Dublin Too

On with the tour.
Architecture was interesting throughout the city.  The colored doors, the pubs and ornamentation was like what I expected.

The 17th turned out to be quite an experience.  The news report said there was over 200,000 people in the city for the parade.  It sure looked like it.  And I was not the only one that wore a green hat.  It would be an interesting piece of useless information to know how many silly felt hats there were in Dublin that day.  The parade went for about 2 hours.  There was a theme as many of the floats had a similar look but I cannot tell you what that theme was.  Maybe you can figure it out.  Maybe wierdness.  Some had acrobats, some had music, and some had creatures of another world.  

Some people climbed up the building to get good shots.  No police seemed to mind.  No one I saw got hurt.  A good time was had by all.

It had been a very dry parade so it was now time to deal with the growl in our stomach and throat.  Just down the street towards the Temple Bar District we came upon the Vat.  With no one in there it looked like a good place to park our tire feet and decide what to do next.  5 hours later we left.

The Temple Bar area is an area where they say 1000 bars are located.  How much Guinness is consumed in this area would be hard to verify.  Outside one bar alone there was a stack of over 100 kegs.  We had awesome food in this area and did not go into more than a handfull of establishments.  I will have to pace myself next year and try to spread myself around a little more. Or maybe i can just move there.

We did visit St Patrick's Cathedral bit did not stay long because they were out of Guinness.  It was St. Patrick's Day you know.  We cannot wait to go again next year.  Enjoy Life.

St Patrick's Day-Dublin

Five of us got out of country and visited Dublin for St. Patrick's Day.  What an awesome experience and a well needed break.  The food, beer, parade, people and party were great.  It was nice to remember what the Western World feels like.  Flew to Madrid and started relaxing in the airport with a few Spanish beers.  I looked for Paella all over the airport but no luck.  Guess I will have to go back for a more thorough search in the town.

On to Dublin and the joys of Irish food and beer.  Everyone was in the spirit in town wearing green and wearing a smile on their faces.  Visited the oldest pub in Dublin, Brazen Head and enjoyed Guinness Beef Stew and Bangers and Mash.  Excellent after 6 months of chicken tajine and bread.
Two places we decided to go before we left were the Guinness Brewery to sample some of Arthur's original recipe and the Jameson Distillery for an Irish Coffee as it should taste.

The Brewery was impressive as was the beer.  Nothing tastes like a fresh out of the brew tank pint.  I never really appreciated the taste of Guinness before, but I do now.  I was told you do not sip Guinness you gulp it.  There should be 6 gulps to the pint.  I tried it and it works.   AAAHHHH.

The center atrium where the tour starts has a copy of the contract for the brewery site signed by Arthur Guinness for 900 years.  The 7 story glass structure represents a pint glass with the head at the top a Sky Bar where the tour ends in the tasting room.  You get a view of the city of Dublin and the surrounding hills.  The best view in Dublin, especially with a pint of stout in your hand.  They do not sell beer at the top.  You get one then have to go downstairs for more.

Horse drawn carriages are all over Dublin.  We used the Big Red Bus to get around down town.  You can jump on and off wherever you want.  I good way to get around.  We got to the Jamison distillery too late for the last tour so went straight to the tasting room.  Too Bad.  The Irish coffee was awesome.  The cream makes the difference.  Some brands are aged in old bourbon barrels from the states.

Springtime North of the Atlas

Morocco is divided up in some distinctive sections.  The mountains, the desert and the North East which is fertile Mediterranean.  I visited a town in the North and springtime is definitely there as opposed to Midelt where it is still snowing in the mountains and cold at night.  Azrou, Keifra, Tighsaline has flowers and trees blooming and budding as harbingers of spring.

We took a hike into the mountain and to the next valley over.  There was a small village we passed through 3/4 the way up the mountain.  The view back to town was awesome.  A comparison of old clay houses vs the new block homes in the valley.  On the way up the road we passed a home under construction that had solar panels covering the south facing pitched roof.  I was going to stop in and look at the panel set up on the return, however we took a circuitous route around the mountain and took a different way down.  You do not see many homes with a pitched roof, mostly in Ifrane and Azrou.  Pitched roofs are the French architectural influence.  There are  few in Midelt but not many.

These towns are like a look back at the 16th century vs 18th century.  Water comes from a community well in some cases.  No running water but almost everyone in the village has limited power.  Kids were playing in the streets shooting birds with slingshots and kicking a deflated soccer ball around.  They are really good with the slingshot.

The view from the top of the pass was awesome.  In the valley below was a 500 year old Mosque, or so we were told by a local.  Saw a couple, what looked like, gopher turtles.  Reminded me of Florida.

The flowers really bloomed the week we were on the Northern slope.  Wish I could say the same about My town but oh well.  This summer when everyone else is baking in 100+ degree heat hope I am cooler under 100.  Too cold in Winter too hot is summer.  I am never happy.

PPST-Post Pre Service Training

Spent a week in Azrou with all of the SBD (small business development) volunteers.  It was good to see everyone again and hear their experiences.  Almost everyone has their own place now and it is much better than living with a local family.  It was a good experience but nice to have your own space, eat what and when you want, sleep when you want and unpack all your stuff.
  I took a follow up language exam and actually passed with a rating of Novice High.  Did not think I would make it.  I guess they did not want to see me again.  My Mom is happy.
Ate three squares a day with snacks in between.  They are trying to fatten us up again.  I do not eat like that at home.  We actually had out own bathroom in each room and a TV to boot.  Posh Corps.

The weather was beautiful, warm and sunny.  All the flowers started blooming and made for an awesome time.  The flowers have not bloomed and nothing i green yet in Midelt.  It i still cold, bbbrrrrr.  My electric bill was 3 times the last one because of the electric heater I have to supplement my gas heater, which really cranks out the heat.

We had a local band and dancers that was very entertaining.  They did a hair dance where the ladies take off their head scarfs and head whip their heads to throw their hair was something I had never seen before.  Jim got picked to dance with the girls and several PCVs got up and strutted their stuff.  I have a bad knee so unfortunately could not dance.  I really wanted too.  LOL.
What I have learned at PPST:
   To be Successful -   1.  Show Up
                                   2.  Just say "Yes".
                                   3.   Except when it is time to say "No"
                                   4.  Admit ignorance but don't be dumb.
               Thanks to Tyler for that.
     Don't volunteer for something you don't know what it is.

    

Dance even if you do not know how.  You will have fun

Youth Camp

This weekend the local youth volunteer put together a winter camp for middle school youth from the surrounding area.  6-8 cities were represented with the kids traveling from their home villages, some more than 2 hours away, with their local PC volunteer.  For some of the kids it will be the only time they leave their village the entire year.  The program is a one day 9:00 AM- 5:00 PM event including informative classes, games, singing, music, lunch and an award presentation.  Four stations worked by a PCV and Moroccan counterpart discussed Seed Planting, Health (tooth brushing, hygiene), Art from trash and exercise.
My booth was the seed planting where two local farmers discussed sun, water, the sprouting and growing process, environmental concerns and why we should protect the environment.   The response was actually great and the kids were interested, did not fall asleep or shoot us with spitballs, and ask questions.  They used old yogurt cups to plant seeds for home.

Lunch was chicken BBQ Morocco style.  Grilled brochettes with vegetables.  I spent two hours cutting pieces of chicken for the skewers.  Unfortunately it took 10 times longer than it should because the butcher we got the chickens from, who was suppose to provide us chicken pieces, chopped the chicken into pieces including the bones.  A leg and thigh was cleavered into three pieces each, the breast was cleavered into 4-5 pieces.  This made it impossible to remove the chicken from the bone then dice the chicken.  The bones were shattered into the meat.  80% rule applies again.  lol.  Inshallah.  Many PCVs helped with the skewer process while the Moroccan crew grilled the meet.

Over 60 participants came not including 11 PCVs and about 15 Moroccan adults.  That meant a lot of cooking.  The meal was great and included, a chicken brochette hogie, oranges and cookies.  No food fight erupted which made cleanup a lot easier.  Thank God for that.
At the end there was an awards presentation where each participant got a certificate, toothbrush, toothpaste and a bar of soap.  A lot of smiles were evident and the event was considered a great success.  A long day but a great event.

Some of the kids got an extra prize for their trash art.  I liked the pool table.
Nexy Blog-Azrou for PPST.  Everything in the Peace Corps uses initials.  I know about 10% of them.
Talk to you soon.  :)

Dades, Painting and winter in Morocco

Well it has been an interesting winter so far what with getting my place in order, the weather and the political issues in region.  Visited the Dades Gorge when I was meeting with some artisans in another town.  The canyon was beautiful but small compared to the canyons I used to play in around Utah and Colorado.  The canyon feeds an oasis where the town has surrounded and grown.  It is a very big tourist destination.  There were climbers (technical) climbing the canyon walls inside and outside the narrowest part.  We took a taxi up from town, hiked up the road then sat down for a coffee at a resort in the canyon.  It is usually no problem getting a cab out of the canyon back to town, but unfortunately we spent more time drinking coffe than watching the time so missed the last taxi.  We started walking back to the nearest village about 2 km away.  A car of tourists stopped and picked up the three ladies we were with and took them back to town.  We continued on to the village and got a taxi without to much trouble.  The walk through the canyon as it was getting dark was interesting.

Started fixing up my place a little making it more comfortable.  Painted the living area a light blue.  Working on getting to the Bathroom and Kitchen which will be a light green.  The paint over here does not come premixed with the color.  You buy a base white, water or oil, then add tint to get the color you want.  Great if you make enough the first time so you do not have to mix another 1/2 gallon to finish the job.  I made enough the first time, thank goodness.  You do not know what color you end up with till it drys.  The kitchen will be light green, unless I mix to much tint and it ends up darker.  Inshallah.  lol. 
It snowed for the first time, about an inch.  It snowed for about two days but did not last very long on the ground.  Made for a muddy mess for a couple days. 

Everyone is watching the news about the Egypt revolution.  I have been told that it is not likely to be a problem here because we have a Monarchy not a dictatorship.  Everyone says they like the King and on his visit to Midelt I would have to say they sure supported him.  If it moves into Algeria and creates a security issue there, maybe we will be concerned, but until then let the party roll.  If we were to get evacuated for a short time I think we go to Paris.  SAY WHAT.  Gay Parie.  Wine, croissants, good food, beautiful women, art museums, I sure hope I do not have to go there.