Cities visited: 8 (Barcelona, Malaga, Tangier, Marrakech, Essaouira, El-Jadida, Fez, Chefchaouen)
Books read: 2.5 (The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami, Saturday by Ian McEwan)
New Moroccan friends drafted as unofficial tour guides: 4
Times we were assumed to be Spanish: 3 million
Times we were assumed to be Portuguese: 2
Cookies stolen: 1
Jokes made about stolen cookie: 450
Confiscated deoderants: 1
Tea invitations: more than 100 but less than 1 million
Times the phrase "we'll take it to go" woefully misunderstood: 1
Postcards mailed: 0
New Arabic phrases definitively mastered: 3 ("Insha'allah," "SabaaH el kheer," "shukran.")
Hours overslept for return flight: 2
Rucksacks lost somewhere between Malaga and NY: 1
Glasses of fresh-squeezed orange juice consumed: 3,000
So as you can see, we're back from our turn in North Africa. There's so much to tell about it, but I couldn't manage to do it here. So it must suffice to say that I'm really glad we chose to go to Morocco and hope to return there someday. Once all our photos are uploaded to Flickr, I'll share them here and let them tell the story.
Before this, it had been four years since the last time I left the country, and almost as long since I took any real vacation that did not involve visiting family or other loved ones. Leaving puts things into perspective like nothing else, which can sometimes lend clarity and sometimes confusion. For instance, maybe it took being in such a warm (by which I mean socially warm) place to realize the extent to which I have let myself become closed off to strangers and other new people over the last few years. On one hand it's easy to blame five years in New York and three years in law school for having developed such a hard shell. On the other, traveling in such a relatively open place makes one suspect that it is possible to resist the pressure in this city to be so cool, inscrutable, and self-contained. It's an obvious point, but one that's easy to forget in a place where it is possible to see hundreds of people during a single day and not really connect with even one person. This is my biggest beef with New York, and the reason why we ultimately may not stay here. But in the meantime, I've resolved to try not to be too-cool-for-school so often. Because let's face it, in reality school is probably way too cool for me.
All this is not really to say much that's of interest to you all. Except maybe that, in the spirit of connecting with more people more often, when I returned to Brooklyn I happily remembered that The Spiders made an honest woman of me right before I took off for vacation. I'm looking forward to getting to know these rockstar knitters-bloggers better, and to having a place to be on Friday evenings that might force me to leave work (when it's possible) by 6 one day of the week.
What else? While away I started the nth Razor Cami you've seen, using the blood red SWTC Bamboo I originally bought for Orangina. (The blood red color and the name of the pattern could combine for a few uber-Goth monikers for the project, but to dampen the melodrama I'd rather go with the "Ouch, I Cut Myself!" Camisole). I tried to photograph it, but it's way too cloudy to get a good shot today. For some reason the color and pattern are difficult to capture on digital even in decent light. Sarah has a funny picture of me working on it in Chefchaouen, but as she's busy dressing up and looking pretty for a fancy wedding she's in this weekend, sharing will have to wait. (note to self: I'm kinda tired of having to coax decent photography out of my camera. Start saving for that Nikon D50 already, m'kay?).
And now, the next and last phase of vacation before returning to the ranks of the employed in late September... sitting around doing almost nothing. It's gonna be awesome. Look for some FOs and Morocco tales and photos over the next week. It's nice to be back!
Posted by jess at August 25, 2006 12:30 AM | TrackBackWelcome home! Leaving the US really does open you up to people, doesn't it? I was in Australia two years ago and didn't want to come home - the people were so great! It is so easy for me to forget that there is a whole world full of perspectives out there. Looking forward to hearing more and seeing the photos. Glad to have you back.
Posted by: Amanda at August 25, 2006 1:40 PMwelcome back! sounds like your travels were nothing short of spectacular. i look forward to seeing the pictures and seeing you on Friday nights!
Posted by: amanda at August 25, 2006 1:50 PMWelcome back! I'm looking forward to reading more about your trip and seeing your amazing pictures!
Welcome back. I'm looking forward to some photo entries.
Posted by: Gina at August 25, 2006 2:08 PMhome again home again! i can't wait to see all of your pictures from north africa! did you spend anytime in the desert? i'm dying to go there one day :)
we can't wait to have you on friday nights more often. "made an honest woman" out of you.. tee hee.
Posted by: gleek at August 25, 2006 2:09 PMcan't wait to see pictures!
it is so easy to forget how people in other places are much more friendly than in new york!
Posted by: melissa at August 25, 2006 2:10 PMFor the record, you're one of the friendliest people in NYC! Can't wait to hang out one of these fridays.
Posted by: Veronique at August 25, 2006 2:15 PMOh, the glorious return of Fig and Plum! This is when I stop crying myself to sleep every night.
j/k. . .sorta. I guess this is my twisted way of saying welcome back, you! The knitblog-o-sphere hasn't been quite the same without you. Sounds like you had a blast! can't wait to see those pics.
and whatever, ms. too-cool-for-school. you're one of the first online knit blogger type friends I made way back when. You're one of the funniest, nicest, and non-judgemental human beings i know, you big softie. ;)
Posted by: Sandra at August 25, 2006 2:34 PMSo glad to have new fig and plum to read! Welcome back! I am curious about your trip to Morroco. As an exchange student in France (about a zillion years ago), I expressed an interest in traveling to that part of Africa, but was always cautioned by my french friends that north Africa was not a place for a woman to travel. Especially single young women. Or even married young women with big husbands. Did you find this to be true?
Posted by: jean at August 25, 2006 2:45 PMWelcome back! Can't wait to see all of your pictures and hear stories :)
Posted by: Sarah at August 25, 2006 2:53 PMWelcome Back! I can't wait to see your pictures. It sounds like an awesome vacation, one that can make up for 4 years without one. Why did people think you were Spanish?
Posted by: Cathy at August 25, 2006 3:40 PMYeah...welcome back. I can't wait to hear more about your trip and see the photos!
Posted by: Suzanne at August 25, 2006 4:13 PMWelcome back! I've missed you! And I can't wait to live vicariously through your tales of Morocco.
Posted by: Lisa at August 25, 2006 5:28 PMGlad your back to the blog! I'm already thinking about where to travel next summer so I can't wait to be inspired by your photos!
Posted by: jenna at August 25, 2006 5:50 PMWelcome back! Glad you had such a wonderful time. I'm looking forward to seeing the photos when you post them. Oh, and your FOs, of course!
Posted by: Kirsten at August 25, 2006 5:58 PMWhat a beautiful photo! Looking forward to seeing more...
Posted by: kelp! at August 25, 2006 6:33 PMI can't believe you went to Chefchaouen! My husband and I went there in the spring of 2000. I loved it so much... Did you take the 3 hour bus from Tangier through the Rif mountains? Can't wait to see your pics!
Posted by: laura b at August 25, 2006 7:04 PMWelcome back from your trip. I'm wondering about the stolen cookie story. Enjoy the rest of your time off!
Posted by: Delica at August 25, 2006 8:19 PMIt's so nice to see you back! Sounds like you had a great time. I can't wait to see the pictures. :)
Posted by: natalie at August 25, 2006 8:58 PMWelcome back!
Posted by: brooke at August 25, 2006 9:39 PMOoooh, I've always wanted to go to Morocco. Once you are caught up I'll have to ask for travel advice.
Posted by: carlarey at August 25, 2006 10:04 PMWelcome back. I used to live in midtown Manhattan (pre-Disneyfication era) and I know what you mean; it took a while for the NY attitude to melt away once I left. (It is a handy tool to keep in your back pocket, though!)
Posted by: Angela at August 26, 2006 10:21 AMthat sounds like a fabulous, much-needed vacation. very curious about what they did with the "to go" food.
it's tough here -- i try to be friendly, making small talk with people on the subway or delivery guys. then something bad happens, like my car gets broken into or someone starts begging me for money, and i just shut down again. it's a difficult balance. oh well. look forward to seeing you on fridays!
Posted by: carrie m at August 26, 2006 10:37 AMWelcome back! It was great to see you at The Point and hope to see you there on many a Friday night to come. Can't wait to see the pictures of Morocco, I'll be they're fabulous.
Ooh, a D50. Good camera!! It's probably impossible to take a bad picture with a camera like that.
Posted by: Lisa at August 26, 2006 11:01 AMOh la! My friends are considering a similar North African jaunt. Welcome back, and I look forward to your trip memoires!
Posted by: Karen B. at August 26, 2006 11:21 AMYay, you're back! I can't wait to hear about your vacation. I'm so fascinated with that part of the world. I have been to Barcelona and I loved it. The city is art to me.
Getting the D50? Great choice! I have that camera and if you have any questions about it let me know. I think it's a great DSLR to start out with. It was my first digital camera. :)
One thing that Paris lacks is a bunch of cool knit bloggers. Maybe someday...Until then I'll admire my american knit bloggers from afar!
Posted by: Aimee at August 26, 2006 1:10 PMAhlan wa salan! Insha'Allah you had an amazing time and are recovering from your travels. I'm glad to have fig and plum to check in with again! I'm also glad that the Muslim world was not the big, bad monster our media makes it out to be! I hope the warmth and the tea stay with you for a long, long time!! Was the Fez book helpful?
Posted by: Shannon at August 26, 2006 2:58 PMWelcome back! Glad to see you enjoyed your time away - looking forward to seeing your knitting progress :0)
Posted by: Charity at August 26, 2006 4:02 PMWhat a wonderful trip! I am sure you made memories that will last a lifetime!
Posted by: Jamie at August 26, 2006 9:22 PMargh! i want to go to morocco so badly. glad you had a great trip, so far i've never heard of anyone not liking it! although they'd probably laugh at my arabic skillz. can't wait to see photos.
Posted by: al at August 26, 2006 10:54 PMI've been wanting to go to Morocco for ages. I'm so glad you did, and I'll look forward to the pictures. Hey, if you want to get out of NYC some day, Michelle and I would welcome another addition to Spiders West in Portland!
Posted by: Sarah at August 27, 2006 2:16 AMWelcome back Jess! I can't wait to see your photos. Enjoy your time off before work! And if you decide the life of a NYC lawyer isn't your thing, I can attest that there are other options! But I'm sure you'll be just fine!
Posted by: megan at August 27, 2006 9:07 AMYou ARE too cool for school--I spotted you in Women's Wear Daily, knitting with the Spiders!!
Posted by: Cirilia at August 27, 2006 10:22 AM(delurking:) I agree wholeheartedly w. what you say about what (positive things) travel is for one. Glad you went to a fantastic place - sounds like a place for me too - I'd love to see and will patiently await your pics. Love the list you started this post off with - great! Glad you had a good trip.
Posted by: Terry at August 27, 2006 10:59 AMWelcome back! What an incredible place to go for a vacation! I can't wait to hear more about it.
Posted by: Cheryl at August 27, 2006 11:51 AMWelcome back! I have a g/f who met a French man in Central America; he didn't speak English and she didn't speak French but they both spoke Spanish. She ended up going to France with him and traveling around on that side of the pond - Morocco was one of her favorite stops.
You know we all want to hear the story of the stolen cookie, right?
Posted by: E to the M at August 28, 2006 1:10 PMSounds as if this trip has given you a chance for reflection. Visiting another country definitely had that effect on me.
The first thought I had when you mentioned visiting Morocco was of Patsy and Edina from Absolutely Fabulous! Glad that you and yours arrived safely home!
Posted by: chica at September 2, 2006 2:39 PM