Morocco

A few days after my arrival, my au pair family decided to spontaneously go on holiday to Morocco for ten days. We had a 3 AM wakeup to catch our flight and then we were off, it was only a three hour flight but by the end of it we were all exhausted from lack of sleep. 

After picking up our luggage and the car we headed away from the airport and civilization and into the desert. Even for 'winter' it was about thirty degrees and I was glad for the summer clothes I brought with me. 

Morocco is a very dry land, full of desert and dust and flies, but offset by startlingly bright clothing and material. Strange soft architecture, mud brick houses fall by the side of a long and dusty road, I cannot tell if they are inhabited or ruined. Windows are few, and instead the dark maws are graced with bars against the elements. Of olive trees and rocks there are plenty.

Battered old cars for the rich chug by, though few and far between. More lie battered and smashed, discarded like some child's plaything in the dust. The road is long and straight, fading into the distance as far as the eye can see and in strangely perfect condition, the tarmac unmarred. But only the one, to either side the road becomes dirt paths, to either side lay dust and dirt. The city is characterized by its architecture, in Marrakech faded glory as if many years ago the rich flocked to those big hotels, full of over-extravagance. Now it is all forgotten.

The buildings glow pale pink, as if a perpetual sunset lies upon them. Camels stand on the side of the road, donkeys carry the poor mans load. The street is full of old motorbikes, barely more than a bicycle with an engine chucked on, and all easily forty years old if not more. The driving is hazardess, bikes dart in and out, men shoeless with white socks ride them. Traffic gives way to no one. 

And everywhere the dust. 

We drive on, leaving it all behind us, the desert endless on either side until we near the city of Essaouira and then we once again headed off the beaten track. You know you are far from home when goats grow on trees. 

After a long drive of over two hours we finally arrived at the house we would be staying at for the next five days.

The view from the roof looking down into the central courtyard of the house

The roof itself

The view from the roof of the surrounding land. Swimming pool and little else!

 One of the kids I look after.