyday to the local government building and fought to pave the road. Eventually, they did, as well as make a clinic nearby. Juan told us that this woman's granddaughter is now in school, learning 3 languages, and it shows the wide difference between generations in Morocco. I thought the story was very inspiring because it shows how determination for change can make it a reality.
We drove for a few hours until we reached Chechouen. It is a beautiful town, know for its amazing hiking trails and tourism. We checked into our hostel, which was beautifully decorated and then went to the town to SHOP! In Morocco, there is a haggling culture--Marissa, you would have loved it. We spoke in Spanish to the shopkeepers and basically negotiated every purchase. It was so much fun, but I have to say, Claudine must be part-Moroccan because she was great at it. I got a ton of souvenirs, so I was very happy. But it was also absolutely freezing, so when it came for dinner, I was so excited to get out of the cold!
We went as a big group to dinner at this cute restaurant, and we got to talk with Juan and Simo about A LOT of things--the youth in Morocco and the US, the laws, etc. My favorite topic was Simo's favorite American movies which included the Godfather, Shawshank Redemption, Training Day, and other classics--Simo had my seal of approval of being awesome!! I had another chicken tagine for dinner, and for dessert, I had a Moroccan pastry. I also ate the olives that they had on the table-- I know, who am I? But they were SO good!
After dinner, we regrouped with everyone in the hostel and talked about our trip and our experiences in Morocco. It was great to talk about what we saw and felt during our time there. After such a full day though, bed was greatly appreciated.
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