Entry into my journal I thought would be fun to share with some friends I know, but everyone who reads this is also more than welcome to enjoy:
October 14, 2007
I'm sitting in the rail station in Fes, Morocco right now. I know, how crazy is that? Our trip has been ridiculous. In a good way though. It began with a bus schedule out of Sevilla which was incorrect. Great start huh? We got up at 7:30Am and went to the bus stop at 8:30. Found out our bus didnt leave for another hour. FANTASTIC. But we rolled with it. We got on our bus and headed down to Algecerias to catch a ferry to Tangier. WE got to Algecerias 3 1/2 hrs later and found out that the ferries cost 70 euros each. Ouch. But still ok. We paid the euros and jumped on the ferry.
Oh and I forgot. We met an American on the bus. One of the most annoying guys ever. His second question was whether or not we could smoke hash on the bus. But we also met an extremely helpful Moroccan man. His name was Mohammad. He spoke 4 or 5 different languages. Absolutely amazing and makes me feel like an idiot. Me who only speaks a language and part of another...I really need to try harder at this Spanish thing.
So anyway, back to this ferry. We got on after a bit of a cringe because of the cost. Once inside we had to wait through the customs line to get our passport stamped. That took a good 30 minutes. By this time we were hungry (little did we know that this problem would be one of the main ones of the trip: "Where do we find food??"). So we ate our bocadillos. The ferry ride was incredible after that. We went off onto the deck outside and chilled, too pictures, and talked....
Back up again though. The ferry didn't leave until 2 hrs past the point it was supposed to leave. That made it ~3:30 PM Spain time. Thankfully that is only 1:30 Moroccan time. So we still have plenty of time to make our train in Morocco. But here's the thing. Two modes of transportation down. Two modes of transportation which were late. So far, so good.
So now we are in Tangier. We need to find a place to change money, to ask directions to the train station, and figure out if we can walk to the train or if we have to catch a cab. Also this is where I'm supposed to "take care" of all these women with me. So now I have the voice of our director, Leslie, in my head telling me that if anything happens down here its basically my fault. No pressure right?
We get to the information desk at Tangier and its all women. The group of us talk and the girls decide to chat with these information women. Already I would have been lost without the people im supposed to be "protecting". The ladies at the desk let us know where to change money and also say we need to catch a cab to get the to train station.
After changing money we all pile into one cab, because we're not supposed to split up, and head to the train station. When we arrive there we find mass chaos with cops trying to keep order. "What is this?!?!" was the question we were all asking. So we decided to get out of the taxi (good idea???), pay the man, and figure out our train situation. Enter helpful Moroccan man numero dos. This guy just started talking to us randomly. And he know perfect English. What?!? He helped us navigate the mob out side of the station. With his help we pushed our way in. Then I saw the line, or lack thereof, for the tickets. It definitely was not a line but a mob of men all screaming for a ticket to Fes. Wow. And I have to get in in that mob??? Fantastic. Well i did what I had to and joined the mob...very awkwardly. The only white guy in a group of Moroccan men tends to stand out. We've got some good pictures.
Eventually the cops came by and started yelling at us to get into a line. That gradually happened, although it was a very tightly packed line without any personal space...whatsoever. I went through this line and got the tickets (helpful Moroccan guy numero dos was a huge help during this process as well). They ended up costing 487 DH. Not bad. Not quite 10 euros a piece.
The next step is to get on the train. Problem is the mob which was previously in front of the ticket booth has moved residences to the area surrounding the doors leading onto the loading platform. And its grown. 200 angry, hungry Moroccan residents who have not eaten all day...or for the last month, does not lead to anything good. They were banging on the windows and whistling/yelling at the cops who were holding the doors shut. Eventually the mob won and broke one of the doors by ripping one of the handles clear off its hinges, forcing themselves out on the patio; most then began sprinting for the train.
Needless to say while this was all happening we were in the back of the crowd without a clue of what to do...and be logical beings we just decided to roll with it and force ourselves towards the only door available to the 1000 (yes it increased in the last few seconds) people flooding out towards the train. Somehow we found ourselves outside. By half running half walking to the last car, we miraculously we found seats available next to some Moroccan people. We all sat down...a bit stunned over what just had occurred.
And then I thought seriously about what we had just done. We're on a Moroccan train, about to embark on a five hour train ride to a city called Fez...yes, we are insane :).
Theres the first entry I made. The others will come later :).
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