The BHL Button, of course, traveled to Morocco, here are a few "on location" images

In Volubilis, Morocco at the Roman ruins; In the shops of Fes, antique store, weaving store, potter, embroidery, carpets, etc.; At the Blue Gate of Fes; At the Hassan II mosque

I voted in Arlington today, did you?

2 Booths, no waiting.

Jump, jump, jump, jump to it: Moroccan style!

Team Global BHL doing the "Jump to It" thing around Morocco!

  
Global BHL Jump! Fes, Morocco, Rug store overlooking the University of Al-Karaouine

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Global BHL Jump! Ifrane, Morocco, near the centerville, Ifrance

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BHL'ers doing a jump shot in Volubilis, Morocco

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BHL'ers doing a jump shot in Volubilis, Morocco

The incomparable Dar Fes Medina, the only place to stay when you visit Fes, Morocco

Imane and Mohammed, Dar Fes Medina

I don't really want to write this post since it may make the Dar Fes Medina so popular that I won't be able to get a room when I return (which I surely will!).

I needed to hold a business meeting in Morocco and after looking at the things to do in Casablanca, I thought, who wants to spend three days in Casa when you can be somewhere else? Somewhere else like, say Fes? Since our next meeting was in Ifrane (about an hour from Fes) it made total sense. The intrepid William Ulate, Ely Wallis and I investigated options in Fes (specifically the old Medina area) and William found the "Dar Fes Medina". Thank you William and those who guided you there!

The Dar Fes Medina is (obviously) a "Dar" not a "Riad" (details: Dar have a courtyard, Riad have a garden). I stayed a total of four nights and it was one of the finest places I've every stayed (and I've been in very many places!).

Mohammed and Imane took care of our every need (from arranging guides to dinner spots in the labyrinthine media to (above and beyond) having a car and driver meet us in our next stop (Ifrane) and take us back to Casablanca.

From the food (where on the second day we had to request smaller portions), to the quality of the guides (amazing), to the effervescent ability of Mohammed and Imane to "fix" whatever our stay required made my stay (for work and pleasure) a memorable event.

Why the staff even played along with us and wore our BHL buttons!

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From left: Dar Fes Media owner, Mohammed; view from room 304 at night; room 304


 
From left: Dar Fes Medina; third floor; room 304


 
From left: BHL meeting space, actual work being done; catered lunch (cooked in house -- amazing food by the staff); interior courtyard of the Dar Fes Medina

YAGP: Yet another group photo! The Global Biodiversity Heritage Library in Morocco

Yes, what is a meeting without the chance to take a GROUP PHOTO! Now, group photos are very important for many reasons: they show we really were there; they show that we really were doing work (I suppose) and well, they show us as a group!

The most famous group photo (and, perhaps outside of the Biodiversity Heritage Library collection, the only one reused on a regular basis) is the famed 1927 Fifth Solvay International Conference on Electrons and Photons. Now that's a group photo! The men and women in that group photo were, well, quite a group and included such household names as E. Schrödinger, W. Heisenberg, M. Born, N. Bohr; M. Planck, M. Skłodowska-Curie, and A. Einstein.

On our recent trip to Morocco, the Biodiversity Heritage Library will make no such claims to international notoriety, but will add to the stock of GROUP PHOTOS:



Global BHL: J. Cui, A. Fourie, J. Frank, N. Gwinn, M. Kalfatovic, E. Wallis, W. Ulate, M. Najib (Dar Fes Medina, Fes, Morocco, May 2013)

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Global BHL plus the Library of Congress: J. Cui, J. Cole, M. Kalfatovic, E. Wallis, W. Ulate, A. Fourie, N. Gwinn, M. Najib, J. Frank (Royal Palace, Fes, Morocco, May 2013)

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Participants of the 3rd International Conference on African Digital Libraries and Archives, Ifrane, Morocco, May 2013 (that's me under the "IF" in Ifrane on the banner).

My Lunch with Amin, or travels in Casablanca

Well, the title of this post doesn't quite scan as well as "My Dinner with Andre," but the lunch certainly, especially in the day write large, more action packed. But to step back to the beginning. My flight from Paris to Casablanca was delayed a bit. After some exploration in the airport, I decided to take the train into town instead of a cab. Having confused my train stations and tram stops, I took the train to the Gare Casa Port (instead of the more convenient to hotel, Gare Casa Voyageurs).

Still thinking that I was at the "Casa Port" steps from my hotel, I waived off the numerous proffered taxis to get the lay of the land. Looking out at the confusion of cars, donkeys, and people. I took the next taxi offered and was more rewarded in the end.


From left: Amin driving and talking; Hassan II mosque; me and Amin

The driver lead me to his red "Petite Taxi" (in Casablanca the "Grande Taxis are white Mercedes, the "petite" red Peugeots) and away we went. I sat up front and buckled up for safety and after a few blocks (and near miss with a donkey cart) congratulated myself on the choice of cab over foot.


From left: Corniche, in the Medina; Sacre Coeur

And on we drove. And drove. My driver, Amin (which, suitably, means "fair" or "trustworthy in Arabic), spoke excellent English (learned, he said, not in school but from driving English speakers) and gave highlights of our ride. As we neared the hotel, he offered me a 90 minute tour of the city's sights (a common offer I believe). I thought about it and agreed to meet out front in 30 minutes or so. He dropped me at the hotel, I checked in, did some unpacking, freshened up, and headed out wit hat and sac a dos.

Rick's Cafe, Casablanca

Our first stop was the infamous "Rick's Cafe." Made famous by the 1942 film, Casablanca, which was filmed there (or so Amin and other tour guides told me -- the movie was, of course, shot on a studio lot in Southern California!).

Meet Amin out front and we head off to the following sites:

• Hassan II Mosque, 7th largest in the world, tallest minaret, built in 1993, it is really big
• Waterfront for the poor people and lighthouse; interesting sights of people fishing and sheep wandering around
• Corniche, the waterfront for rich people; amazing Atlantic Ocean views from hotels and swimming pools
• Hassan II Square and lots of pigeons
• Sacred Heart Cathedral, built in the 1930s, used as an expo center since 1956
• Trip to the medina (aka Casbah, Souk, market, old city)

In the Medina, we visited Amin's favorite shops, including the Maison Arabe, the (as I was to learn) typical  rug store with very nice (and expensive) rugs. Bought a small wall hanging. Then, over to the oils and spices place. They have something called "argan oil" which was rubbed on me a couple of times. Bought some saffron there (probably paid too much). Drove around some more and then Amin asked if I wanted some lunch. I said yes, what do you suggest, and he said, let's go to my mother's house.


From left: dashboard; no seat belts allowed; shopping for lunch

Up stairs to lunch

He then called on the phone (all the while driving in a very hectic way, oh, and he was amused I kept putting my seat belt on, didn't see any need for that). Stopped at a street market and he bought some stuff and then we drove to another part of the old city. We parked and he shouted up to an upstairs window and some keys were thrown down. We walked up three flights of stairs and were greeted by Amin's older brother-in-law, a six year old boy and 13 year old boy. Took off our shoes and went into a room up front with a round table and cushions. Front room had a TV, bedroom off to a side and a kitchen.

Sat in the room and talked while Amin sister and niece cooked up the food; caught glimpses of them flitting by the door, but they never came in or were introduced. We talked about various things, including Obama and life in the U.S. Food came in (brought by Anis, the 13 year old). Couscous with vegetables, fava beans, chic peas, lamb, potato, carrots, etc. Very tasty. Ate from a common bowl with spoons and had a yogurt drink.


From left: lamb and vegetable couscous; Amin's family; mint tea

More talking and loud belching. Then the tea was brought in. Akhmed (the brother-in-law) finished the tea with large chunks of sugar and elaborate pouring into cups and then back into the pot. Then an dramatic serving pour from 2 feet in the air. Talked about Fes and Ifrane (the University there, where I was to have my meetings later in the week, is the Harvard of Morocco, you go there and you can do anything you want to do, or so said Amin).

Said goodbyes, put on shoes, out the door, drove back to the hotel, said bye and thanks.


From left: View out the window; stairs to Amin's; taxi cat