Reason 621 Why I Love Morocco: There is a patient acceptance to the less than desirable matters of life. Though I see the the flies as aggressive because their always in my face, my Moroccan friends smile and reframe this as, “They’re just curious.” or “They just want to kiss you.”
Culture, Europe, History, Travel
A Tour of Gallipoli (Gelibolu)
by Thomas Stanley • • 0 Comments
Admittedly, I knew very little about Gallipoli (Gelibolu in Turkish). The United States played a negligible role in that particular theater during World War I, so our history doesn’t pay it much mind. Most of what I know about its significance comes from the popular Australian ballad, And the band played Waltzing Matilda. The song is…
Aside
Reason 248 Why I Love Morocco: Sometimes, when you show up early for the bus, the bus drivers take you to breakfast.
Awareness, Culture, Food, History, Life, Peace Corps, Relationships, Travel
Dry
by Thomas Stanley • • 5 Comments
Coming from the Pacific Northwest, where it rains (or, at least drizzles) much of the year, it’s been a bit of a shock to live in such an arid part of the world. Generally speaking, Morocco is a dry country. Though there are regions, especially in the north and among the foothills of the Atlas Mountains,…
Culture, History, Nature, Peace Corps, Photography, Travel
Chellah
by Thomas Stanley • • 1 Comment
Within Rabat, the capital of Morocco, are the remains of an ancient city called Chellah. Originally Phoenician and Carthaginian, then Roman, then Muslim, the ruins are fairly well-preserved. Eventually, the site became a cemetery, or necropolis, as the Muslims favored nearby Salé. The site also contains a lovely botanical garden and has become a favored…
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Reason 591 Why I Love Morocco: If you look helpless enough, eventually someone will take you by the hand and lead you through the morass of paperwork necessary for renewing your carte de sejour.
Awareness, Culture, Life, Nature, Peace Corps, Photography, Travel
A Mountain Drive
by Thomas Stanley • • 2 Comments
Sometimes, it’s nice to just get in a car and take a mountain drive. There’s nothing like the freedom to explore an area at one’s own pace, stopping at scenic viewpoints, lunching at an out of the way café, eating pomegranates while watching the sunset, or hanging out with shepherds watering their sheep. Unfortunately, Peace Corps…
Awareness, Culture, Europe, History, Observations, Photography, Travel
Koningsdag in Amsterdam
by Thomas Stanley • • 0 Comments
I can’t be sure, but I doubt any country celebrates it’s monarchy as enthusiastically as the Dutch. I hadn’t planned on it, but my brief stopover in Amsterdam, Netherlands coincided with the national holiday of Koningsdag, or King’s Day, preceded by Koninginnenacht, Queen’s Night. Coming directly from another monarchical system, I reflected on the difference between the…
Awareness, Life, Travel
Walking
by Thomas Stanley • • 0 Comments
During our time in Seattle, and as we become more accustomed to living without a car, Erika and I have begun to walk more. Several of our journeys have been serious treks around Seattle that take most of the day and extend for many miles.The slower pace has been a nice reminder to slow down…
