Our first impressions....the photos...

Hafida, our hostess and terrific cook (peeling potatoes) and

Zinab, her sister.

Traveling Buddies....

Mary, Sif (our guide), Ruthanne, and Marie
These people...along with Sif's yellow Mercedes...the national taxicab of Marakech, comprised my traveling companions. Sif had just surprized us with Marie (Mary and Ruthann's mom). We were planning to meet her plane later in the evening, but she--being the seasoned traveler--arrived early. The Riad folks called Sif and he sneaked away to get her. It was all quite touching. (Someday I'll tell you about the 5-6 trips to the airport in less than 2 days. Luggage eventually makes its way to Morocco!)

Entry into Marrakesh, Morocco

March 19, 2007

The adjustment of western expectations of vacation do not come easily. The Medina, upon first glance, appears as a street in Progresso, Juarez, or any Texas-Mexico border town. And, as Sif, our cab driver and soon to be good friend, walks us deeper into the alleyways that make up the 1000 year old community, we become very nervous. I overhear the echo of Jennifer's voice in my head when she called before I left to give me the "talk" about travel in Muslim countries--"Mother you are too nice--don't let any of those guys talk you into going anywhere...." So, here I am-following some unknown person deep into the bowels of a community completely foreign to me. As the brackish-colored alleyways begin to close around us and it's getting darker, Mary's jokes with Sif (do you know where we are going?) get louder and, of course, that makes Jennifer's voice grow louder! When deepest into the maze, Sif stops and knocks on a tiny wooden door. The door swings wide and we crouch through the opening and into the unexpectedly lovely Riad...and into the hearts of some of the kindest people we could ever expect to meet on vacation.