A wonderful thing about studying abroad in Sevilla during the spring semester is you get, not one, but two spring breaks! The second break is for Feria de Abril, which is a week in Sevilla full of private tents, flamanco dresses, dancing Sevilliana, horses, amusement rides, and drinking. But before I embarked on that journey I took a little (6 day) trip to Morocco. I know what you're thinking but do not fear, I went with a tour group who has been plenty of times.
The trip started at the beautiful hour of 4:45am on Friday with a bus ride to catch the ferry. We visited Rabat, Fez, and THE SAHARA DESERT! Saturday night we even rode 4x4's into the desert in order to hope on some camels and head to a desert oasis where we spent the night, whoooo can say they did that! There was berbers signing and playing drums, a fire, and the most beautiful sky I ever seen in my life. With no light pollution for miles and miles it feels like you are in a planetarium except it was way cooler and real. We all woke up at 5:30 in the morning to climb a huge sand dune and watch the sunrise over the Sahara. No big deal. Then we drank some tea and hopped on the camels again for a 2 hour ride to a desert hotel, which hurts after the first 30 minutes. Now if you think Morocco is strictly third-world stuff than think again because these desert hotels are like resorts with beautiful pools, restaurants, tennis courts, and even mini golf. Oh and that reminds me- the food in Morocco is amazing! Breakfast consists of tons of different delicious breads and pancake-type things with honey and jam. Of course there is tea, tea, and more GLORIOUS tea! Then for lunch and dinner there is amazing cous cous and vegetables as well as a oranges with cinnamon (try it- it is soooo good). Anyway I got a turban and even learned how to put it on myself. Turbans are essential in the desert if you do not want a birds nest full of sand as hair. These would be a great addition to the USA when you dont want to wash your hair in the morning- just sayin.
Something that really amazed me was that the berbers do not go to school but each one knew about 4 languages. They spoke arabic, english, spanish, and french all from being around tourists. I have been taking spanish for years and even live in a spanish speaking country and they were better than me. Also, they act like it's nothing cool or out of the ordinary that they can do this. Super cool.
Fez was also really cool. We went to the Medina, which is a huge market area with tiny little unnamed streets and the only "transportation" that can fit inside are horses and donkeys. We visited a place that made tons of scarves and all by hand. We also went to a tannery for leather goods, a carpet-making place, and a pharmacy that sells everything from natural viagra to tea and perfume. It's so strange to see things made by hand now-a-days. I sound like an old lady but really, it makes you really appreciate the beautiful work when you watch a woman produce an 8x10 carpet stitch by stitch.
It really is an amazing place and somewhere I never thought I wanted to visit but will (hopefully) being going back to in the future. And it ended on a great note because there was a party the last night at the hotel with everyone in the tour group. There were surprise belly dancers and a talent show. The prize for the winner of the talent show got a free trip to Lagos, Portugal with the same tour group, Discover Sevilla. Guess what?? I WON :) I performed a little rap and also beat boxed (thanks to Seth) and won my 140 euros back for the trip I am going on this coming weekend! YAY.
Well I am off to watch the fireworks for the last night of Feria! Ahh my time here is coming to a close WAY to fast!!
Later alligators!
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