Meeting Marrakech




04 a 06 de abril 2009. First time to set foot in Africa, and no less than in exotic Morocco, which is only a ferry ride away from Tarifa in Spain. Went with my Italian flatmate and his German friends. After quick visits to Tangier and Rabat, the capital city, we took the long train ride to Marrakesh, with its big square Djemaa El-fna populated with snake charmers, henna tattoo artists, musicians, and carts selling snail soup, spices, and nuts. All around the square were narrow, winding streets lined with Ali Baba's treasures--markets called souks with different streets for metalworks, carpets, leather, lamps, and everything else you've ever imagined you can find in an Arabic market.

As expected, I thoroughly enjoyed the bargaining, just as they enjoyed the good fight. After the stern negotiations, we would smile, shake hands, and say goodbye. And always, they would ask where I was from. I'm afraid I've just created a reputation for Filipinos being barat :P But now, especially after strolling through the palace gardens in Sevilla back in Spain (which will have to go into another album) a few days after this trip and feeling right at home, I am convinced that I was a Moroccan princess in my past life ;)

Feeling guilty because I've been going to all these places and doing so many things without having time to update my site in a long time. Since I've been so blessed to be experiencing all these things, surely I must share them with other people. Well, here's a start to changing that, poco a poco.

Comments

  1. Leland PasionMay 22, 2009 at 5:35 PM

    How fantastic, Jeneen! I hope to one day experience Morocco, too. I'm very happy for you!

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  2. Bugoy Traveler PHMay 22, 2009 at 5:37 PM

    YOU are missed!

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  3. Jeneen GarciaMay 22, 2009 at 5:37 PM

    hey leland! long time! yeah, the great thing about morocco is that they don't require a visa if you're filipino. strange and i can't imagine why, because most of my other classmates weren't able to go for that reason, but i'm just glad things are the way they are. definitely need to go back!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Leland PasionMay 22, 2009 at 5:42 PM

    Woooooow... Now that is very useful information! Thanks! Yeah, I'm left wondering why that is, too. But yeah, I'm very happy that's the way it is! Haha!

    Safe travels, Jeneen. Hope to bump into you somewhere along the way, sometime in the future.

    Padayon.

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  5. Jeneen GarciaMay 22, 2009 at 5:43 PM

    aww RV, been missing you, too. wondering what other adventures you've been to as i see new pictures of your travels on facebook from time to time. still the wanderer as well? :)

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  6. Bugoy Traveler PHMay 22, 2009 at 6:08 PM

    latagaw, more than ever Neen. Heading off somewhere despite the flu scare. Yay! hehehe. Keep this site updated para bluelist :-)

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  7. psyche castillonMay 22, 2009 at 8:08 PM

    hi. :) what's tangine?

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  8. May-i PadillaMay 22, 2009 at 8:09 PM

    Ate ang ganda dito! hehehe

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  9. Jasper PoMay 22, 2009 at 10:01 PM

    Parang ma-balance ang 'barat', kantahan mo :)

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  10. Jemi AquinoMay 22, 2009 at 10:19 PM

    this is as moroccan as it can get.

    lovely that you have another continent under your belt.
    HUG. HUG. HUG.

    race you to australia. ;)

    HUGS,
    jemi

    ReplyDelete
  11. Girlie CabijeMay 22, 2009 at 10:22 PM

    hehe.. me too. :)
    lovely lovely photos by the way..

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  12. Girlie CabijeMay 22, 2009 at 10:22 PM

    oh so what you ate... was an iguana?

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  13. Girlie CabijeMay 22, 2009 at 10:23 PM

    amazing...

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  14. crazy sexy bonitaMay 23, 2009 at 4:06 AM

    Neen! love your pics! Naexcite ako - Morocco certainly looks interesting! =D Now, all I need to do is to convince Wood! =D

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  15. Ivy MCMay 23, 2009 at 4:22 AM

    that was aptly stated. Truly, you are blessed to experience such things and I envy you. I should have been more daring during my state of singleness.

    And I love Morocco. I've been seeing the beauty of this place from the tv series I've been watching although the setting was always marred with bad elements.

    Go and enjoy life!

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  16. beng garciaMay 23, 2009 at 5:58 PM

    Love the souks! Great photos, as usual neen- I felt I was there :)

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  17. Aileen GuirnelaMay 24, 2009 at 11:42 PM

    lovely indeed!

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  18. mia comerosMay 26, 2009 at 7:53 AM

    Hi Jeneen! Kumusta? Lovely pictures! Are you in grad school or just doing some world travels?! ;) Kangil-ngig oi.

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  19. erick c.a.May 28, 2009 at 3:44 AM

    any chance of finding a magic lamp here? :-) grab me one -- better yet, rub it and make a wish for me :-)

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  20. erick c.a.May 28, 2009 at 3:47 AM

    Is it flavored? :-) been years since I've tried one...

    ReplyDelete
  21. erick c.a.May 28, 2009 at 3:48 AM

    same here. I don't know what tangine is. but it sure reminds me of abu dhabi. hmmm... naglaway na ko :-)

    ReplyDelete
  22. erick c.a.May 28, 2009 at 3:51 AM

    I guess whichever souk you go to, be it in abu dhabi, bahrain, or morocco, there's always that similar look/ambience to them.

    ReplyDelete
  23. erick c.a.May 28, 2009 at 5:06 AM

    i thought these will go to become soup too :-)

    ReplyDelete
  24. erick c.a.May 28, 2009 at 5:06 AM

    i thought these will go to become soup too :-)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Jeneen GarciaJune 5, 2009 at 3:22 AM

    konting ipon lang, may-i, para makapunta ka rin ;)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Jeneen GarciaJune 5, 2009 at 3:23 AM

    oh jas, i miss singing just as i miss you :(

    ReplyDelete
  27. Jeneen GarciaJune 5, 2009 at 3:23 AM

    summer for christmas? ;)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Jeneen GarciaJune 5, 2009 at 3:24 AM

    thanks you :) this doesn't even capture the real colors, the textures, the sounds, the smells....

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  29. Jeneen GarciaJune 5, 2009 at 3:25 AM

    no, just boring old chicken hehe. i don't think they serve this to tourists. certainly haven't seen it on the menu.

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  30. Jeneen GarciaJune 5, 2009 at 3:26 AM

    go, gay!! just make sure to prepare for pinas-like weather, and double the pinas-like tawad ;) hope we can meet up again somewhere before i leave....

    ReplyDelete
  31. Jeneen GarciaJune 5, 2009 at 3:28 AM

    again i say, we are all blessed with our own paths. never regret yours. traveling and discovery will come when the time is right for it again. have faith :) in the meantime, i'll try and share as much as i can of what's been given to me.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Jeneen GarciaJune 5, 2009 at 3:30 AM

    and i'm sure you'd feel right at home there, ma ;) if bargaining and shopping were made into an official sport, you'd get an olympic gold medal haha.

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  33. Jeneen GarciaJune 5, 2009 at 3:31 AM

    hi leen! kumusta?? now there are only two places in the world where i actually enjoy shopping--marrakech and bangkok :) would want to go back someday, maybe even work there.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Jeneen GarciaJune 5, 2009 at 3:33 AM

    hahaha! what's the difference? ;) ikaw bitaw, diba ga-expedition mo sa indonesia ron?

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  35. Jeneen GarciaJune 5, 2009 at 3:34 AM

    oh tajine is like a stew cooked and served in one of those pots with the conical cover that you see in the picture :) traditionally moroccan i think.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Jeneen GarciaJune 5, 2009 at 3:35 AM

    haha. me too! but the boy who was selling them looked appalled when i asked that. i guess they like tortoises more than they like snails and iguanas. or maybe they just don't taste as good :P

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  37. Jeneen GarciaJune 5, 2009 at 3:36 AM

    of course ;) apple's usually the best. the only smoking i'd ever try.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Jeneen GarciaJune 5, 2009 at 3:37 AM

    i'm sure there's one there somewhere. marrakesh was where aladdin found his... didn't do a lot of rubbing when i was there, though hehe.

    ReplyDelete
  39. May-i PadillaJune 15, 2009 at 8:35 PM

    hahaha kapag dumadami ang clients ko makakaipon din at makakabawi :D plug mo naman ito dyan hehehe http://www.metapixel.com.ph

    ReplyDelete

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