Cancun

Getting from Marrakech to Asilah
Every day on the road, can’t be wonderful news experiences, great stories and picturesque backgrounds that should appear in travel magazines. Getting from Casablanca to Asilah has now become a war of attrition, since I have re-discovered that if there is any significant rain in Morocco, it has the effect of paralyzing most modes of public transport. In Toronto, 2 [click here or on the picture to read the article]
Here’s looking at you, kid!
Casablanca is world famous because of a movie, nothing more, nothing less. I’ve never seen Casablanca, the movie, yet I was aware of two things : the movie and Rick’s Cafe. In traveling through Morocco for the past two weeks, it was almost unanimous amongst my Moroccan friends that my time would be best spent in the mountains, gorges, beach [click here or on the picture to read the article]
Daytripping from Marrakesh to Ourika Valley … Here’s what you should ask … Part Deux
Heading into the Ourika Valley is definitely a nice, short day trip from Marrakech. Like many other side trips from Marrakech, the scenery is spectacular and the contrasts are amazing. The Ourika Valley spreads between the first foothills of the Atlas Mountains, extending along the Wadi River. Despite it being so close to Marrakech, this beautiful green valley is one [click here or on the picture to read the article]
Some bridges aren’t meant to be crossed
I do crazy things all the time … or seemingly crazy things all the time, but crossing swinging bridges should really never be one of them

Note the gaps in the bridge and the “planks”

One could say that the Berbers cross these bridges all the time and that they never seem to be in mortal danger with these bridges or the fact [click here or on the picture to read the article]
Getting on like a Wajang in Ourika Valley …
<Me … in full Wajang mode> What the hell is dis shit? Wha’ yuh mean that it cold, and the other people don’t wanna climb to the waterfall? Which part of my problem is dat? I paid for ah tour, and the highlight of today’s tour was climbing the waterfall, otherwise you all taking to me some shithole Berber village [click here or on the picture to read the article]
Gendarmes in Morocco don’t react well to sarcasm …
So another thing you learn in a Muslim country is that the appearance of doing something is as important as actually doing something. Hence one of the customs I knew about in Muslim countries is that taking pictures of the mosques and military establishments are prohibited. One has to ask permission to take pictures first before doing so.
However [click here or on the picture to read the article]
Daytripping from Marrakesh … here’s what you should ask …
Stories of Morocco always include the Souks of Fez and the pulsating rhythms and energy of the Djemma el Fna but they don’t stress of overall beauty of the Morocco, especially when any walk outside Marrakesh has the backdrop of the snow capped Atlas Mountains.

Walking through the Djemma, there were tour companies that advertised available day trips and of the [click here or on the picture to read the article]
Djellaba Power!
The best purchase I have made on my Moroccan trip so far is my Black and Gold Djellaba, in fact, it ranks as one of the most useful travel purchases ever for me. Why does rocking a Djellaba for a Trini make sense?

Moroccans are instantly impressed that you are wearing a Djellaba, especially if it is a nice one.
It is [click here or on the picture to read the article]
What to actually look for in Marrakech … forget the Palaces and Tombs
For the past three days, I have been doing things in reverse. By meeting up with two great guys from the local Couchsurfing network, Mohammed and Houssam, I have been shown a side of Marrakech that the tourists don’t generally see right away and they have provided me with some first hand local knowledge that I could access without spending more [click here or on the picture to read the article]
More Moroccan belly time … Part Trois
Oye, lemme get a Kafta Tajine, Coke and some pepper sauce, and allyuh put some pepper in the god damn tajine nah, like what ah have to do to get some peppah in meh food? Allah, ent putting none for me in there yuh know.
This is what I would like to say to a Marrakhi, but there are some fundamental [click here or on the picture to read the article]
Duck and cover …
To Hammam or not to Hammam …
Today was one of those traveling days, where you’re tired, cranky and suffering from a bit of travel fatigue … you’re set in one of the most fabulous and mysterious cities in the world and yet all you can think about, is watching Sportscenter and eating chips in your home. So I decided to listen to my body and take [click here or on the picture to read the article]
Lawd, meh belly can’t take it no more … Djemaa el Fna food touring at night … Part Deux
“Lawd … meh belly full … ah cyar eat no more … but ok … one more piece. <Two minutes later>…. aight, aight … gimme ah small plate of <insert food item here>”
Trinidadians love their bellies. It’s part of our culture, it’s part of our heritage and part of what makes a Trini, a Trini. After a second night in [click here or on the picture to read the article]
Is ah concrete pitch party at the Djemaa el Fna …
“Holy shit, is like dey close down the Savannah, pave it, and put the all the Debe doubles vendors, the Breakfast Shed, Shay Shey Tien and he 50 Chinee cousins, and have Machel and David Rudder singing easy kaiso and soca at the same time … they have to have some blasted corn soup in here”

There has been much written [click here or on the picture to read the article]
You’re in Fez … spend a little money on a Riad
Hotels are a dime a dozen and offer conditions that are officially ranked, reviewed, regurgitated and inevitably catalogued. If in Fez/Marrakech/Essaouira, try staying a Riad.
The definition of a Riad is a traditional Moroccan house or palace with an interior garden. But they are so much more than that. The riads are inwardly focused, which allows for family privacy and protection [click here or on the picture to read the article]
More Moroccan culinary artistry, smelly tanneries and Fassian Carpetbaggers
Walking through Fez is like watching an old movie from my childhood. I remember the biblical epics starring Charlton Heston, Kirk Douglas and Lawrence Olivier, with the backgrounds of tiny streets, tons of busy people, laughing children, layered aromas of manure, kafta kebabs, mer and incense complete with donkeys wandering around. Well walking today was no different from those scenes, except that the donkeys are carrying LPG [click here or on the picture to read the article]
Arabian … ahem … Moroccan nights in Fez
There is a reason that cliches are called cliches.
Typically, all the guide books mention that you should not make friends on the trains, because you’re likely to meet a smooth talking Moroccan on the trains claiming to be very well to do, with a good job. They get into easy conversation with you about your job, family, the country you’re [click here or on the picture to read the article]
Stuck in Tangiers for now …
It’s been three hours that I’ve been stuck in Tangerville train station, but everyone has been really nice to me so far, especially since I saw 4 Americans asking questions and getting the complete cold shoulder from everyone. The first question everyone has asked me, “Where are you from?” … upon the reply of Trinidad … the quizzical looks start. [click here or on the picture to read the article]
My first time with real Moroccan food …
I’ve had Moroccan food before and I wasn’t really a fan of it. It’s like my opinion on Ethiopian food, I can eat it but it wouldn’t be my first choice unless I was having it at my friend Beth’s house, since she is an amazing cook. Something about Injera doesn’t sit well with my Trinidadian palate … roti or [click here or on the picture to read the article]
Morocco, you and I need to have a talk …
Traveling without any set plan or itinerary comes with its inherent challenges:

Constantly changing places to sleep
Constantly being on a bus/train/plane
Not knowing where you will be in a week
Gambling that last minute fares and hotels can be negotiated on the fly
Figuring out if there are ghosts in your room
Dealing with people in your hostel who snore louder than you
Only having two pairs of jeans [click here or on the picture to read the article]

Night walking in Cancun….

Jan 262008

Well long day getting from Cancun to Miami… almost missed the plane in typical style and all…. but of course in the end I got the plane but I lost a 100$ bottle of tequila because the flight attendants from Cancun didnt remind me to check the bottles in the luggage. Anyway now I am here in the plane and of course we’re completely delayed and all. So I guess I have time to refresh the last couple days of travel since I dont know how long I will actually be in this plane stopped here.

However, walking around Le Meredien was really nice and the moonlight made for some great pics