Caught on holiday in the sun. Woman of Polish/Canadian descent, apparently living in Great Britain since the age of three. Perhaps she should go back to where she came from ! Is this topical or what. Is my blog to turn into a political platform ? I think not but what a farce the last week has been. We have difficulty believing that so many people think isolation, not intergration, is the way forward. Economics aside, community is what is needed not television/social media generated hypnotism. We are Europeans ie from Europe ! A step further, we are the human race on planet Earth. Trying to live together. And not doing very well. We need to work together, not apart. Apart has been tried, think Germany in the 1930's. Look what happened.
There, that's only a very small rant. I'm sure there are a lot more going on in the UK and Europe. What will happen next. How about the rats leave the sinking ship. Oh, that's already happening. !
So we sit quietly here in Asilah, happy to have made this trip a stationary one. Well almost. But here we stay until we leave ! Ramadan comes to an end next week and we might well stay here to see the changeover. Back to 'normal' ! There is a buzz in the air. We feel it in town and on the beach. In the campsite too. The summer holidays are coming and they start at the end of this month long fast.
Meet Abdul Salam. He's the campsite guardian here at Camping Achrigui. He is a quiet and gentle man who looks after us from a distance. Never intrusive. Always helpful. He works seven days a week for 60 dirhams a day. That's about £4.50. He's been working here for 20 years. Options are limited here in Morocco. No social security. No pension. You work or you don't eat. Or, you are rich, and he's not. He never complains.
We have been to his house twice now, to break fast at sundown. His three grown up children and wife live in a very modest flat. The two sons are fishermen and his daughter Fatima wants to go to university. They are all bemused as to why UK would want to leave the common market. Morocco is on it's own in the Arab world and they say it would be fine to belong to a group of countries all working for the benefit of all. They are not alone in questioning us about Brexit. It's a common question in the streets and souks. We don't have an answer to the question. 'Why.' ?
One evening this past week, we bought the traditional sweety things called Sherbakia and sat watching the sun go down waiting, along with everyone else, for sunset. Time to eat and drink. People gather on the beach as well as in their homes for this daily event. It's a serious business after fasting all day. Not that we have of course. But the effects of Ramadan are widespread. We feel them and eat and drink as little as possible in front of Moroccans, as well as Krysia keeps well covered as best she can on the streets. Many people thank us for our efforts as well as some get angry when we slip up. We are fortunate to have our van. Other tourists we have met are finding it really tough to get food, especially breakfast and lunch.
Abdul Salam smiles as he says ' Morocco, Ramadan " He has a good sense of humour underneath his muslim faith. Not a hint of criticism but a sparkle of amusement.
Asilah is very quiet. Normally bustling with tourists but between Ramadan and the growing fear of terrorism, this place is empty. And the shops are feeling it. They are deperate for custom. They hate the terroists as much as anyone does. Ramadan, they have to endure.
As they have to with us ! We have become regular faces about town and on the beach !
What you doing here, we are asked. We like it, we reply. You are welcome, they say.
And mostly we do feel welcome. But there are idiots everywhere and occasionally we meet one. And take no notice, as you do.
Meet Narfin. He's the son of the owners who live on site. He's 18. A smile at any time of day and good heart.
Nice hat Narfin !
Meet Mike and Shanon. An American couple from Seattle USA. Beautiful people as real as it gets. They are themselves and very happy with that. They are travelling around the world on motorbikes ! Two years in to it now, two years to go. We met them first on the ferry from Spain to Morocco at the customs desk. We chatted and wished each other well on our travels. We next saw them a couple of days ago in the campsite. !! Immediately bonded and spent two fine days together before they left on their journey. It's never the quantity, it's the quality that counts. What lovely people. Tears in our eyes when they left. Never to meet again or ? who knows. They have even both been through treatment for Hep C ! Both cleared first time round. Both living life to the full in an uncertain world. We had so much to talk about, so much to share.
As they said about America, "It's like the EU, So many different states ('countries') trying to work together, where would the USA be if they all parted and went their own way ! Now GB has forced the issue in Europe. Where will we go, now we are heading to independance ?
I'm getting political again. !
What do you think girls ?
' Shout it out Ted '
OK, we don't have to do this !
We make up the rules. !
We can break them !
As the wonderful old blues band, Canned Heat sang out in the 60's,
Let's Work together, C'mon People.
