There's a picture in our house of my parents on their 10th anniversary trip to Morocco. They're having tea Moroccan style, and even holding a Moroccan guitar-like instrument.
It's an infamous photo in our family, so I've always wanted to go there- as long as I can remember. So when I was told I was going, MY GAWD I was jumping up and down. First time in AFRICAAA~~~ It was nothing like any other place I had ever visited. Unfortunately, we didn't get to go to Casa Blanca or Marrakech. We visited the northern tip of Morocco: Tangier. We just took a ferry-boat from Spain! It's so close!!
First night there, WE SAW CAMELS!!! 
We didn't ride them :( but I was so excited just to SEE THEM! woo hoo!! hahaha.
It was funny, cuz I think we were the only ASIANS there! (Even if we were half.) People kept staring at us! I think it was a combo of "omg! look at those girls! not wearing enough clothes.." and "hold on... I think they're Asian!" haha.
The next day, we went on a tour to visit a village in the mountains called
Chouen.
We obviously orderded Couscous and kebabs.
And TAGINES! pure delish!
FEAAAAST!!!!
So this is the entrance to the city of Chouen. (pronounced "shau-en"... I think.)
It's such a little entrance, but once you go inside, it's like a maize. And it's so pretty inside!
To the left, we have our tour-guide Achmed! I think he's a local celebrity, cuz everyone kept saying hi to him, and he told us he was on the Lonely Planet, as Chouen's guide! The first things he said to us were "I speak English." with SUCH a crackled voice, and this lady was screaming through the streets calling for someone...at first, we all thought "oh oh~~~ we are going to experience some craziness here!" but he was SUCH a great guy, and a memorable character. He will forever be engrained in my brain.
So Chouen is famous for painting their walls blue. It was SCORCHING HOT, but these blue walls kept the narrow streets feeling really cool... and apparently they keep mosquitos away too!! There were so many tones of blue and turquoise, I loved it!
Achmed telling us something interesting, I'm sure. This place was such a maize I think it's impossible to get around without a tour-guide. And he was the best of the best!
This is a type of carpet they make. Apparently there are male and female designs. This one was my favorite (I think it's a male design).
I love random dangling souvenirs! keychains, necklaces, good luck charms, wallets.... love em.
DYE! Achmed told us that the blue is obviously used for the walls- they have to paint it pretty often cuz it comes off... And as for the rest, I think it's for clothes, or the thread/yarn they use to make those carpets.
So much
COLOR in this city!
This is Chouen!
On the drive back to Tangier, we kept seeing these pottery stores by the street. They sold tagine pots, incense holders, vases, plates, cups... all in different colors! It was so cute.
We stopped by one of them to take a look.
I loved the brown vases on the right. I wanted one, but there was no way I could bring it back with me :(
Aren't these SOOO BEAUTIFUL? I was going crazy with my camera, trying to get every color, every vase, every plate, every light! I couldn't bring one home with me, but atleast I can relive the moment in these photos :)
Last day there, we went to a city called Assilah.They also had blue walls like Chouen.
The left, is a grave. I think the tiled plates represent each person's grave. I thought it was so simple and so nice! On the right is some art-work on the walls of Assilah. Every year, they have an international art festival, where artists from all over the planet come and pain walls. This one was my favorite. We also met a Japanese painter there!
Just some random hats hangin'. Just thought it was pretty cute :)
These shells were being sold by local teenagers. They had drawings of hearts or flowers, and they would write your name in Arabic! We all bought one for ourselves, and bought them as souvenirs for friends too! Aren't they cute? (We had to have them write which one was which name, cuz none of us could read Arabic! hahaha) I found the donkey in the market, which was almost like the scene from Aladdin. Too bad we couldn't go to Marrakech, cuz I hear THATS where you get a real taste of "arabian ni~~~ghts" but the market at Assilah also had that feel to it!
All in all, I couldn't believe I had SET FOOT in Africa! woah woah! I mean, I know Morocco is a little different from the rest of Africa, but still. I PLANTED MY FOOT in that continent! Next time, I am definitely gonna check out Casa Blanca and Marrakech... as well as other African countries!
I CAN'T WAIT!
