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Casablanca sounds all romantic but when you are there, it's probably the least romantic. Casablanca's medinas are a biting teeth experience if you are not aware of what's going on. My friend got pick-pocketed right in front of me and I didn't even know he got robbed until later. If you like shopping and bargaining, then the medina is your place because they love you to bargain. If you don't, then it's an insult.
Anyhow, I was attended a factory visit that I went for my internation business class. I learned quite a bit about their company and how a product is made from raw material to finish good. We saw the whole process made in about an hour. After that, we were taken to the back of the factory where they served us lunch inside a colorful tent. We had such a feast that day with two main course meal. One of them was a whole lamb and the other is couzcouz. We had so much food left over, we felt so bad. It was really good, too! On another occasion, I went to their house for a Moroccan dinner visit to their mason. We had the best food that night. I felt like a queen! I also had the best time talking to Professor Judy Duchesne-Peckham while eating the best dates in the world. Yum! Yum! Yum!
Merrekech, Morocco
The night life in Merrekech is live as a bea hive at the Square, where people sell dinner, fruits, drinks, and desserts. The medina there is so colossal, you might even get lost buying stuff there. Things are rather inexpensive but you have to watch out what you buy because silver might look like silver until it turns your fingers green. Other than that, the stuff there are so original and attractive! I loved it!
High Atlas Mountains
Sam, Chris, Galen, and I went to some village in the High Atlas Mountains where Seven Years in Tibet and Kundun was filmed. It was threath-taking. I enjoyed our three hours hike up and two hours hike down. The air is clear, the sky is nicely covered with puffy clouds, and a sun that makes you say "ah…" I was so picture happy at the mountains. I had to restrain myself many times from taking too many pictures of the same place. These mountains are nothing you've ever seen. People actually live on these mountains and they climb it each day to get wood, food, water, and to wash their clothes. The scenery we saw were things you can only see through the National Geographic books. We saw sheep herdlers, women and children washing clothes in the cold river, huts made from what looks like clay, and a family carrying huge bundles of wood on their back. If you ever go to Morocco, this is where you want to be. It's just so gorgeous! I learned so much about the natives and myself that day while walking up and down that mountain. It's definitely a learning experience.
I hope you have enjoyed my journey through the 12 countries that I have visited. I truly feel blessed and lucky to have been on this trip. If you have the chance, go! It's the best thing I've done in my life. I'll see you in Miami, Florida.