The Cafe Crowd

Yesterday I met with the Swiss photographer, Rosa.  We had several hours to chat over drinks.  Drinks here mean coffee or tea.  The national drink is mint tea also known as Berber whiskey.  Rosa has been living in Morocco for three years and before that in India for two years.  She thinks that this might be her destination for the foreseeable future.  It was interesting to note that she doesn't appear to have assimilated too much with the locals and is pretty much independent.  We will get together again after I return to Oz from my next trip.

I then spent an hour or so in the medina window shopping, but returned to the area of shops where the really nice shopkeepers I talked to a few days ago are.  I got serious about looking at their goods and after finding out that I have a Berber "family" here gave me the real price on items without the haggling. Didn't buy yet, but will surely give these guys business.  I was tired and thought I would sit for an early dinner.  Right there, was a hole in the wall cafe and I use that word loosely.  It was just a few bare tables in the alley.  They had the best rotisserie chicken.  A few of the shopkeepers sat down to visit and one young man spent the entire time there (keeping an eye on his shop).  Each of them took turns going to the mosque for a few minutes, as it was prayer time.  They introduced me to a man, Denis. Such an interesting fellow.  He is from Hull, Quebec.  After eight trips to Oz, he married a Berber woman and lives in a village just outside the city limits along with this group of shopkeepers. He was dressed in the Moroccan djellaba and had three full layers of clothing on underneath along with a fake fur Russian style hat.  What a sight!  When I see him next, I will ask for a photo.

Our plans for the trip next week are set now and I am really excited.  Temperatures will be between 24-29 daytime and 13-16 at night -  Woo hoo!!!!!

It is so nice to have the time to slowly get to know my city and to be able to plan for trips in the future, a luxury to be treasured.

 I will be away from Oz until around the 20th and then for ten days after Jan.22 Houssaine is on holidays and he, some of his family, and I will be taking trips, so I am not sure if I will keep this house or not.  Will talk to Houssaine.  If I get a super rent reduction, I'll consider it.  I might only be here for six or seven nights out of the month.

You guessed it, the plumber still has not come.