Asilah - Chefchaouen (MA) : fist miles in Africa
Asilah
N 35°28.321' W 006°01.744'
A few kilometers and many more curves down the road; here a synthesis of the past days. Asilah, a small town on the Atlantic coast we stayed at the As-saada camp ground in one of their small box rooms. We enjoyed a few tranquil afternoons and made first contact with Moroccains. They're always ready to sell you something, take you to a hotel of their family or a friend or to offer you some hashish. Where there is not much else than tourism, it is a way to make a few Dirhams. Our late lunches of fried fish and soup we had at El-manara - a locals' restaurant. We've already learnt a few words in Arabic: shocran thank you, afac please, kess elmaa glass of water, laila saida good night, hinchalla if God wishes. In the very well kept medina the artesans and their creations contrast strongly with the traders with their standardized products. It is apparent, however, that both have a century-long tradition. On our last night our waiter with much emotion recited a good number of his own romantic poems in Spanish - probably his third or fourth language.
Chefchaouen
N 35°10.195' W 005°15.573'
En route to Chauen (as the locals call it) the farmers offered their small harvest of sparagus, olives, palm hearts, strawberries and other produce on the roadside. The winding road slowed us right domn and at least Annabella could appreciate all the details such as a man running up towards the road with a tiny plastic bag in his hand.... Anyway, our conclusion is that Morocco is on the move either in a Mercedes Benz 240D or on a donkey.
Chaouen is a quiet, small picturesque town set on a slope with it's medina in shades of purple. The terrace on the top floor was our breakfast spot with great views of the medina alleys below an the surrounding countryside. We spent a great afternoon with three Basque travellers sharing past and planned travel information and local traditions e.g. sweet mint tea. Back in the medina we get to hear the touts' favourite line "he who hurries lives among the dead" in an effort to get us into their shop time after time; the tone always friendly, courteous and never aggressive. The people are very friendly and on leaving after only a few days there it felt like we were saying good bye to good friends.
Photos
N 35°28.321' W 006°01.744'
A few kilometers and many more curves down the road; here a synthesis of the past days. Asilah, a small town on the Atlantic coast we stayed at the As-saada camp ground in one of their small box rooms. We enjoyed a few tranquil afternoons and made first contact with Moroccains. They're always ready to sell you something, take you to a hotel of their family or a friend or to offer you some hashish. Where there is not much else than tourism, it is a way to make a few Dirhams. Our late lunches of fried fish and soup we had at El-manara - a locals' restaurant. We've already learnt a few words in Arabic: shocran thank you, afac please, kess elmaa glass of water, laila saida good night, hinchalla if God wishes. In the very well kept medina the artesans and their creations contrast strongly with the traders with their standardized products. It is apparent, however, that both have a century-long tradition. On our last night our waiter with much emotion recited a good number of his own romantic poems in Spanish - probably his third or fourth language.
Chefchaouen
N 35°10.195' W 005°15.573'
En route to Chauen (as the locals call it) the farmers offered their small harvest of sparagus, olives, palm hearts, strawberries and other produce on the roadside. The winding road slowed us right domn and at least Annabella could appreciate all the details such as a man running up towards the road with a tiny plastic bag in his hand.... Anyway, our conclusion is that Morocco is on the move either in a Mercedes Benz 240D or on a donkey.
Chaouen is a quiet, small picturesque town set on a slope with it's medina in shades of purple. The terrace on the top floor was our breakfast spot with great views of the medina alleys below an the surrounding countryside. We spent a great afternoon with three Basque travellers sharing past and planned travel information and local traditions e.g. sweet mint tea. Back in the medina we get to hear the touts' favourite line "he who hurries lives among the dead" in an effort to get us into their shop time after time; the tone always friendly, courteous and never aggressive. The people are very friendly and on leaving after only a few days there it felt like we were saying good bye to good friends.
Photos
posted by Retobados at 1:16 PM
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