Marrakesh

Visited Marrakesh a week after swearing in for an artisans craft fair.  There was a film festival going on at the same time, with outside movies in the plaza.  A lot like the Telluride Film Festival.  Oliver Stone, Eva Morales, Sigorney Weaver, F. F. Coppala, John Malcovich and Sidney Pollack were there as well as many other notables.  I stayed with two other guys in a two bedroom room the size of a normal bathroom.  It was cozy for all.  We took turns sleeping on the single bed.  The hotel was 50 Dh a night and was situated in the alley system, Go down the alley next to the sunglasses stand, turn right at the dead end, turn left ant the next dead end then right at the next dead end.  It was what I thought Morocco would be like.  Once you got the lay of the land it was fun cruising around and getting partially lost.  You keep going till you come out at a main road.  The alleys are filled with shops selling everything from machine parts to pastries.  No alcohol though.  That is taboo.  Many of the places have cool rooftop patios to see, eat and drink at.  Some people stayed up late up there doing taboo stuff. 

Most of the new PCVs in my group attended to help their artisans with there displays.  All kinds of rugs, weavings, clothing, daggers, homemade products (cards from TP rolls), jewelery, embroidery, purses, baskets, date and olive products were available.  Close of Service (COS) volunteers bought some products to take home with them.  The weather was awesome, warm and sunny.  Some of us did partake in an adventure to find the elusive beer/cocktail.  It is not cheap to drink in this place.  The best local beer is Casablanca.  Guess where it is made.  The Marrakesh beer is Special Flag.  There are hundreds of cool cafes but only a fraction sell alcohol and they are kept out of the way, kind of like the service "don't ask, don't tell " policy. 

Stacy had a birthday so we all headed out to a vegitarian restaurant down some alley and had mostly great meals.  One PCV got sick maybe from the food, maybe from the party later.
What a crew.  Some of the finest minds in Morocco. 
The birthday girl is the one laying down.
Note the broken plate on the wall.  At some time it broke so they just hung the piece up as art. 
No belly dancers at this place although we did have one at the rooftop bar we went to later.  She danced to what I thought was a blues brothers duo with sunglasses on and dark suits.  My mistake.  One of the guys was blind.  Opps.

Met

 Met the US ambassador and his wife at the show.  They were also at the swearing in but I did not get a photo at that time.  They were in town for the film festival and came by the craft fir for support.  Very nice and thoughtful folks.  Anyone who lets me take a picture with them has got to be okay. 

This is one of my two coop artisans with their products.  They make tents, rugs, bags, tablecloths, blankets.  Marrakesh was great.  I only got to see the area around where we were working but plan to go back some day and see the main souk which is suppose to be huge.  It was connected to the plaza where we were but I did not get the opportunity to go.  I did see snake charmers with cobras and rattlesnakes.  They say that there mouths are sewn shut so only the tongue can come out.  Did not get close enough to check out that note.

Swearing in/Thanksgiving

I am now a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV).  The end of November our group, called a stage, with Youth Development (YD) and Small Business Development (SBD), traveled to Mehideya close to Rabat for a week of training and testing.  I did not get to the Novice High level they desire in the language proficiency testing so will be using a touter for the next year to help me through the language.  At my age I forget as much as I learn.  After the testing we had a medical exam and my blood pressure was very high so they sent me to Rabat to the Peace Corps medical facility to be checked by a doctor.  I was put in a hotel, The Grand, that was a real blood pressure tester.  The bathroom did not work, no hot water and short sheets on the bed.  And I went there to lower my blood pressure, Ha Ha.  The PC medical staff was very accommodating and I was scheduled to see a cardiologist to read results and possibly change medications.  Moved into a nice hotel, The Bolema, when the rest of the PCTs arrived for swearing in.  Stayed there one day then told I had to go to another hotel, which did not have room or reservation so I was sent back to the Grad.  It was Grand in it's day, 1950, when it was new.  They have not done any maintenance since then.  After another night there using the tub as the toilet, I complained and got put with the rest of the volunteers in a nicer facility. 
The swearing in was attended by the Ambassador to Morocco and his wife, very nice folks.  There were delegates from the Moroccan youth and small business ministries. 
Rabat was very nice with parks, warm weather and nice restaurants.  It was good to get back to a more Western environment for a while, hot showers, western toilets, TP, normal clothes.  Most people spoke French to you so that was confusing.  Trying to hear what they are saying and expecting Dareja and hearing French was frustrating.  When you buy something they give you the price in French, more confusion.  Fun for a while.
The beach was a short walk, 20 minutes, down the parkway from out lodging area.  I did not make it down but was told it was very nice.  Would like to spend more time seeing the area some day.
Had Thanksgiving dinner with an American family working at the Embassy.  The Peace Corp Director arranged for anyone staying over in Rabat to have dinner if they wanted.  It was awesome and the hospitality I received from Mary and Martin Jeffers and her family was unforgettable.  We had Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, all the fixings.  I got to carve the turkey and received a call from Dustin which made my day even better.  Being alone in a foreign country during the holiday can be depressing, but my Thanksgiving was something I will remember until I get Alzheimer's and forget my name.  lol. 
I made it to the bus in the early morning by myself and back to Midelt to continue the experience.  It was cold back in Midelt.  I missed Rabat already, but hey I get to go to Marrakesh in a week for the Marche Maroc Artisan's Craft Fair.  That should be fun.