They are
building a tramway and metro system in Casablanca, scheduled to be completed by
the end of 2013. But what does this mean for its residents now? Complete chaos
and construction everywhere. I walk through construction sites daily on my way
to work, taking different detours daily depending on where the new construction
is. The traffic is also horrendous at times due to this project. It is faster for me to walk to work, than to take a taxi, which could be stuck in traffic for over 30 minutes.
Grand vs Petit Taxis
So I think
I’ve finally figured out how the taxi system works here. There are two types of
taxis “grand” and “petit”. The grand taxis charge a fixed rate and can take a
max for 6 people. Which means 2 people in the front passenger seat. The first
time I did this, I was rather hesitant; holding onto the car door for dear life
hoping it doesn’t pop open as the driver hugs the curves as though he is the a participant on the the Monaco Grand Prix. The petit taxis can only
take 4 people and run on a meter. One interesting thing, both taxis just pick
up and drop off people as they go so you already ways crammed into the taxi. And I’ve figured the easiest way to get around is by just
giving them landmarks.
Religion
I meet
people with different ideas on religion. I learn a lot about Islam, a lot that
I don’t know about it, especially. They comment on the similiartiy bt Islam and
Hinduism, though I teach them about my religion as well. One theme seems to
resonate – Islam and Arab culture are very different things and sometimes the
two get mixed, causing a misperception of the religion in the public eye.
Especially in the Western World.
Fresh fruit juice is my new thing here. I’ve pretty much tried all of them – from OJ to apple, banana, and pear juice. This sounds weird, but avocado juice with dried fruits is to die for. It is so thick and full of flavor. Yum. This is also the first time I’ve tried prickly pears – in the mid day’s heat, a cool pear is very refreshing. Lastly, behrer, I probably completely jacked up the spelling, but it is a Moroccan pancake/crepe that you fill with butter and honey. Then roll it up and eat it. Deelish.
The Trains..or the Sauna of Death
It took a
couple of train rides for me to understand how it works…or in this case doesn’t.
The first train I took to Tanger was 6 hours, in the heat, the AC wasn’t really
working and tons of people cramped into the compartment. Then I realize I
should buy a first class ticket. I do this, and it works out well for my train
to Rabat which is just one hour away. I think this is the answer to all of my
problems, just buy a first class ticket. On the way back from Fes (a 4 hour
ride to Casa), I had secured a seat in first class. Little did I know, this
doesn’t matter either. The sun was glaring and I was hot. The train AC was
working, but no enough. Then within half an hour, it starts spewing out warm
air. Is this a joke? I try to open the window, it’s stuck. I walk out of the
compartment, and it’s even hotter out there. The doors of the train are also
closed. Welcome to the sauna of death. I
frantically start pouring water on myself as I feel like I’m dying. It looks
like nobody else is breaking a sweat. Is there something wrong with me? No, the
Moroccans are just used to it. I effectively just took a bath in my own sweat.
And lucky for me it was also scalding hot in Casa and it took me all day just
to feel like I had cooled down. When I tell my friends the story, they just
laugh at me, knowing all too well how it works.
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