'See you in the Souks!' - My Trip to Marrakech (Pt I)
Sunday, August 16, 2009 Read more → muslim diaries, muslim family, photography, the artist, trips and vacations In the name of God, entirely Compassionate, especially Merciful | Peace be with you
In the name of God, compassionate & merciful بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ | Peace be with you السلام عليكم
So, this July my mom and I took a trip to Marrakech, Morocco (map). Let me add, this was the first time either of us has travelled by plane in 20 years...(and now you're thinking... "aren't you 19?" ...yea..perceptive.. I've never travelled. Well a one hour flight to New York when I was 9, so that doesn't really count.) May I also add that, no we do not have any family or friends there, and no we did not go in a group. I say this because almost every person I've told about this trip either asks "Do you have family there or something?" or "Are you going with a guided tour?"...which kind of ticked me off I must say...it made me think, "why is it so crazy for us to want to see a cool new place...just because we want to and not because we have some other connections?" Anyways, no harm done.
So here's how it went down.
First time travellers, my mom and I get to the airport around 1 pm...for a flight that was to leave at 4 pm I think, and there we see a huge line. This line is full of people who look quite annoyed and confused. We're not sure how this works. Do we check in? Do we go register or something? So I approach and Air France rep, and ask her. There I am informed that our flight to Paris is delayed...in fact, the plane never arrived at its destination. What the blood? So she directs me to the insanely-long line of confused people. And now the waiting game begins. In the line, there were 2 young women in front of us, who provided some small talk and were quite entertaining. Some hours later we reach the Air France desk. Exhausted already, we check in our luggage...and are told our flight is delayed until 7:30..something to that effect. Compensation? Free meal tickets.
First time travellers, my mom and I get to the airport around 1 pm...for a flight that was to leave at 4 pm I think, and there we see a huge line. This line is full of people who look quite annoyed and confused. We're not sure how this works. Do we check in? Do we go register or something? So I approach and Air France rep, and ask her. There I am informed that our flight to Paris is delayed...in fact, the plane never arrived at its destination. What the blood? So she directs me to the insanely-long line of confused people. And now the waiting game begins. In the line, there were 2 young women in front of us, who provided some small talk and were quite entertaining. Some hours later we reach the Air France desk. Exhausted already, we check in our luggage...and are told our flight is delayed until 7:30..something to that effect. Compensation? Free meal tickets.
So my mom and I go to pizza pizza and get some food. When we get back to the gate...the guard asks me "Air France?"I nod. "I think your flight is delayed again," he informs me. He gives me a sympathetic smile. "Till when, do you know?" I ask. He tells me he thinks its 9:30. Well to make this really long story short, the plane arrives at around 11:30 pm. 8 hours later we're in Paris.
Needless to say, one delay pretty much ensures another. We were to have 2 connections. One from Paris, and one from Casablanca. Anyway, on the flight to Casa I was seated between two strangers...(there were "issues" with getting a seat with my mom after that delay). Not that this was a bad thing. In fact it was one of the highlights of the trip...and it might seem kind of lame to call it a highlight...but it sure made for a cute story.
On my left there was a young woman who tells me shes also travelling to Marrakesh. On my right, sits a young man who speaks very little English. With our broken languages we somehow piece together what each other is saying. We both realize we're afraid of taking off and landing...and heights. To distract himself, the man tells me he prefers to listen to music. He shuts his blind and turns on his mp3 player. He glances over and offers up one side of the headphones. Graciously I take it and listen to whatever he is. 50 Cent and some French rappers. I find this so cute. I don't think he'd have let me listen if he understood those lyrics.
After a while the food comes... I refuse the meal, not feeling very hungry at that moment. I take a nap. When I wake up, my new friend is still listening to music. He tells me he went to school for management and that he likes it. I tell him I'll be going to school for arts. And then the bombshell. He shows me a picture on his digital camera of a little girl. "Ma fille," he says. "Your daughter?" I repeat in English. He says yes. I am in total shock. Married man?! with a kid?! That was unexpected.
In Casablanca, there is another delay. We leave at around 1 am, and arrive in Marrakesh at about 2:00 am. We wait for our luggage on the spinney-thing ...but it never shows. We make a lost baggage claim. I'm so tired, I kind of want to cry.
We arrive at the hotel at 2:30 am, and though all the lights are out, we are greeted by a doorman. In the hotel room I take off my clothes and sit on the bed. Looking in the mirror, I sort of feel lost. It's a weird feeling, like I don't recognize myself. I'm probably just too exhausted...
| End of Part I |
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