Unmuddlings!!

The Moroccan itinerary was from the very beginning designed to depend upon providence. No more than a lazy browsing to explore the options available. In fact, I just knew I was flying and flying out of Casablanca… I knew that we were booked at Fez for two nights, and that’s it. A big blur, thereafter. That’s why, trudging along Francophone Morocco was as much hilarious, as it was exhilarating. Essaouria, I recollected in hindsight, had popped up the only time I had goggled Morocco – was back in Feb/Mar. It had faded into oblivion as much as my Morocco travel planning got little bandwidth!!....but then providence had to intervene. We bumped into very enthusiastic co-travellers who were keen to help us with their tid-bits on where to go and how much time to spend. Essaouria, popped up again. The prospect of spending time a picturesque beach/port time with a salubatory clime was exciting. The tiring, info packed 2 days at Fez sealed the deal. Chilling in Essaouria seemed more preferable t...

Medina - or the old city is a quintessential part of most Moroccan cities with a history. You find walled [porous or otherwise] Medinas everywhere. In Essouria and probably in Marrakech [will visit tomorrow] are a confluence of the old and new. Like the remnants of the old old Moghul bastions of New Delhi…or for that matter certain alleys in Benares and Puri… But the Medina of Fez…is absolutely extraordinary…a provoking mix of silo-ed antiquated practices, narrow alleys, well preserved craftsmanship across a range of items, awe inspiring culture & towers of learning, hospitable [and at times - brazen] retailing. In on-line it is tirelessly preserved history and its practices – with modern techniques, tools and temperament inevitably oozing out from the different pores of the city. Medina, a World Heritage Site, with an age of over 1200 years now can accommodate a very well researched Salman Rushdie novel…it has all the works of intrigue, information and insight confronting oneself...

This piece can just go on and on, depending upon, how long I wanna key in and what all transcend into my mental space as am keying. But where to I start from…probably, from the - by now famous culprit - Paulo Coelho. This time just an anthology – which endearingly charming preface and introduction. Twas ‘Inspirations’ I started the day with - which is spruced by extracts of writing from Hans Chirstian Anderson, Machiavell, Lewis Caroll, D. H. Lawerence, Yeats etc…made me ponder over some stark realities of some of the articles or relish some ole favourites. Nice way to settle the mind – not too dreamy or not too practical - to a peaceful state. And look forward to Casablanca. Yeah – this is not just Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergam’s Hollywood classic. This is the commercial capital of Morocco. A port city, and the most cosmopolitan place in Morocco – kinda the Mumbai of India. Btw, the French speaking Morocco is in North Africa and is just 15KM away from Spain by sea. Infact two citi...