Aquaholics Surfing Blog

Aquaholics Surf Trip Morocco

Posted on 01/12/2009 at 02:50 am by Nanci Boutet Viewed 2,181 times | 0 comments

 

Nanci, Abdullah and Scooby-Doo at Devils Rock Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THC4jd5FQHU

Hi everybody,
Sorry it’s taken so long to get this out. It was little difficult to get on the computer at the surf camp. I pieced together this blog as a document and edited it at home . Marc and I went to visit our friend Peter Hansen (AKA Kiwi Pete) and his girlfriend Chrystal-Rose Thomas. While we were there, Neils Van Wijk arrived. All are old friends and Maine regulars at Manitou Wakeboarding Camp in Oakland during the summer season, and can be seen in the water at Kennebunk on "Weekly Wednesday Afternoon Invasions" (well, Chrystal will be a newbie).

We arrived Saturday, December 27th and stayed through to January 7th.  It was pretty interesting. Camels, Donkeys, Goats, Berbers, Europeans. Women with full covering and men who were dressed like Star Wars characters. Euros in skimpy outfits and leftover Beatniks.

The waves were good, mostly, to start and got better as the trip wore on. We had a couple of ridiculously windy days but some fun sessions. All week it was at least shoulder to head. Several days were double overhead at Anchor Point. Toward the end of the trip it was gangbusters. Warm and sunny during the day (except for a few drizzly ones), a good 3/2 was sufficient, although my hands got cold a bit. Cool to cold nights, I wore my Aquaholics thick sherpa hoodie every night.

There was a lot of trash everywhere there were people, so if you go, be a good tourist and set a good example. Pick up after yourself and maybe a little extra. Love your ocean. http://www.surfrider.org/?gclid=CIu0lcufiZgCFQwDGgodJVsgCw

The Moroccan people are genuinely friendly and generous. When they are introduced, they shake your hand and immediately touch their heart with the hand that touched yours. We felt very safe (except when gurgling water after getting creamed by a set) and welcome. The food was amazing. Every meal was remarkable, including the Surf Safari Lunches assembled and packed by the Surf Berbere crew.  Yusef, the chef, is a Berber (Nomadic Heritage) and speaks five languages. Chrystal Rose Thomas is the "dessert chef" (and learning French quickly). The friendly cooking competition for favorable reviews benefits those enjoying the fruits of their labors. Speaking of fruit, the orange juice in Moroccan restaurants is THE BEST. When you order it, the staff grabs a few oranges from a big bag and squeezes them as needed. The Coffee is marginal (Nescafe instant) unless you hunt out a restaurant with a coffee press.  When in Taghazoute, check out Restaurant Labass. Mohammed, Yusef's brother, ran a restaurant in Vancouver and makes fresh Hollandaise sauce for the Eggs Bennie when you order it. The crowd watching from the cafe's veranda is really interesting.  You're likely to see double decker cattle trucks and camel trucks(with livestock in the "penthouse"), camels walking down the road, goats, cats, dogs and Mules. Not to mention the colorful people. You'll see every nationality and dress style (they say it's liberal but skimpy dressing does stand out). There is a Mosque with a giant speaker that calls to prayer several times a day, it sounds like a giant baying cow. Women are allowed in the Mosque, but are segregated from the men in a separate room. Women and Men of the older generation tend to dress in the traditional Jellabas and Hijabs. Women tend to stay home and care for children and the home.
The surf guides, Azziz and Mohammed are fun and knowledgeable. They know where to go and where the wind will be good. They try to keep everybody happy, even though sometimes it's a challenge.
The Souk was a major highlight, albeit short. See the photos toward the end of the blog.
Here's the blog, I expect most of you to scan the photos and skip the text, but I went through the days as an itinerary.
Wednesday, January 14th Lauren and I are off to Orlando for SurfExpo to buy for the coming year. I'll try to blog that, it should be easier because I'll bring my laptop.
My husband Marc has work in Australia in the end of February, so we'll be going there next and probably swing over to New Zealand after a month or so to visit Whare and Anne Heke, my Maori friend who does those amazing carved necklaces. So, if you thought you'd be visiting us in Costa Rica this year, guess again. Like they say, strike while the iron's hot. That's why we went to Morocco this year and Peru last year. Friends invite, we go. Get out there!

I've posted videos of a few videos of surf spots on YouTube under "Aquaholics Surf Trip Morocco" Check me on the Camel with my board! You can also see photos at Magic Seaweed http://magicseaweed.com/Anchor-Point-Surf-Report/905/
or Surf Berbere www.surfberbere.com/gallery/     Hassan is the photo and video guy. He does the website, but never the dishes.

 

Anchor Point January 6 2009 By Hassan Ingram

I'm working on putting the rest up as day by day for smaller download ease. Check back later.

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