We had a free weekend to travel last week, and so I met up with some friends in another training site. It’s a quaint, peaceful town, but it has the sweetest, most hospitable people. I’ve never smiled so much or received as many cheek kisses in two days. It’s located off the one-lane main road off the side of a mountain. After getting dropped off on the side of the road, we walked downhill for 20 minutes before we got to Emily’s house, the first one in town. There are olive trees, a Kasbah (old castle-like house that another PCT lives in), an olive press, plump animals, and one hanut (where we found lighters with flashlights).
Azalia’s house was so welcoming. A part of me was slightly shocked to see a tv, appliances, big couches, a bed, contemporary Moroccan fashion magazines, a beautifully-tiled area, and donkey room. Yes, one donkey had its own indoor room with bales of straw, while another was tethered outside. With chickens and dogs lounging around almond and olive trees, the town’s so relaxed. And then comes Azalia’s 12-year old sister, who has enough liveliness to energize all UH football fans, who also acted as our tour guide and third arm. Everyone in town knows and greets each other, has tea and cookies together, and sits for impromptu meals.
We made pizza, donkey trekked along water aqueducts, visited the family’s olive trees, played Snakes and Ladders, cracked almonds with grandma, and even saw Jerry the Mouse swim in the douche (what a surprise…). I tasted one-day and one-year old olive oil, and I probably gained a few pounds from all the “tsh”-ing (eating) I was forced to do.
Over all, it was so relaxing-- the perfect way to spend the days right before Site Announcement…dun dun dun…post about it to come soon!
that pizza looks good, haha.
ReplyDeletethat donkey looks strong, haha.
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