Friday, January 14, 2011

New Year, New Lands

We arrived in Marrakesh on Thursday, January 6th.  Nothing I have ever done prepared me for this - not Beijing, Tokyo, or Vladikavkaz - although I drew on those experiences to orient myself.  Morocco is another world.  The bargaining (Beijing), the spice markets (Vladikavkaz), and signage (Tokyo) reminded me every minute that I was "not in Kansas" anymore.  The sights, sounds, and smells confused and delighted us.   Chipped and blackened tagines turned potatoes, zucchini, onions, carrots, and peas into mouth-watering dishes that could only be honored by sopping the remaining juices with chunks of bread.   Olives ... oh the olives... black, red, and green with herbs and oil.  And then, the fruits...  oranges, apricots, dates, prunes, raisins, and figs.  The hauntingly soulful calls to prayer, the fluted song of the snake charmers, the drums of the dancers. This land is a paradise for the senses.
Yummy olives - almost ate them all before thinking to take a picture

Dried fruits in the market

Okay - I know this is "oh so the tourist" but I had to take (and pay) for this picture.

2 comments:

  1. I would have been disappointed if you had NOT taken the photograph of the snake charmer. Besides, you contributed to the local economy;)

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  2. You have taken a great burden off my mind. Thanks!

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