I went to Morocco to see how the world lived a long time ago. Younger, and seeking to live out my Indiana Jones fantasy, I assumed that I would be immediately be thrust into some exotic treasure hunt that I would be able to regale my son with sometime later. What I was presented with was the reality of how the rest of the world lives, and my ability to circumnavigate it because I was born in the United States. In Marrakesh I experienced some very harsh living conditions and barbaric practices such as Snake Charming, yet my Riad (bed and breakfast) was a 5 star accommodation complete with fresh rose petals outside my door every morning.
A juxtaposition of wealth and poverty I’d never seen. We drove (my father and I) out of Marrakesh and into the Atlas Mountains to the stark natural beauty amongst some of the poorest living conditions I’ve experienced. We would stop to take some pictures and be immediately accosted by the locals begging for food and or money. We drove through the Atlas and down to the great Sahara on the Morocco – Algerian border. I’ve seen many deserts in my life, in many different parts of the world, but nothing prepares you for the stark sense of endlessness of the Sahara. It felt like the first time I saw the Pacific Ocean. My Dad said, “Just think, there is nothing for the next 3,000 miles but sand.” I stayed in an old French fort called a Kasbah, and in the morning, we ventured out into the Sahara via camel. I took this pic of our guide bringing in the camels for us to ride as he crested a sand dune. As we were taking pics of the wide vista, A little girl appeared out of nowhere. We must have been 30 or 40 miles from civilization and my dad said, “John Allen, where the hell did this kid come from?” Her clothes were rags and we asked the guide and he replied, “Desert people.” My father looked at me and said, “John Allen give her all your money.” I emptied my pockets of Dirhams, and she was off on her way. She disappeared over the next dune and was gone. I appreciate this experience and it taught me lessons I had been oblivious to; but instead of searching for lost adventure, I think I will take the history book’s word for it, and from now on try to change it.