MoROCKIN' Africa

For the record, Morocco is in Africa, you were not taught incorrectly. Yet, If you ask Ned, he will tell you differently...
SO Morocco was SO awesome. I have about a million stories that I could share!
I got up on Saturday and get ready and left for the meeting place (Torre del Oro). I made my way over there and met up with my amigas. I tried taking money out of the ATM, but it didn't work... again. All was well though.
The normal 10-1 ratio (with girls in the majority) of the Center's students was blown away when the agency we booked this trip, which seemed to allow almost only girls... nice.
We loaded the buses and headed South. I had a GREAT bus, a lot of great people were with me and I even met new ones who study in Seville but go to another school. However, the bus driver would have needed to learn the purpose and practice of cruise control and to stay farther away from the edge of cliffs for me to have felt entirely comfortable. He was so jerky and brake-happy, it's a wonder anyone fell asleep on the bus or escaped sans-whiplash.
We all saw firsthand the effects of the flooding in the lower lands. It's one things seeing it on the news, but a whole other seeing it in person. The houses were flooded about 6 feet off the ground. Everyone has been evacuated. Tragic. Just when I thought I couldn't appreciate the things I have any more...
When we got off the bus, we were on the coast of Spain. We loaded the fast-ferry and continued across the Straight till the coast of Africa. The ferry was also very rocky. I was nervous that because my stomach was already jumbled from the bus ride that I was sure to get sick. Luckily, we all made it and no mopping of poop decks was necessary.
The first city we saw in Morocco was a Spanish one (Ceuta). So, we left to get into the heart of it all. When we finally started to see Arabic signs, temples and scenery changes we knew it was actually Morocco. My first impression was not the one I'd leave with.
While looking out the window, one would see a lot of green, shacks, men in tunics with pointy hoods, concrete buildings, few other roads, rubble, and basically, desolation.
The green was from the mountains, we were just on the right side of them. "Morocco is a country of contradictions". I believe it.
A little background info:
Casablanca is the biggest city in Morocco and the 3rd biggest in Africa. French and Arabic are the two most popular languages. All of the congressional and legislative work is done in French. 60% of Morocco's population in 20 years old or younger. People were having kids like crazy for a while and stopped when the cost of living was too expensive, this really affects their culture.
The concrete buildings are to help endure the heat they receive. The men who wear the pointy-hooded cloaks are more conservative Muslims. They wear white ones on Friday, but all the other days can be any other color. The people who don't practice or have adapted to a more European culture wear jeans and jackets or whatever else they like. On an advertising basis, Coca-Cola has to CLEAN UP. The only ads I saw were those of the company. The Moroccans are drowning in Coke ads and must drink nothing but the soda. There was a mosque ever couple miles. It was easy to spot them because they had the tall towers. The Moroccans go there 5 times a day to pray. Respect.
There seemed to be rubble everywhere... I'm not really sure why but this seemed to be true for each of the cities we went to... very strange. Along with rubble, it was common to see hail railings along the mountainous roads. This was terrifying due to the bus driver's rapid pace. Dogs, chickens, goats and cats were also everywhere. while driving up the mountain, for instance, if you look to the right you can see land, mountain and animals grazing or roaming.
On the other hand, one thing that didn't seem to do a whole lot of moving was the country's population of men. I swear they just stood around. As we were driving, all of the men we passed were simply leaning against a wall or sitting and hanging out by a house or store. All I could do was wonder if they had anything else to do.
The first night was long. We had done a lot of traveling and touring and were all quite tired. We got dinner at the first hotel (a total pit) at about 9 and then chilled. The food was great. I really liked it. They served us mint tea (amazing) and I drank it even though we were not supposed to drink the water.
Later that night I became quite concerned for Angela. Her ankle had swollen to a rather large size to no reason. It had started that morning before leaving Seville. She wore my boots for extra foot space the rest of the trip. I'd originally made fun of it because it was so odd, but then people were scaring me with worried looks and comments.
She was really excited to be on the swollen foot all the next day...
Our room was small and damp. All of the power went out if you flipped a switch. We had about 8 t.v. stations and don't speak Arabic. We were warned from leaving the hotel at night, not that there was a lot to do in the little city. So, Angela and I stayed up late talking, had a skirmish with a light bulb, and psyched ourselves up for the next day.

Breakfast was, of course, bread. We drove about 2 hours to Tetuan. There were the cutest shops. I learned I have quite the knack for haggling (no doubt inherited from my grandmother). I got the greatest scarves and little bracelets. The shop keepers LOVE to haggle too. Were we to walk away (due to disinterest) they would abandon their shop and shout out cheaper prices at us, the farther we walked, the better bargain we got. But, most of the times we walked away, it really was because we didn't want the product, but if you looked at it too long, they wouldn't believe you.
None of us had any idea what to speak to anyone! We all knew ZERO Arabic, are somewhat comfortable in Spanish (but unsure how popular it was) and knew it was unlikely many people would speak much, if any, English.
We had lunch at a palace that had been changed into a restaurant and we watched some very Morrocan entertainment. Henna tattoos, belly dancing and fire spinning kept us entertained.
More Angela and Cece bathroom moments: There is NEVER toilet paper!
That is all.
After the shopping and lunch we took a little more of a tour. We saw blue everywhere! That's because the people of this city paint their houses blue (inside and out) six times a year. The blue represents the love of God. Beautiful.
We then boarded the bus to see a second city. I hate to generalize, but it was just like the previous, but it wasn't blue. We saw a shop where they make scarves, blankets, etc... and another where they still sell herbs and spices to help with health. We got a whole presentation on what helped wit wrinkles, breathing, weight loss, acne, dry skin, etc, etc, etc... On and on. It was SO interesting. I bought some of my new favorite (mint tea). A lot of girls bought this special lipstick that was green but when applied, turned to the "perfect shade" for their skin tone... I think you can guess how they all looked that night at our agency's private party.
Let's just say "But, I TRIED rubbing it off!" was echoing through the room.
The dance was really really fun. It was just the kids from the trip so it was just like a bunch of friends.

This morning I woke up in the second hotel which seemed much nicer than the first one, but it turns out Angela and I were just given a great room. Some of our friends had moldy walls, bugs or stench in their room. But We got ready, ate our bread (I mean breakfast) and got on the bus for the camel rides.
Camels smell. Camels smell really bad. But, lucky for them, camels are SO nice and SO CUTE. After my ride I smelled but got to hang with them. They are calm and friendly. Afterward, we went to the caves of Hercules. KIMMM!!!! HAHA
It was gorgeous. Stunning. The water moved in the most powerful and amazing ways. The caves were so dark that the only light came from above the water and the way it was hit by that light made it sparkle and shine in a heavenly way.
We had our bocadillos on the bus on the way to the ferry. They had to hold the ferry for us... we were a little late. But, here I am, we made it back safely. I'm a little stinky, really happy and in possession of a little more understanding of a beautiful and incredible culture.