#kasbar

1:09 pm : Détail d'un carrelage de chez Kasbar - Août MMXVIII. 

I'm back! I know, I know it's been a long time. Well what can I say people, it's spring break and there's a lot going on. From Africa to Spain back to London and then off to Edinburgh I'm just hoppin' all around the place. 

Let's start with the big statement: Africa. So last last Wednesday (like 2 wednesday's ago) Sarah, Caroline, Hannah and I decided it was time to take advantage of southern Spain's close proximity to Africa. We signed up for a day tour to Tangier, the northern most city in Africa. It was about an hour on bus and then an additional hour on a boat, which if you think about it is really quite close by. Upon arrival we loaded onto coach busses for a tour of the city. The city is divided into distinct areas including French, Spanish, and American to name a few. Also something I didn't know but found interesting, the first national language in tangier is actually Arabic and the second is French, who would have guess (answer: not me). Anyway after touring the city to bus took us westward, where we stopped to ride some camels (which was basically the reason we originally wanted to go) and got to see where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea. Both were a blast, I had quite the feisty camel, who was more than happy to pose for some pics (trust me there are tons) and the look out point to the water was absolutely beautiful. Following our quick trip west we ventured back to the city where we had lunch.

Lunch was served in a traditional Moroccan restaurant, complete with a band and everything. First we were served soup, which for the record I actually ate some of (for those who don't know I'm not usually a soup person), next was some delicious seasoned meat and finally saffron chicken over couscous (the food so good you have to say it twice).  Did you know couscous is the national food of morocco? It is... Also one has to wonder how couscous of all foods became the national food. Either way it was delicious, which was pretty unexpected.  After lunch we began the walking portion of the tour, which took us through the winding alleys of the old city, known as the Kasbar. We stopped into what I can best describe as a Moroccan emporium. There was ceramic vases, wooden boxes, leather bags, robes and of course rugs. It actually reminded me of my grandmother, who would have had a ball in this place. I don't think there was a piece of jewelry smaller than my eye and boy did that woman love her chunky jewelry.  She also would have loved the fact that I went to morocco (though she probably would have been convinced I'd get lost there but that's besides the point). Anyway I digress. Afterwards the African emporium we entered a medicinal shop with spices, hair oil and different treatments for all sorts of issues (insomnia, snoring, big bites, all that fun junk). We continued around the streets of the Kasbar for a short while and then began the reverse trip back to Spain. We finally got home around 7 after an extremely long and exciting day, made dinner and crashed. 

Thursday was our last day in Spain, so we decided to wake up early and watch the sunrise on the beach. For the second day in a row we woke up while it was still dark out, ventured down to the beach and watched an absolutely gorgeous sunrise. It was really quite nice, I think everyone was really happy we did it. After we returned the apartment, packed up and went in search of a cafe to sit and have a very long lunch (hey we had time to kill). Following lunch I set out to return to London where my family would be arriving shortly after me for a week of Koop fun! Now, so I don't make you read the saga that was my week with my family,

I'm cutting this post short in anticipation of writing quite a lot tomorrow. So for now, enjoy all the pictures of Morocco, the camel shots are pretty entertaining if you ask me. 

Cheers! 

Jamie