Night at the "Jelly Bar"

In keeping up with Moroccan tradition I decided to try a new place for my 2nd hammam. This is the Spa/Gym a few blocks from my apartment. While the salon has reasonable prices, the gym part does not. The prices are tripled from a NY membership and simply can't afford it. Grrrr....

I tried to tell her I'm a teacher here, not getting paid much and will get members for her etc....

Not happening. So for now I booked a Golden hammam session. I felt relaxed already waiting for my appointment. Scrub-a-dub-dub....clean me and steam me.

Ahhhh!!!! This place was AWESOME! I was again whisked away into a dimly lit chamber and assumed the position on the marble table in my paper thong. She then brought me into a dark steam room with tiny white lights on the ceiling for a few mins. She came to check on me every so often and touched my shoulder. (I think that was her way of seeing if I was getting over heated) Then she brought  me back for more scrubbing, washing, and massage. Flipping over from front to back I was much more relaxed this time and trying to think of nothing but 'relaxing'.....until I felt a finger or two get awfully close.....Ah! (although I kept my eyes closed the whole time, she may have seen my eyebrows go up)....."it's ok, Catalina, its totally professional" I thought....after all I was so lathered up and sudsy, I guess it's bound to happen. lol

Then walked to Bianco Ice for a sweet treat. The pistachio ice cream / gelato here is the best I have ever had!

Time for some dancing fun! These are some of the ladies I work with. Very blessed to know such a great group of women. They are smart, funny, and know how to have a good time. We all help each other through even the seemingly simplest tasks.....that are not that simple to do here in Marrakech.

Annie is from Chicago and lives right below me. She's a runner and comes from a big family like me.

The dance floor was filled and when these guys came out to dance with us, the energy was turned up 10 notches. The place is really called Djella Bar, but we nicknamed it "Jelly".....sounds similar. Great atmosphere here.....clean, cool artwork on the wall, drinks a little expensive, but over all has a great vibe. http://www.marrakechcode.com/restaurant-marrakech/djellabar/

And.....this is the guy I met at the souk who sold me the carpet and who safely brought me home after zig-zagging through the medina. We made plans to meet at the club. He is 29 and born and raised in Morocco. He speaks 4 languages and English very well, thankfully.

Have you have seen the movie "Stella Got Her Groove Back?" It's a good one.
That's all I'm gonna say about that. :)

Will see him tomorrow night as well.
Just taking it day by day here.....and remaining Mindful in Morocco. <3

Poufs, Artwork, and Magic Carpets Rides.....

Finally made it to Djemaa el fna!!!! The square is within walking distance from my apartment. It is a market place in Marrakesh's medina quarter. It remains the main square of Marrakesh, used by locals and tourists. You can find hundreds of souks selling everything under the sun. Monkeys doing tricks, cobras doing dances, and all the handmade carpets, lanterns, and freshly squeezed juice that anyone can wish for. It's the core hustle and bustle of the city.

The best time to go is sunset. It isn't that hot, and that's when all the vendors come out selling their slow cook stews on bunsen burners. Things such as chicken kabobs and snails are on the menu.

This photo depicts some of the transportation ways of Morocco: Bus, cab, horse, moped....Hey, we are missing the donkey, bicycle, and of course just plain old walking.

The call to prayer started just as I was entering. Loved it!!!! Because of my foot situation I have not been able to get down there....so, I think the medina was welcoming me! :)

Me & Liz (she teaches 5th and from D.C.) 

There are TONS of juice stands and they ALL claim to have the best juice in Marrakech. 

So many lanterns to choose from....Ennie-Meenie-......

All natural spices in jars.....the whole experience is very intoxicating....so much to ask, to learn, to want to try....lucky I have 2 years.

I DID buy more art! 

The streets turn into narrow alleys that twist and turn....you must be on your toes or will get run over. 

Here is Annie trying to negotiate a good price for a rug. After she walked away (which was her strategy) I was busy looking at one myself. And then the tall handsome man spoke......
"I was waiting for your friend to leave so I can talk to you"......
At that moment I think I actually looked behind me....lol "you talking to me?"
LONG story short, and after I purchased a rug (Annie didn't) .....We all threw our merchandise in a cab and I end up on the back of his moped swerving through the crowded streets past the donkeys, cabs, cars, was in arms reach of a horses ass and my foot nearly clipped a pedestrian. Seriously? What was I thinking? Was this for real? We just went down looking for stuff to decorate our apartments.
Well I wasn't thinking clearly. I actually, gracefully, said "no".....and my friend Annie said if you don't get on the bike with this HOT guy I'm never talking to you for the next two years!!! AHH!!!!....I need all the American friends I can keep! A lil peer pressure....and a lil birdie whispered "just DO it"......and off we went into the warm dusty night. Thankfully he brought me straight to my apartment and we all went out for snacks at a new local place we haven't tried. Good times :)

And plans were made to see him tomorrow at the club we were all going to.

Meet the "pouf" guy....I bought one...the story goes it gets filled with old clothes, plastic bags etc...once mine is filled I will take a pic. I Love it!!! All leather and hand embroider stitching. 

Oh man....the sheep are being kept together already..... the Eid holiday is coming.

View from restaurant roof top.....great first time being there. Going back tonight.
My new friend told me he plays guitar....say what? I'm a sucker for musicians.....always wind up dating them (ex husband was one)......anyway he says in his French/Arabic accent "Maybe after I close my shop you bring your friends and I lay down carpets and bring tea and I play for you"
......ummmmmm....Hellzzzz Yeah!!!! :)

Sounds good to me. 

Welcome to the Veggie Market

Pomegranates are now in season!

Took a walk on Saturday morning to the local veggie market.

All the little stands prepare their little booths.

Walking up to it....Hmmmm....are there veggies here?

There Were chickens all stuffed into here......

This is my selection after shopping.....you then bring it up to get weighed.

Fresh Herbs

Getting weighed....I HAD to photograph this.

These are the weights used to measure the food.
In the end a Huge bag of veggies and fruit cost $6.....and its all organic!!!!

Afterwards we sat with the locals for bread and tea.

This woman scrubs the pans after the bread has been made. 

So this Amazing hot bread is served with a bowl of honey and bowl of olive oil. Or in some cases mixed. I was enjoying the honey and he came over and mixed the 2 together and told me to taste it. So I did. It WAS yummy.
See the old coke bottle on the table? That has the oil. That plastic tub contains the honey. We sat on crates, and just watched first how the locals do it.
Wha-la.....we ripped and dipped and enjoyed our breakfast for a roughly $1.00.

I will be sure to take walks to the market from now on.

It's the little things. :)

I Need to Talk about the Flies..zzzzzz....zzzzzz

Sho-Fly-Keeps Bothering ME!!!!

(and every other freakin person here!)

(except the Moroccans it seems)

Ok, I NEED to talk about the flies!!!!!!
Yes, it seems like Marrakech and Essauoira (the only 2 cities I have been to so far) have the worlds highest fly population, AND these are not just any old flies. They are stubborn! You know how they just normally fly away when you swat? Well Not these mother fuc$ers.....they zoom into your ear, nose, hair, eyes! I'm just waiting til I accidentally swallow one! Disgusting!!!!
Whether you are showered or not.....they zoom around you.....yes, I have tested the theory.

Here is unfortunately some of the messy parts of the streets that cause the flies :( 

Anyone see "Fly Guy"in there? ......

-Dumpster at the end of the day near my apartment .... :(
-Man looking at me taking picture of dumpster with flies.
-Sometimes it is hard to enjoy the local cafes because the flies land on the food and then I think they lay eggs, and then the thoughts come "Am I now eating fly eggs?"...."Did they just come from landing on donkey dong?"....I can't ....lol

-Luckily NO flies in my apartment!!!!

Here he is!!!
Ok, enough of this Bizzzz-ness
I still love it here.....but Hate the flies! 

I Caved....and Hired a Maid.

This is the FRESH mint tea waiting for me when I walked in the door from school. 

This is the hot meal I ate with the tea, when I walked in the door from school. Sat down to eat it and got a warm feeling in my heart. Tasted Awesome too! 

Here is the Tagine pot bought by my maid in a small neighborhood, that cooked the amazing food that accompanied the tea, that I had when I came home from school. 

So truth be told its Super dusty here. Well after all it's the desert right? Good 'ol Saraha only a few hours away.  For those that know me well, I'm a clean freak and seeing the dust accumulate so quickly is not only unnerving to me, but bad for my allergies and asthma (that is thankfully in control for now). 

Ok, maybe I'm trying to justify just a little....

But seriously, it IS way dusty and I don't want to spend my free time cleaning. I'd Much rather be writing lesson plans or experiencing the culture. (The second option WAY better) lol

 I put the word out and got a referral from someone that uses a nanny at school. The woman has a sister who needs work. Yesterday I had an "interview" if you will, with this woman. Of course we needed a translator and she sat there smiling at me as I explained what I wanted. Ummm....what did I want? I just want my place dust free and white tiled floors clean! 

I read in the culture shock book (love that book btw) that many expats hire a maid or nanny and it is very reasonable to do so. With that comes the way Moroccan woman clean and what is traditional. Floors are scrubbed with a giant window wiper blade sorta thing. Laundry is done with strong detergent (did not ask for that this time) And any dishes left in the sink will be done. Well, since I have never done this before I asked for the basics. They told me if I leave ingredients she will put together a tagine for me as well AND make fresh mint tea. Oh snap! Who doesn't want to come home to a clean house and a hot meal??? When I found out the price I was sold! Sweet! 

Nervous and excited to walk through the door, I was pleasantly surprised. At first I did not even recognize the woman! She looked totally different. I was puzzled and then realized I only saw her with her hijab and burqa on (head scarf wrapped very tightly which only reveals the face and her burqa which is a loose garment worn from head to toe). I soon recognized her eyes and smile. Ah, ok, this is the same woman as yesterday....Phewww....lol

Once I took a quick glance, I could see everything was Clean!!!  Yay!!! 

It makes me so happy to have a clean space. It also meant I could go enjoy myself later with some friends in one of our favorite spots. 

Most, if not all of Morocco has tiled floor...pretty obvious why. I think once Sammi and Finster arrive they will enjoy laying on them because of the coolness it will provide. 

She brought me in the kitchen and poured me some tea. Wow-eee! On the cutting board I could see all the fresh mint leaves chopped up. Damn! It doesn't get fresher than this. She remembered I did not like sugar and therefore I really enjoyed it. :) She showed me the tagine pot she bought and uncovered the fish dish that was whipped together. Oh yeah, it looked so yummy! Without further due I served me some authentic Moroccan food, flipped on my computer, put my feet up, and thought......

......when in Morocco, live like a Moroccan right?

No doubt I am grateful I can have this woman come in and do this for me. I could never afford this at home. The best part of all this?

My friend stopped by, so I naturally offered her some tea that was just prepared. I went into the kitchen for a glass and at first found a mug, "no, no", the maid said, then I found a tumbler style one, really sorta for juice but thought it would do because it was glass. "No, no" said the maid. What is the problem?... I thought. And why is she watching me? 

She was Not letting me use anything I reached for. She then found a small glass, the kind that is typically used for serving tea. They do not use mugs for tea here, only coffee. 

At last my friend got here tea. :)

I love that. 

I love that I Needed to use the Right glass to serve the tea. Even if she tisked me for grabbing the wrong one, I appreciated that she wanted me to keep with tradition. 

Somehow I made a connection. The scrubbing of the bodies in the hammam and the way the house gets clean.....the Islam culture likes things clean, and I DEF like that. :) 

There was something very warm about this woman....she made my white floors sparkle, and even though it doesn't look homie yet....it's starting to feel more like home. <3

Plenty of leftovers and when my colleagues stopped by I gave them all a taste.
This woman might have some new customers. :)