The people you meet: Couchsurfing in Morocco

It was my second day Couchsurfing in Fes,Morocco. My host had class for the day, so another guy who was staying at my host’s house and I made plans to head into the city center. This other guy was a dirty German dude who I’d hung out with the night before. He was an awesome musician, a super twisty yoga buff and an incredibly talented leather craftsman.

He was looking for leather tools and quality leather to buy and asked if I wanted to come with him while he shopped around. Sure, I said and figured it’d be a cool way to see the city.

We headed into Fes on a scorching hot day in search of goat hide and leather-working tools. We walked up and down every street, circled the medina, went in and out of shops,talked to shopkeepers, bartered and scrutinized for the better part of an entire day.

 

 

We talked to dozens of craftsmen, had tea at every shop and inspected many, many goat hides.But, none of them were quite right. Too many spots, cut strangely, not the right color.

Not soft enough.

While he shopped for leather, I poked around and found some beautiful silver jewelry and other small tokens for my family at home. We were getting along well and had funny banter and friendly conversation.

But it was hot. We hadn’t eaten. The sun was setting, and we were still empty handed.

I was getting tired, my feet hurt and I was wondering what the hell I’d signed up for when the German dude pulled me into a teeny little shop and told me he thought he found the right guy.

I sat atop a pile of rawhides (read: animal SKINS) and drank sinfully sweet mint tea while the German negotiated with the twin brother shopkeepers. This little hole in the wall was dirty, smelly and no place for a lady.

Luckily, I’m not too much of a lady and happily watched on as one of the brothers trimmed leather pieces to make into wallets and the other argued with the German in French. We must have been there for two hours, and the brothers were SO sweet.

 

The German ended up leaving with 14 goat hides and some beautiful leather working tools and I was given a handmade wallet as a gift.

We beelined to the medina and scored some tasty sandwiches for about $1 and sat on the edge of the town square and watched the moon rise behind a group of little kids playing soccer.

After, we headed back to our host’s house and hung out on the roof all night, getting drunk on Moroccan liquor and talking about life under the stars.

He left the next day, I don’t remember his name and I’ll never see him again. But there’s something about that kind of connection.

A fleeting spark, burned in your memory and untouched by time. Just one of the thousands of connections that makes up your life, who you are.

—

Thanks to Alexa from She Tells Travel Tales, for contributing to the Traveller’s Tales series. Alexa is a sassy, slow traveling New Yorker currently based in Thailand. She’s been on the road full time for over a year, seeing parts of Europe, Africa and Asia. Lover of sunsets, sarcasm, good food, and daring adventures. Find her on Facebook, Instagram and follow her ridiculous facepalm antics on Snapchat (lexalounar).

If you have a story to share, do get in touch with me at admin@europediaries.net   Thanks!

 

Merken

Merken

Merken

Merken

Merken