Last day in Marrakech

We are now back in Marrakech for our last night in Morocco. We parted ways w/our driver Abdel, who invited us to his family's home just outside of Marrakech next time we visit. We had fun listening to one another's music in the car. He shared Berber and Arabic music as well as current US tunes, while I shared rock and roll and Rach 80's and cutting edge music.

Wa'alekaim salaam Abdel!

It's really hot...I mean reeeeealllly hot - 108 degrees outside. We went to Le Jardin, a short walk from our riad for a small bite. It was almost pleasant eating outside surrounded by pomegranate, fig and orange trees. There were fans on the tables but no amount of fanning could keep the sweat from dripping down our backs. 

Le Jardin in 108 degrees

Although our riad told us Le Jardin takes credit cards it wasn't at the moment, so an employee walked us to the nearest ATM. Our payment experiences have been that 

1) nearby establishments share 1 credit card machine, 2) there is never enough cash on hand, and

3) all employees are expected to search their pockets or go to the next closest business for change.

Our Le Jardin escort to and from the bank pouring me some water

At this point I have to Thank God for air conditioning in our riad room.

Our abridged tourist Moroccan Dictionary:

Berber whiskey - Hot, sweet Moroccan mint tea

Kinshalla - god be willing, like "Next time we come to Morocco, kinshalla, we will come in the fall or spring.

Beezmillah - drives the ghosts away before we eat, a kind of bon appetit

Humdeleelah - thanking god for food after eating, or for anything 

Lah - no

Ee-yay - yes

Shukran - thanks

Wahah- ok

Yellah - let's go, which Rach said is used in Israel, too

Mule - Berber 4-wheel drive

Tooweezy - community aid, like when a villager is adding onto his house, all the community is called to help in exchange for a meal; oftentimes the mosque's PA system is used to let villagers know about a community project. If a villager can't make it they are expected to donate money to the cause.  Tooweezy - which sounds like 'too easy' became a joke between Abdel and us, like when we all had to pitch in to figure out how to use the Bluetooth in his car, kinda like our "it takes a village".

BTW - come to learn that Noel's name is spelled Naoual and is pronounced 'no-wall'. 

Tonight is packing up then 9pm dinner w/ the Flormans at Nomad.