Friday 30 November 2007

the rapid and backward

The only reasons curbs exist on the streets and sidewalks of Morocco is so that the cars have something to hook onto when they park on the sidewalks!

24 April 2007: A few days ago three of the boys from the street knocked on the door, grins ear to ear.
In Moroccan: "We are collecting money for a football."
Me: "You pirates! You have a football. You are outside my door kicking it every day!"

The grins get wider.

They had put a blue velvet drape with some sort of crest on it over the football box. That sort of initiative deserves a reward. I dug into my change and gave them money. I hang my head as it is my firm policy NOT to give the children candy or money, but if you had seen them you would have given them money too!

A question asked by Hamid, Q’s tutor, in all seriousness, as they were discussing religion and American culture:
“Would it be more important for a Protestant or Catholic to go to confession or be on Dr. Phil?”


Present time: In the past two days I have passed as many demonstrations and in both of them women were well represented – and in both of them the women were grouped together at the BACK. Grrrr I acknowledge that it is likely this bothers me more than them.

I have found that my pace of walking is proving a security measure. I walk faster than any potential thief, and a stalker would be oh too easy to spot if he were following at my pace. Handy eh?

Abdul Latif has warned me away from walking along the river to Marjane, but only at a certain time of day – early I think. He said the danger is thieves? Traffic? Rain? Potholes? I’m just not sure but I am thinking if it is thieves that they are monumentally stupid – to be in the same place every day at the same time… perhaps it was aggressive birds?

Come by this week-end as I am posting the observations and photographs from my trip to Chellah this week.

Ciao.

18 comments:

Annie said...

They park on the footpath like that in Ireland too - leaves more room for everyone else on the road ;)

James Higham said...

Just don't name any of your pets Muhammed, Lady Mac.

Omega Mum said...

Loved the comment about the curbs. And how do you know about the average speed of thieves/stalkers? It's very useful, if so. Short book of tips in the making?

Ellee Seymour said...

Yes, I wonder what they make of the case of the British teacher in Sudan in Morocco.

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Hi, Lady M. The kerbs must exist for the same reason here! I can just imagine you striding along, perplexing any would-be thieves. I'd be worried by seeing the women at the back of the demos, too. I'll certainly be by for the photos! Auguri from Sicily.

jmb said...

I think you've been caught by those cheeky fellows before.

Woman at the back. Ugh. Maybe they are safer back there however.

Waiting the photos.
regards
jmb

rilly super said...

crikey lady M, I have a picture of you as that nice lady agent in the last Bourne film in the scene where the swarthy assasin is after her but she doesn't have the right shoes to actually run away so just walks briskly. Do be careful now won't you

Travelisticamente! said...

i still believe that morocco is charming

Stay at home dad said...

It sounds like you will never leave... will you ever leave?

lady macleod said...

annie

That must be the reasoning!

thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

m'lord

INDEED! *shiver*

thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

omega mum

I figure that the average speed of stalkers and thieves has to be that of the majority eh? To blend in. I do not blend it with my pace.

Short book of tips? hmmmmm...

thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

ellee

Unfortunately I don't have Q here anymore to ask them, and I don't have enough words.

thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

welshcakes

thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

jmb

thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

rilly

But she made me so angry. I mean pick up a scarf and hide (that very bad frosting job) your head in the crowd. Even with the wrong shoes that would have helped! And why not step into one of the rug shops, they would have taken her upstairs! But then they wrote her that way eh?

thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

lessno

As do I!

thank you for coming by.

lady macleod said...

SAHD

Oh I think I will, eventually - just not right now...

thank you for coming by.