Riads, Train Tickets and Ferries

I had a great conversation with Nabil Kahn last night regarding Morocco - what to do, where to go, who to meet up with. Lots of very useful information, I only wish that he could join me for this adventure. I also contacted a fulbright(er) and heard back where they will be while I am in the region. I am hoping to cross paths while there and see another side of the country that otherwise might have remained hidden from an english speaking short term travel.

Where to stay is the big question. I have looked into hostels, hotels and riads. While the latter portion of my journey I plan to be more free, I am constrained in time with Morocco and so I am trying to get the most out of it. Riads look amazing, and expensive. If anyone has suggestions, please send them along.

Fes and Marrakesh are both on the list, but I also want to see a smaller town, that hasn't been as over run with tourists. There is a musical festival I learned from writing to SG in Essaouira next weekend that she and another college friend will be attending. Would be fun to catch up with them there, experience that and see a smaller town.

As for getting to Madrid, I had the amex concierge look into things. For the first time, in a long time, they gave me reliable and useful information regarding the ferries and trains. They strategically planned a few different options for me to arrive in time for program and site orientation, maximizing my time on the other side of the Strait of Gibralter.

Meanwhile, looking ahead I emailed my aunt, who is known for writing cookbooks in the Mediterranean region, about things that I must do / places that I must visit during my travels. Reading through the introductions of her books, especially the one on Couscous, is the underlying reason I had the strong urges to include Morocco in my travels and booked my flight to spain through North Africa.

She suggested lonely planet as a jumping off point, and then sent me an article on a place to eat in Istanbul. The title alone was mouth watering, Çiya: Loquat Kebabs and Mesopotamian Truffles at Istanbul’s Culinary Shrine, and I realize already this trip is going to have a sweet and delectable ending.

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what to bring and some packing philosophy

Why is it that when we pack for a weekend, we generally pack more than when we pack for a week, or two of travel? What is the compelling nature of that large bag for a short period? I think it's a fear of being unprepared, after all, it's just a weekend, and we should be able to bring everything we would need for the time. How many different things can you do in a weekend anyway?
Travel for longer periods is different, we learn to make do with what we have, and if necessary, to purchase those items that we didn't bring. I distinctly recall hiking the Long Trail with my cousin and friend in Vermont, and we would run into AT thru hikers. We would have all this unnecessary gear and tons more food than they did. They had it down to the bare essentials, which for one of them, happened to include a Banjo he had been carrying since Georgia! We were out for five days with large packs, and they were on the trail for months with smaller, lighter packs.

The bag I am bringing, the Arc Teryx Bora 80, is clearly overkill. The problem is that I don't have a medium sized bag. Lots of daypacks, and lots of expedition sized packs in the basement, but nothing in between. I have decided to use this pack, cinched all the way down, so it will be small, but expandable. My packing list is pretty limited, after all, I am going for two months and two days, so flexibility is key, like the AT thru hikers. I am carrying everything I bring everywhere I go, and want to get the most out of each item I am bringing with me, so flexibility is key. Anything left behind during the trip cannot be retrieved. I also have to decide which electronics to bring with me, another large and imposing question to be answered in the next 72 hours.

Current packing list:

1 pair athletic sneakers
1 pair shoes
1 pair flip flops
6 Socks / underwear
1 pair pajamas
3 t-shirts
2 collared shirts
1 long sleeve shirt
1 button down shirt
1 belt
1 pair shorts
1 pair athletic shorts
1 pair dress pants
1 pair light weight pants
1 bathing suit
1 rain jacket
1 baseball cap
1 pair sunglasses

toothbrush and toothpaste
Nail clippers
Razor and shaving cream
soap / shampoo
roll of TP
Travel towel

power adapter(s)
cell phone and charger
digital camera
ipod touch

Passport and other documents
travel books

How it came to be that I ended up packing at the moment for a trip to the Mediterannean

I was originally scheduled to work with children in Hong Kong this summer. I have never been to Asia, and so I scheduled some time after the trip to explore Japan as well. All was going well until I received a mysterious phone call. I recognized the number as my employer in Hong Kong, answered, and was told, sorry wrong number. pause. "we'll call you later."

Strange I thought, and then I moved on with what I was doing.

Later that afternoon I called the office with another question relating to an airport pick up and the main person got on and started to apologize for earlier, and then started to explain.

Hong Kong site has been canceled she told me. I was shocked, dismayed, and very sad.

What are the options I asked at the end of our conversation. All of the staff are being re-evaluated I was told for other placement. Are any international positions open I inquired. No, I was told - only domestic.

I later wrote an email thanking her for taking the time to explain things, answer my questions, and also to reiterate that I am still working for the organization. I also emphasized that I would really like to work at an international site. She responded that it would be very unlikely a position would open up.

Soon after I was offered a position in Baltimore where I could work both sessions with the students. I agreed, and the paperwork began. I emailed again reminding them that I was still available and very interested in working abroad, I also thanked them for finding me an opportunity domestic at the same time.

Then, I got a phone call. Apparently, the Madrid director walked into the director's office. We have a problem they said, someone dropped. Give me five minutes said the director.

I was her solution. I accepted immediately.

I will be in Madrid for most of July working with the students.

Not just Madrid:

I booked my ticket to arrive in Casablanca, Morocco. In one week I will have both feet planted firmly on the streets of North Africa, of this I remain amazed. From there it is only important that I arrive in Madrid by July 2nd. After the program ends, I will stay in Europe and explore for a month, returning from Istanbul to New York August 26th.

The journey from Madrid to Istanbul is the adventure, and I hope to share it with you through this journal of my experiences.