Nov 10, 2010
Marrakesh, Morocco
Elevation: 947m
After being constantly over charged for every taxi ride into the medina, constantly asked for money from everyone around, a dispute over 11 euros at the hostel in Marrakesh got to the better of me. I lost it. In tears, I called my partner in crime in France via my US cell phone, I just needed a friendly voice.
I didn’t care much about the 11 euros and I would have paid the guy the money for the extra night of booking that I will not be needing. It is the consistent request for money that really got to the better of me. I had to yet even see the room before the man wanted money. I basically walked in and the man wanted money. Not my passport for the register, money. Enough!
An afternoon of wondering through the medina was more of the same, money, give me give me give me!
As I stood in the lukewarm shower back in the hostel I asked myself the following: why is it so hard this time!? What about Morocco that is getting the better of me? Do I really still enjoy traveling? I set out this giant goal of 40 countries for Wok The Dog, do I really need all 40? Would I not much rather prefer either be home in New York or Taipei spending time with my mom?
My question today is this: what happens when you set a giant goal and half way through, you are exhausted and worn? When a can of spinach is not enough to get you through? How do you get back on track?
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*The main square at Marrakesh. Everyone down there wants a piece of you. All coated in sugar and niceties.
Oh I SO hear you on this post. There are some cities where the aggravation just adds up, where every interaction is a frustration, and along with the sensation of being a walking ATM machine is the awareness that the tricksters enjoy it because I'm a foreigner, and therefore to him I'm not quite human.
In Vietnam – a place I've only traveled for projects, never really for pleasure – after too many rip-offs I'll have a public meltdown, every three weeks or so.
Everyone said Egypt would be worst but I am currently in Cairo and maybe because its Eid, its relatively clam and not too bad. I don't know. Or maybe I have simply embrace the absurity of it all that its not bother me as much. But Egypt is rather liberal for a muslim country. I see men and women out dates and holding hands in the streets which brings down the harrasement level on a solo female traveler a bit.
I think there was a part of me that was shocked that they finally got to me since I have been through Asia and Latin America without a tear.