After the garage in Zagora and the heat wave still persisting, plus a need to do washing, we decided to splurge on a riad. This one had excellent reviews and was reasonably priced.
Le Petite Kasbah was gorgeous. It was an old mudbrick building they renovated sensitively. Our room faced the pool so after a swim we relaxed for a few hours for a change.
Now I hate to generalize but we have personally found the French to be so rude. They never say hello and barely even make eye contact with you. The place was full of French by late afternoon and surprise surprise they didn't return our greetings. I just don't get it. There's a lot of French in Morocco and it's been the same all over. They do seem to have a reputation of rude arrogance and as much as I want to see this rumour as wrong, it's held true every time. Of course the French on Hive I know are lovely - perhaps they can enlighten me as to why their countrymen have a reputation of aloofness.
That's enough ranting - I just had to get that off my chest. Back to the beautiful Le Petite Kasbah. The room was beautiful with lovely rugs and paintings, and the shower and bathroom were superb. A welcome change after so many cold showers whilst camping.
It was also dead quiet to sleep with no barking dogs for a change. However poor Jamie didn't sleep because I was snoring due to my cold.
The food was also next level - a huge tagine with couscous and bread, olives, harira soup (a soup made of chickpeas and beans and thickened with vermicelli) and crepes for desert. Probably the best meal we have eaten in Morocco! We are it on the rooftop.
Yousef, our host, was incomparably helpful. He also did two loads of washing for us.
After a very poor breakfast in the last hotel, we were thrilled with this breakfast of two sorts of bread, and a selection of homemade spreads and cheese. It was the first time I'd tried amlou, which is either peanut or almond paste with honey and argan oil, plus this one had a pinch of cacao. The lemon jam and fig jam was amazing. There was also an omelette with the usual cummin and salt to sprinkle on it.
We left Le Petite Kasbah well refreshed and ready to continue our journey.
With Love,
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We look forward to continuing our journey. Breaks are good and this one seems to be a quality break!
As for the French, I've got several leads, but I think it's mainly culture shock. For one thing, smiles aren't as common in France as they might be in other countries. It's much harder for us to smile than it might be for Moroccans, for example. Indeed, it can be extremely frowned upon from a cultural point of view.
We also have a kind of formal politeness. It's a "bullshit" thing that we find really hard to break away from. Our codes of politeness are so ingrained that they prevent us from adapting to and fully appreciating local customs. From another culture, we can be seen as rigid.
And I think, above all, there's a lack of open-mindedness. Unlike other countries, we don't have compulsory drama lessons at school, nor music (well, much less so now). To put it more simply, we have no, or very few, arts programs. Which makes us very shy and not very open-minded. Romantic perhaps (in certain films), but shy too.
But let's not generalize, of course. The French people you see traveling in Morocco during this period are not representative of all French people. That said, it's a very good analysis on your part.
I cannot tell you how much I appreciate this analysis, @genesisledger , and I was hoping you and other French friends here might spy my criticism of French travellers and explain it!!! I honestly was trying NOT to generalize but I have been snubbed so many times by the French I had to vent!!
Your explanation may help me be more understanding!
It was exacerbated too by Jamie being shouted at by a Frenchman for using his detergent he left in a communal sink. An honest mistake. He called him every French name under the sun. Jamie's French helps him get by, but any highschool education teaches you swearing under the desk. But of course, that may have been just because he was an asshole, not just because he was French 😂😂😂
Yes, I think he was an asshole mostly. Being just a tad observant, I can try to imagine what kind of person it was. I imagine, maybe a bit elderly. Certainly a bit of a "colonizer".
Well, this is an observation that will speak only to me, but at this time of year, in Morocco, at least 50% of French travelers have this state of mind. So I think we need to be prepared for more people like that.
Frankly, I'm really disappointed that you have all these bad reports. Almost ashamed. But not all French people are like that, that's for sure 😀
This looks so interesting and food looks delicious☺️