Notting Hill Carnival

Starting tomorrow, 2-day madness on London Streets.
By Westminster all the mess started tonight (preparations?) with gay policeman show by one of the pubs and costume parade nearby.

In spite of all the rain, really enjoyed the early start.

Sober in Ramadan

If it wasn't my b'day I wouldn't mind traveling sober.
But - sorry - no way this time. That's just bad timing, Ramadan in Morocco. I thought, we can fix it.
If we were back on Russia, now worries, 100 places would sell any kind a stuff "from under the stall".
Morocco, we firstly tried a regular restaurant. Didn't work out. Then the french "Auchan" supermarket followed - 0% beer only. Then the huge "Marjan". Empty stalls, alco-section was closed.
"Should you respect the month of Ramadan," - the shopkeeper remarked.
And we had to crash to ***-hotel instead of beautiful Riyad, because only what's higher then 3 stars is allowed to have bars for tourists 365 days a year.

P.S. Even for this deficit all alcohol was cheap - 4 EUR for J&B. Yup, seems that they just don't drink here.

Fes. Africa on sale.

Arabs are not afraid

Just remembered.
When I was studying in Rabat, I had a host family accommodation experience. For just three days.
Once I came back from school later then it was planned and didn't find my host mum at home. I called her but understood nothing of what she was saying. So just decided to sit by the door and wait. I was 19 and had plenty of time.
In 3 min the door across the street opened and the old man came out, inviting me for a dinner. I just couldn't resist. He (approx. 85-90 y.o.) fed me great food and put news on the TV for me because the only thing I could understand. For a night I had a host grandfather and grandmother - unexpectedly.
Just imagine the opposite: Europe, late evening.
Who will let in an arab girl and invite her for dinner.
Europe is scared of arabs. Arabs are not, because they are arabs themselves.

Post-office

Photo by Denis De

Taking my mum out

I'm flying to London tomorrow.

Night in pubs with my mum, and a flight to Morocco, Fez.

It's the first time I'm really taking my mum out. Shame. Travelled half of the planet and never shared this experience with anyone.

But this time is gonna be a bit bizarre - we don't have luggage, we are traveling in Ramadan, and this time I have to take care of my mum who speaks bad English.