Morocco Day 9

Glenn, Adam, Louwena, Ray, Michael, and I woke up to fo ride quad bikes, otherwise known as 4x4s, in the desert.  I was nervous about this, but it ended up being one of my favorite things on the trip, besides the Berber camp. Idris' village, and just spending time with new friends.  We practiced on a little track for a few laps, then headed out into the countryside.  One thing that really helped alleviate my fears was the fact that we were on a path.  The path itself was actually much easier to ride than our practice track, so soon we were flying along.  I drove first, as we wended our way for an hour through the desert, a tiny village, and to a stop for tea at someone's house.  Michael drove us back to the track again after.  I could not believe how covered in dust we were!  

A quick shower later and we were back on the road, as Idris was escorting a final group trip to the market.  We walked over (think the final temp was around 125 or higher, so it was certainly tiring) and set about shopping.  Soon enough, Glenn, Michael, and I had either made purchases or realized there was nothing to our liking, so we set off in search of street food.  This was a great decision, since it was one of the most tasty things I've had (though I can't promise my reaction wasn't based on hunger and the sheer pleasure of trying something new).  The sandwiches, thoughtfully purchased by Glenn- thanks!!- were made from kebabs which were then deposited in a bread pocket and seasoned with onions and spices.  Mmm!

Back to the hotel for a shower and nap...to be honest, I couldn't really sleep because I was already dreading the idea of going home, saying goodbye to new friends, and having to leave a fascinating place.  So I met some of the group at the bar for drinks instead, and we formulated a dinner plan.  Eventually, Michael, Glenn, Adam, Vicky, Grayson, and I set out for a restaurant.  We had a specific one in mind, but en route found a Lebanese cafe with a diverse menu, alcohol, and shisha- everyone's needs were met.  We spent the next few hours enjoying food, drink, and especially each other's company.  My favorite part had to be teaching "Never Have I Ever" to the Brits and hearing their reactions, as well as learning some new and unexpected facts about everyone.

Eventually, the group was whittled down to Michael, Grayson, and myself.  We decided to check out the upstairs club at Comptoir, but were denied on the basis of Michael's shorts, so we went to the rooftop deck next door at Cafe Extrablatt.  It reminded me of a place we used to go in Cairo, with it's plush couch seating, subtle lighting, and mood music.  However, it took us about 0 minutes to get a menu.  Worth the wait though, because cocktails were only 80 dirham ($10), which beats Comptoir's price of 110 ($14 ish).  They werew delicious as well.  The music started putting us to sleep, though, so we headed for home...probably the for the best as it was nearing 3 am.