Posted 10:13 AM by MelanieandSteve
Once again we are in a place where there are french keyboards so it is hard to type.

we are in Fez Morocco = Love it. great people; Lots of donkeys, smiling people, children playing soccer [Steve played a game and won 4 to 2], its a labyrinth of 9000 streets impossible to navigate alone but a fun playground, great cous cous etc ... Thanks to Bedria for her intro to Morocco last summer. Its everthing and more that you said it was.

Also, the 6 hour bus ride from port Nador to Fez was 1) Gorgeous with awesome fields of wildflowers and mountany expances and lots of shepherds and streams etc... and 2) exciting with the random police checks, one of which resulted in a bust of 3 women on board illegally importing duty free goods. The whole bus, except for us, seemed to join in helping those women hide the stuff from the cops resulting in a game of hide and seek of merchandize from the cops that lasted about an hour = including the women and other passengers running with the goods around the block and then back when the cops werent looking. We only wish wed spoken Arabic as we watched on like flies on a wall.

Tonight we head to Rasani and then Marzouga Morocco for a cammal ride to an oasis sleep over with berbers.

Last night we watched TV in a street cafe with about twenty others and couldnt understand what was said except one word which sounded like surrender. This morning, our guide, Kharim, was surprised that we didnt know the war was over. Our hotel owner was very happy it was over and speculates that Sadam is hidden in Russia because of a deal made between Russia, Blaire and Bush. In any case, across the board, Moroccans seem to view us as people and not as part of the American political conflicts so we have felt welcome and safe. We hear many times a day, 50 thousand welcomes.

Morocco has been by FAR our favorite place of the trip. The people are the warmest of any place. Tourist industry is very low, which could explain why they are so welcomong to us; We have felt no hostility related to Iraq. Morocco was the best anniversary we could have had: (Our 9th on April 9)

HAPPY Birthday Bob Parker

and Erik and Tanya, we are thinking of you as this is target day for your baby, I think.

Salem alah com peace be unto you from alah

masi i hir Good evening


love Melanie and Steve