ARRIVING IN MOROCCO

DAY ONE (Sept. 12, 2016)
I arrive in Morocco during the celebration of the Eid Kebir (The "Festival of the Sacrifice"). I also arrive to the Tangier Airport at the same time as the King of Morocco. Shops are closed and the usually busy streets are mostly empty. The route we take to Tetouan is lined with large, beautiful Moroccan flags. Service men are stationed along the road to salute the passing King who is following some miles behind us. Sheep are the sacred meat of the Eid Kebir. Many Moroccons carry the empty sheep skins on various forms of transportation…cars, motorcycles, wheel barrows…to be transformed into leather wears. As we arrive in Tetouan the smell of smoking sheep engulfs the city. The people are in their homes butchering and cooking their celebratory meal and after a very long journey I have a delicious Moroccan meal at the El Reducto Restaurant in the Medina. As-salāmu ʿalaykum

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