Well, then…. I’m sitting in a cafe in Tangier, nous nous (great Moroccan coffee) in hand, after arriving here last night. Yesterday was a big day for me on this trip – I said adios to Scott after his ten day hang and headed northward up the coast. Deborah arrives in Casablanca tomorrow for another ten day jaunt, so Chapter One of the trip has wrapped and Chapter Two is soon to begin. Fantastic.

Being with Scott was really awesome. Any time I get to spend solo time with the kids is really special, and doing it with my caboose made it particularly enjoyable. Scott is so smart and it felt like we were on a private guided tour. We saw really fascinating places and had a blast together. Thank you, Scott – you made the start of the trip and the journey absolutely terrific.

Reflections one third of the way through this voyage – first of all, I love the country , the people, the culture, the architecture and the vibe. We’ve found the food to be very mediocre, but we’ve navigated around it. It is incredibly safe here, and people could not be nicer. Super chill all around EXCEPT for the police on the roads. They play a two man speed trap game everywhere that you simply can’t win. Although I’ve talked my way out of three speeding tickets so far, I’ve gotten six plus an improper lane change one.

Here’s the drill – you’re pulled over and one of the tag team walks up to you with a radar gun showing your car and the speed you were supposedly going on the very small hand held screen. Total bullshit. Every time I was stopped, I was told I was doing 67 in a 60 Km/hr zone. All of the cops were extremely nice, but you have to pay the tickets on the spot – approximately $15 a pop. Rough justice indeed, and I complained bitterly to all of them that the whole drill was a total scam and that they were completely turning tourists off to visiting their country. They smiled and took my Dirham….

Anyway, that truly sucks, and it formed a good part of my decision to hit Spain for nine days after Deborah’s stay here. That and the fact that three weeks in Morocco will be enought to see pretty much everything I came to check out. Spain will be lots of fun, as I absolutely love it there.

Essaouria (pronounced Esswara) was an absolute jewel. Scott siad we had to visit. Known as a chill surf town, it has a low key but upscale vibe, with great food, views and activities (including Hammam, which is an incredible body treatment dating to the Persians). I’m gonna Hammam often going forward. We stayed in a riad (an apartment behind a completely nondescript door, with a beautiful courtyard and total privacy inside) right in the Medina (the walled villages / towns where merchants and restaurants have plied their trades for over a thousand years). Superb place and experience.

The town of Mouley Bousselham was next. I stopped for lunch and found it very pretty, but poor and dirty. Nice people, though.

Girls just wanna have fun…

The town of Asila, further north, was an absolute jewel. Beautiful Media, restaurants and sea breezes abounded.

The young girl on the right flashed me the peace sign. Very cool….

Mr. Chill. Definitely not a Klan hat….

Well, that’s it for today. Headed back to Casablanca to pick up Deborah, then off on another adventure to places she wants to see. Ciao for now.