The World in Photopoetry: Morocco

Morocco is a very extreme country. I arrived there in july by the insane ferry from Algeciraz, Spain. It takes hours to make the simple journey. Inside everyone was in such a big despair that i thought it’d be the final battle. My first surprise there was Ramadan. It was not allowed drink and eat during daytime even for tourists and i didn’t know it. 50ºC and foreigners could drink only water. Ice cream and alcohol was just a dream during that month. Markets can’t sell beers or spirits.

So i went to Fez, largest car free area in the world. If you find the exit, you win. Only with help of paid local guides is possible to cross that milenar human anthill. A gentle spanish speaker man helped me there and after a while he was arrested for it. It was shocking.

Food is a russian roulette. You can see heads goat exposed on the sidewalks to sell and fridge is only for rich people. In one of those days,  unlucky i tried pigeon meat and i spend last 10 days of the trip in the toilet. Marrakech worth a visit. Snake charmers and pet monkeys amused the folks. Temperature were soaring during daytime and even for Satan was very hot. I found a botanical garden and spent all the afternoon there. Cafes alleviated a little with aircon or humidifiers. Midnight unsurprisingly all was working: shops, restaurants, transport.

I remember one of the nights, it was 2 am and everyone in the hostel was in the hall dressing only underwears, it was impossible sleep. Tired of that thing, i went straight to Sahara desert, last part of the trip. On camel i went with a group of 4 girls to sleep one night with the bedouins. The sunrise was astonishing and i remember like if was yesterday. The little prince was lucky arriving on Earth in a desert, the plenitude is indescribable. I heard that some people spend weeks and months wandering there. But i was still with bad stomach and was time to leave. I took the train up to the border and took the same ferry. After more trouble, i stepped again in spain and as if by magic, my body was in a perfect state (seville). So it was time for vacation, for proper food and for drinking a good beer in Madri and Barcelona. I tell you in the next time.

Lucas Ramalho