Other Notes
In Morocco, there were a few etiquette “rules” we had to learn, like not taking someone’s photo without permission, or being prepared to tip for the privilege. We also learned that negotiating in Morocco is an art form. A gentleman at one of the Atlas Mountain shops we stopped at taught us how it was done. He told us, “I will say a price too high, and you will say a price too low.” After some light banter which included the phrases “how many camels for your wife” and “artisan” in reference to a very obvious chip in the piece of pottery we were buying, we walked away amused (and satisfied) customers.
There was also a lot of poverty in Morocco which ultimately trickled down to the animals. Our research turned up an organization called Spana. They are a UK-based operation with strong roots in Morocco that ensures donkeys, horses and mules are healthy and people are aware of the importance of animal welfare. They rightly believe if an animal falls sick or is injured, then the family it supports may go hungry and fall deeper into poverty. The many hardworking, non-complaining, sweet donkey faces we encountered on our trip reinforced that this was the right charity to donate to.
We would be remiss if we didn’t mention the time we spent with PinPin. She invited us to their Amanjena maison one night for drinks (and cigars). It was our first flyertalk meet-up and we enjoyed getting to know her friends and family, chatting about Amans and touring the lovely room. Many thanks to PinPin and friends for the kind hospitality!