Our friendship with Yassine, our hip-hop dancing clown, led up to at least 5 other Moroccan friendships. Their hospitality was immeasurable. Always ensuring that we were content, taking us to local spots for food, shopping, and leisure. Because of them we were able to enjoy our own private beach! A simple bus ride south for about 30-50 minutes (time depends on if the axle in your bus breaks, yes I said axle) takes you to three beaches (Casino, Contrebond, and Sabldore) which are less crowded and girls can comfortably wear their bathing suits. They even took time off to meet up with us in our next town of travel, Marrakesh, where we toured the waterfalls, played in the plaza, and of course enjoyed the local cuisine.
However, one of our best nights together was in Rabat when the boys decided to cook us dinner. If you ever have the opportunity to come to Morocco then you have to try Tajine. It is a dish that is delicious and made with savory spices that thrill the palate and simple too. The dish used is made from a clay and composed of two parts: the base and the lid. The base is round and slightly deep in which you fill it with all sorts of veggies (potatoes, carrots, onions), a meat (usually chicken or beef, no pork cause they're Muslim) and of course the Moroccoan spices with sea salt and water. The top is added and is shaped like a volcano which allows the steam to rise and cook the food as the entire 'contraption' sits atop a fire.
For our Tajine night, the boys built a bonfire on the beach and prepared our meal in front of us! We all sat around communicating in French, Spanish, and Arabic. A night full of stories, memories, and questions as our delectable delight bubbled away. When it was time to eat we devoured our food and in the end our tummies and our minds were full from all we had taken in. The friendships we've made in Morocco are unforgettable and God willing (En Shallah) they will continue and perhaps we can all meet again.
