I had the unique oppurtunity recently to spend some time with a nomadic berber tribe

In the Moroccon Sahara. Or should I say nomadic berber family in the Moroccon sahara near Algeria.

It was a great experience and a nice break from the modernized areas of the country.

The family was shy and gentle but warmed up after a while. But I did not stay long enough to get a true feel for the people. However, I must say I have a lot of respect for these people. They spend their lives in pretty barren conditions in the Sahara. It is a tough life and even brutal sometimes. Even in January the sun was strong and tempetrues hit, and maybe even exceeded, 30 C (90 F) during the day. However the nights are freezing cold, probably below 0 (30). I can not imagine how hot it must be in the summer.

But yah, it is a tough life in some respects but also honest and in many ways simple. Simple because these people are free from many of the modern burdens like cell phones and tvs and internet and seem perfectly content. Hell, two of the younger brothers were amazed by some of my basic gear. I showed them my guide book on Morocco and they were amazed by the pictures of the atlas mountains (BEAUTIFUL), Fes, Marrakech and other such things. They have never seen any of that.

One day when I was a little bored I decided to walk towards the Algerian boarder, about 10 km in one direction I walked. I fully knew the tension between Algeria and Morocco but never intended to get closer than 5 km of the boarder, I just wanted to see. I mean I could have even been 7 or 10 km away still. Anyways I started to feel odd and turned back, I guess I could sense some sort of tension lingering. As I walked back I got a little lost, about 2 km past the family and 200 km to the east. they still were able to spot me and helped me back. Ah, the Sahara was crazy!

Morocco is a crazy country and a sensory overload. I think Tunisia is next.

 

I'm very envious of your experience! Good for you.

 

Yah but I missed you by a few hours and kilometers

 

I know. Too bad! We really almost could have hung out

 

You're living an incredibly rich life Carl-- more power to you.

 

haha rich with experience, for the most part
Spain (part 2) sucked beyond belief, awful country in my eyes.

Back home but ready to step out soon
Although my wallet does not feel rich, haha.

 

why didn't you like Spain Carl?

 

It has taken me so very long to realize that you measure a life's riches by its experiences and not by the money accumulated. Cash on hand represents potential experience and if someone dies with a large bank account but no life experience he dies spiritually destitute. Some of the happiest people I ever met had little to their name but usually had many interesting stories to tell. I have no doubt that you'd be a most interesting person to sit and chat with.

 

Money is only travel options. Good for you mate.

Did you see any of those huge flying dung-beetles that dig holes to bury the shit they eat? I loved the Moroccan Sahara. So quiet.

 

Yah those beatles gross me out.


Penny - I don't like it because of an unlucky experience. Or, I will always associate Spain with some bad memories. Lets say this. My first hour in Madrid on a packed metro at 6 pm some dudes hand grazed my bag and I knew right away what his intentions were. But I noticed his hand around the midsection again. I glared at him and knocked his hand away. Tried to be subtle. when I got off the metro one of the straps to my bag was undone. Not the best start to the city but I wanted to move on and clear my mind. But what happened a few hours later was like 1000 times worse, and that story pales in comparisson. But yah I ended up purchasing a ticket home.

 

Wow.. I'm sorry you had such a bad experience. That sucks :/

I can't say I'm a huge fan of Spain either.

 

Yes, France and Italy are way better. I think Germany will be really cool too when I visit soon. I prefered Morocco to Spain even.

 

Give them a couple of xboxes and they'll never look back.


Otherwise, sounds like an awesome experience.

 

sounds awesome, did you bring a camera with you?

 

He wouldn't want to steal their souls or some shit.

 

Don't judge a country by one bad experience.

I got mugged at knifepoint on my first day in Casablanca, but still went on to have a great experience in Morocco.

Take the good with the bad, my man.

 

sounds like a hell of an experience, i am envious. my uncle is berber, from algeria. i have a cool rug we got from him. i burned an epic hole in it.

 

Oh WOW how I wish that was all that happened to me. I would so be able to handle that. I mean it would suck for sometime and be an inconvenience and everything. I would hate it, But I would prefer that ten times over what did happen to me.

Plus there are other smaller things I did not dig about the country. The attempted theft included.

Morocco was cool but with its hassles.

They say if you leave the country without a rug consider yourself among the minority. Yay for me. I had a few pushy sales people going after me. Morocco does have nice rugs though, I guess Algeria is the same?



And yes I did bring a camera but I used it sparingly. I prefer the memories over a snap shot in time. But I took a few pics of scenry. Very little of the family and only after asking them. The boys loved seeing their pictures, were fascinated by the camera, haha. Another berber boy came up to me and asked me if my watch was a gift for him. I told him it was a gift for me actually.

 

So what did happen then? did you het raped?

 

That sounds like an amazing experience.

I would love to do something like that, but I don't have the money. How much money does all this traveling cost you, Carl?