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.