Summer starting

1^st June – the start of Summer! The weather has actually been really nice, not too hot at all (a nice 30 degrees today) and even getting a little cool during the nights. We’ve also had a bit of rain and a few storms, but it seems Fes has a lot in common with Melbourne – one minute it will be pouring down and 5 minutes later the sun will be shining. Way to make me feel at home! But unlike Melbourne, i think the start of summer will see the end of the rain and the next few months are going to be Hot Hot Hot!

And so another week has passed. My parents arrived a few days ago and I went to meet them in Casablanca for one night. I hadn’t spent any time in Casa apart from the airport so it was nice to explore a little, though what everyone says is true – the only thing to see is the mosque. And what a mosque it was! The 3^rd largest in the world with centrally heated floors and a roof that opens electronically, it’s enough to tempt anyone to convert (kidding mum.) For dinner I was happy to get away from the endless tagines and couscous with some fresh seafood, before watching the final minutes of the champions league final (go Barca!). The rest of our time in Casa was spent drinking orange juice, wandering around the markets and just generally catching up. And then it was time to part ways again – they will be travelling around morocco for the next week or so before coming to stay in Fes at Palais Phoebe!

Not much else has been happening – I am definitely still in holiday mode, sometimes not getting out of bed until 11am. I have been reading lots, doing Sudoku and of course a bit of housework. After lunch comes siesta time and then generally just sitting in cafes or wandering around the medina. It’s going to be a shock in a few weeks when i start my Arabic class, waking up early in the morning and having to concentrate for hours on end. But definitely looking forward to it, at the moment the language still seems completely impossible! But this week I also met Karim’s friend Aziz’s girlfriend – Julia from America. She lived here a few years ago and studied in the American centre too and she can speak the language – so it has given me hope that someday i might be able to do the same!

For those interested in my supermarket journeys, you will be saddened to know that I have not been to Marjane this week. But only because we have found a supermarket close to our house! It’s not as big as Marjane, but it has everything we need and its within walking distance! Needless to say, I will be spending a lot of time there over the next few months. The name is LaBel vie – the good life. And it certainly is!

Inside the Mosque

Me outside the mosque (mum didnt manage to fit the whole minaret in the picture)

Ma and Pa with a fountain (I think dad fell asleep in the picture)

The lower level of the mosque where they come to wash before praying

Nearly got the whole mosque in the photo!