Lets go to Africa!

Just got back from Africa yesterday! You don't see that sentence very often do you? Nope. Well, I am very happy that I am able to use it. Our trip started early Friday morning and ended Sunday night. Our schedule was very tight, full of bus rides, monkeys, ferry's, caves, markets, haggling, food, exotic entertainment, and more!

Gibraltar was so cool! First off, I love monkeys so I was already really pumped to get there. So, we arrive and literally monkeys were everywhere. Hanging on the busses, trees, people, everything! They are really comfortable around people, basically they just want your food. I of course wanted some interaction with them, so I luckily had a little pack of pumpkin seeds in my purse. As I reach to go get them a Mamma monkey see's and immediately comes at me and pulls and tugs my purse. Smart little things, they know what you're looking for. After she was shooed away by the bus driver. I poured some in my hand and hid the rest in the other behind my back. As I was feeding the Mamma monkey a little one was sneaking behind me. All the sudden the little monkey jumps on my head in attempt to get to the hidden seeds in my other hand! It scared me but I was laughing/screaming  a little at the same time. I just gave up the whole pack and threw it to the ground. Mamma monkey was happy about that and the little guy just chilled on my head for a bit, I was laughing the whole time. The highlight of my trip! I was so happy to have an encounter with them. I know that sounds silly, but I love monkeys!

We finally arrived in Morocco Friday night. Exhausted from the day of travel and monkeys we had a  great dinner at the hotel and went to bed. Bright and early Saturday morning we started our African adventures. We had a tour of Chefchaouen first by the cutest little tour guide ever! The old part of the city was where our tour was and it was very picturesque. All the town walls were painted a light blue, our guide said this kept the mosquitoes away. The homes had the smallest doors, very odd, but they are small because before you enter the home you are to bow. So the small doors make sense :) Also, you enter everything with the right foot first and exit with the left foot first, supposed to bring good luck. Habibi! Our little tour guide kept saying. It means my love, or my darling. He also said he has been on the show Lonely Planet. That was pretty cool.

         
















Haggle, haggle, haggle. Oh did I mention haggle. So much of it in the market place. You say one price they say higher, back and forth over and over. Then you walk away, walk by a little later, they stop you and give you a lower price. Worked for me at least :) Although I probably could have tried even harder with a few pieces of jewelry but all in all I am happy with my purchases. So interesting that they all can speak at least 3 to 4 languages and some more. They have to. There  business is to sell and if they can't speak to tourists, then they won't do very well. I really enjoyed the market place, but the haggling can be a little overwhelming at times. I did buy a pair of pants/skirt piece I wanted from before I even got to the market. Found them, got them! Really funky, but I like them :)

My new funky African pants/skirt!

More to come....