Blogging on Meds

Luckily (and recently) I was able to go to Morocco for work - Marrakech to be specific. Why North Africa and not Palm Springs when they were going for a desert scene - meanwhile trying to save money? Not sure, but I’m not complaining because I got a fucking rad, paid for trip with some friends in Africa. And I met some of the nicest people I’ve met in a while - so warm and friendly those Moroccans are. Enough sugar, more grit…work consisted of photo assisting a photographer who was shooting “lifestyle fashion” for J.Crew ads/catalog. Was actually surprised when I found myself looking at the J.Crew mens clothes and thinking, wow, these clothes aren’t half bad… seems like they got a new head of design. The clothes aren’t as crusty (catalog) as they used to be.

So the last day after the shoot we (the photographer Matthew, the other assistant Taea, the man model Will, and I) ventured into the main square of Marrakech also known as, Djemaa el Fna. Which literally translates to Assembly of the Dead - which is rad right? Inside the Djemaa el Fna, it’s pretty much any crazed shopping tourist’s wet dream when it comes to “North African shopping.” Those souks sell everything from scarves, tea kettles, Moroccan rugs, jewelry, antiques, hash (totally not legal), traditional men’s and women’s clothing, those pointy camel leather Aladin shoes, etc. Basically, anything a tourist can want, and need for a successful shopping spree. The Djemma el Fna is also the place where you’d see the snake charmers, the assholes who remove the fangs of the cobra snakes and blow their flute to mesmerize/charm the snakes for 300 Dirham (approx 30 Euro). I don’t get it. It’s actually not interesting and even possible that it’s actually quite boring. You’ll also see the dickheads who walk around monkeys on metal chains as leashes and basically throw the monkey on your arm, then charge 200 Dirham (20 Euro) if you even attempt to get your camera out and take a photo. Well, we gave in and took photos with the monkeys, and paid the asshole very little, at which time he started yelling at us. The man model almost pulled out his right hook - left jab combo, so he reluctantly walked away. Also, Marrakech’s nightlife is crazy - but mainly in the Djemma el Fna. A few discothèques were “going off” but those aren’t in the Medina, or the old historic part of the city. The clubs seemed more like gay clubs than anything else. Since the photographer we were with enjoys men, he wanted to sneak off and go to the discothèque. Sure enough, within an hour he had joined up with us in the Djemma el Fna. But remember, it’s pretty much a dry booze city, other than the discothèques, clubs and hotel bars. So if you’re there to party, keep it at the hotels.

Any ol’ way, the last day of my trip I had finally succumed to the pressure of getting rugs for gifts for Mom, brothers, friends, etc. After narrowing down the best rug stores for my liking, and after haggling down 3 rugs from his initial price of 4000 Dirhams (400 Euro - which is a fucking lot!!!), all the way down to 850 Dirham (85 Euro - which is cheap as shit!!!) he offered me some mint tea and a hash spliff. Well, why the fuck would I not smoke hash with a carpet dealer? This guy was amazing, and allowed us to sit there and drink his tea, sit in his lounge area for customers, get stoned, which i don’t smoke - hardly ever (3 times in since 2005).

Whatever. All I’m saying, is go to Marrakech and visit. Those people are as friendly and funny as anyone I’ve met. They’re cuisine is as good as anything I’ve tasted. And it’s as beautiful as anywhere I’ve been.

Lots of photos…

Next week I’m in Dubai for 2 weeks. I’ll be camping in Oman for a couple days to get away from the Neo Las Vegas and hopefully go to Kish, Iran…which apparently is the only place in Iran where I wouldn’t need a visa.

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