Robyn.Bowles.es

We arrived back “home” yesterday evening. It was a good feeling to enter the familiarity of our room after having slept in eight different beds over the past month. The trip back was moderately uncomfortable as my feet have been swollen for the past two weeks, and sitting on the bus for 6 hours made the swelling extend all the way to my hips – at least that’s how it felt!

This was taken on Saturday, May 21, before the bus ride – I can’t believe how puffy I look!

I checked my blood pressure when we got back (I have an automatic cuff in Madrid) and it was high and has remained hovering around 140/90; usually I’m like 100/60, so this is a bit concerning for me. I’ve just been hanging out sitting and lying in bed all day so far – very boring, but the swelling isn’t as bad and it gives me time to catch up on email, sorting through pictures and writing here.

I’m not sure where to start to review our Morocco trip! I guess I’ll start by showing several pictures of each place we visited at a time . . . so to begin:
April 21-April 24: Tangiers
Overlooking the ocean; in the distance you can see Spain (looks close enough to swim to, doesn’t it?).
Some of our group atop a high hill overlooking the ocean to one side and the city to the other.
We spent a lot of time with these kids who participate in an English and Music club at the home of our host. They are part of a soccer club and the coach invited us to his office to show us pictures and the many awards his teams have one.
One day we spent time at the beach with the kids and the coach led the group in doing some exercises then a game of soccer.
And of course there was music! Fadidah demonstrated her Moroccan drum-playing ability.

We really enjoyed our time in Tanger on the north coast. We stayed in the home of a Moroccan family. It is a large home and is used to host guests like us. It also serves as a gathering place for many neighbors and children. We received such wonderful hospitality there. The Moroccan people love to serve us and each other and do so in ways that we Westerners seldom do.

Each day the neighbors made us a wonderful lunch, and we were always joined by several others who happened to be around. Lunch always led to a party with drum playing, singing and dancing. It was a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. Children filled the home as they have found it to be a very welcoming place. English and music club are held there in the afternoons and the completely tiled rooms echoed with familiar songs such as “Friends are Friends Forever” (a favorite), “Father Abraham” and “Silent Night” – sung at the top of these little moroccan kids´ lungs. We also had the privilege of spending a day at the beach with several of the kids and their futbol coach, along with our hosts.

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