Day One in Morocco

Fri, Apr 6 / Sat, Apr 7

These and other pictures posted at http://www.flickr.com/photos/jstotts/

Off to Morocco! The Special Olympic World Games are happening this fall in Shanghai, China, and the UNC Journalism school is teaming up with students in China to do video coverage of every event and put those online on a comprehensive website. I'm part of a class in which we are building said website, as well as producing documentary pieces on select athletes from around the world. I was assigned a story in Morocco, so here I am headed to Rabat, Morocco, for over a week!

My story partner, Whitney, and I flew out of RDU Friday evening, were in Atlanta an hour and a half later, and flew across the Atlantic overnight on a 747. A pretty big plane. They served us dinner and wine (it's Air France, what do you expect?)



I got about 2 hours of sleep during the flight, watched bits and pieces of Rocky Balboa and a 24 episode on the iPod, and squirmed around the rest of the time. I wasn't by a window, so I probably got up 15 times towards the end of the flight to look out the window at the rear of the plane. Spent some time talking to the man sitting a seat over from me, he had seen me reading a guide to Morocco and exclaimed that he was from there, now lived the United States, and was flying to Paris to visit his mother who was ill. Gave me some assurances and advice about Rabat, most of which verified what the guidebook had said.

The moonlight over the clouds was amazing, the photo doesn't do it justice. This was a half hour before sunrise.



Got my first glimpse of the French coast. It was really cool to be seeing what a place I had studied for years in high school looked like (thanks Mme. Little), the land look very rich and green, and I stared out the window (at the back of the plane) for a good 5 minutes. Sadly, didn't get to see Paris from the air, as we came in from the north. Hopefully on the way back. [note: we've got an evening layover in Paris on the return trip, so look out Effiel Tower!]



After touching down in Paris at 11 am local, 5 am EST, we took a bus to get to Terminal B, as many flights unload onto the tarmac, far from the main terminals. Charels de Gaule airport is huge. It probably took us a good 15 minutes for the bus to navigate the narrow route through the airport tarmac traffic. We were dropped off, had to walk to another bus stop, finally got to B. With more security lines. We were maybe the 2nd to last folks to board. Anyways, last leg of journey to Rabat. More lunch, more wine...



Rabat was about a 2 1/2 hour flight from Paris, here was our first view of the Moroccan coast.



The land look dry in most places, and sparse. Right before we touched down, we passed directly over a cow/goat field. The airport wasn't much bigger than two buildings, a small 'Rabat air club' building, and the main terminal. No problems with passing through customs. Except... as we stepped off the plane onto the tarmac, I snapped a photo of the plane (and the fact we were the only plane at the airport) -- and was promptly reprimanded by a guard that photos were not allowed there, national security I guess. Can't blame me for being a journalist!



Morocco was ruled by the French until 1953, so everyone here in the capital speaks French just as well as they do Arabic. How sweet is that? Finally my work / slaving away in high school is paying off! I'm certainly a bit rusty, but am trying to speak as little English as possible while here.

A small trouble after gaining entry was that Saeed, our SO contact, was not there to pick us up. I had to call him (the cell is *only* $2.50 a minute), and found out he'd not been in to office to see the itineray we'd e-mailed to him, so we had to take a grand taxi to the hotel. A small highway robbery, it cost us 200 Dr for the 20 minute trip. 8 dirhams to a dollar, so ~$25. As I get more comfortable with my french, I'll be able to bargain out of paying that much in the future. Around the town the guidebook says we should only pay 12-16 Dr. to get around, as it's based on a counter in the city taxis. Oh well. At least we'll be reimbursed for travel costs.

We're staying in the Hilton Hotel Rabat, and no, I am not paying for it either. (This whole trip's covered by Special Olympics.) Here's a view from where I am now writing...



..and a quick panorama from a balcony.



After settling in to the hotel, we ventured into Rabat on our own, walked about a mile there. We had no idea where a good restaurant was, didn't speak Arabic, and being tired and hungry, settled on, uh, Pizza Hut. I actually was the best PH I've ever had. Guess they freeze their pre-made dough a special way. :-)



And yes, Mom, we made it back safely to the hotel. Went to bed around 10, 6pm EST. Nice.

Better pictures to come. Promise. The culture here is just full of color...

See other pictures from the day at http://www.flickr.com/photos/jstotts/