Snake charmers, casbahs and mint tea

Yesterday I wrapped up my day in Madrid with a walk through the Parque del buen Retiro, botanical gardens and central Madrid. Then I went to the airport to catch my flight to Morocco.

Point of information: it is widely understood among travelers that women traveling without a man can be hassled in Morocco.

So, at the airport, there were only 4 other backpackers...all girls; which worked out well. They were two pairs: one from England and Scotland and one from Denmark and Germany. We decided to travel together, thereby providing me with company and them with a man (and a man with a beard at that).

Another point of information: typing here is slow going. The Arabic keyboard really is a struggle.

The Danish girl called the other day to make a reservation at a hotel in Marrakesh, so we all decided to share a cab and stay the same place. Apparently the guy she spoke with didn't write it down though and they were full. So, he arranged for us to stay at another place - more a family home than a hotel, but it is incredible - and around 9 dollars a night. It has an amazing courtyard, roof deck and beautiful tyle decor throughout. I slept great except for the unexpected call to prayer from the city-wide loud speakers at 4am.

Tomorrow the English and Scottish girls and I are headed out for a three-day excursion in the Sahara and Atlas Mountains. I need to meet everyone soon for dinner in the main square (cous cous tonight), so I need to go now. I'll end by saying that Morocco is everything I imagined and definitely the most foreign place I have ever been.