The photos thread

[calumdown]

@calumdown cheers for those pics. It's a different country but almost feels like a different world.

you are right,
and it's like travelling back in time, mate, it really is.

it's a fishing town on the west coast of northern africa.
it is a 3hr drive through the desert to get there.

there are tourists,
but they are more adventurous than your average holidaymaker.
no 18-30 pricks is what i mean.
plenty of surfer types and artistic dreamers,
because it's as if the real world elsewhere doesn't exist.

it's very very safe for foreigners.
the king basically decreed it illegal to hassle visitors,
he doesn't want any diplomatic situations,
he wants tourists and he wants foreigners to come and live here.

there are huge numbers of plain-clothed police.
one day this local fella started to chat to me,
within seconds a moped turned up...
"you'd be wise not to talk to this man".

there isn't one single yankie fastfood outlet,
so there is no mcdiabetes obesity.
you can get a pizza or crepes, but that's it,
otherwise it's just traditional local food at very good prices.

there is now a carrefour supermarche on the outskirts,
which makes it easier for tits like me who struggle with bartering.

and if need you need to buy a sheep (which i don't)


it's an incredibly relaxed and slow way of life,
partly down to hashish maybe
(even the old ladies like a toot)
but more because there's really no reason to be in a hurry.

the weather also helps.
there's always a good breeze coming off the sea,
which keeps it reasonable even in summer
and it never rains

it's really easy to meet global ex-pats of all sorts & make friends.
understandably, it's not so easy to become very friendly with local muslim women,
but the muslim blokes are mostly sound.

the french left a huge influence,
but it is most definitely a muslim country by rule.
the muezzin call to prayer is very loud several times a day.
and one has to respect their beliefs.
you soon learn that the off-licences are closed on fridays, haha.

the truth though is that the amount of amazighs is unknown.
they are the indigenous folk.
estimates vary, up top 70% of the population.
they have their own amazing language

road-signs are written in arabic, amazigh and european.

the majority of locals i have become friendly with are amazighs.
traditionally we call them berbers,
where the word barbarian derives from,
but they are far from barbaric,
they're lovely folk who would share their last dirham with you.

it suits me best because it is such a creative place.
as you know, i'm an artist.
this gallery has taken on some of my artworks and has already sold some.
galerie la kasbah
happy days.

and i'm gladdened that people enjoy the photos.
i'll add more soon.

 

[Blue Mist]

you are right,
and it's like travelling back in time, mate, it really is.

it's a fishing town on the west coast of northern africa.
it is a 3hr drive through the desert to get there.

there are tourists,
but they are more adventurous than your average holidaymaker.
no 18-30 pricks is what i mean.
plenty of surfer types and artistic dreamers,
because it's as if the real world elsewhere doesn't exist.

it's very very safe for foreigners.
the king basically decreed it illegal to hassle visitors,
he doesn't want any diplomatic situations,
he wants tourists and he wants foreigners to come and live here.

there are huge numbers of plain-clothed police.
one day this local fella started to chat to me,
within seconds a moped turned up...
"you'd be wise not to talk to this man".

there isn't one single yankie fastfood outlet,
so there is no mcdiabetes obesity.
you can get a pizza or crepes, but that's it,
otherwise it's just traditional local food at very good prices.

there is now a carrefour supermarche on the outskirts,
which makes it easier for tits like me who struggle with bartering.
View attachment 130359
and if need you need to buy a sheep (which i don't)
View attachment 130361

it's an incredibly relaxed and slow way of life,
partly down to hashish maybe
(even the old ladies like a toot)
but more because there's really no reason to be in a hurry.

the weather also helps.
there's always a good breeze coming off the sea,
which keeps it reasonable even in summer
and it never rains

it's really easy to meet global ex-pats of all sorts & make friends.
understandably, it's not so easy to become very friendly with local muslim women,
but the muslim blokes are mostly sound.

the french left a huge influence,
but it is most definitely a muslim country by rule.
the muezzin call to prayer is very loud several times a day.
and one has to respect their beliefs.
you soon learn that the off-licences are closed on fridays, haha.

the truth though is that the amount of amazighs is unknown.
they are the indigenous folk.
estimates vary, up top 70% of the population.
they have their own amazing language

road-signs are written in arabic, amazigh and european.

the majority of locals i have become friendly with are amazighs.
traditionally we call them berbers,
where the word barbarian derives from,
but they are far from barbaric,
they're lovely folk who would share their last dirham with you.

it suits me best because it is such a creative place.
as you know, i'm an artist.
this gallery has taken on some of my artworks and has already sold some.
galerie la kasbah
happy days.

and i'm gladdened that people enjoy the photos.
i'll add more soon.

What is their attitude towards the French now, anti colonial etc, didnt the French leave in rather a hurry ?

 

[calumdown]

What is their attitude towards the French now, anti colonial etc, didnt the French leave in rather a hurry ?

it's odd that all the official stuff is still written in french.
any legal or banking letters etc you receive are in french..

if someone who doesn't know you addresses you in the street it is usually "monsieur".

and yet,
the truth, as far as i can gather, is that the french are not liked.
there doesn't seem to be any real hatred that i can see,
just a general dislike.
although, i'm not privvy to any anti-french underground movements.

the problem is the attitude of the french visitors.
they often talk down to the locals,
as if they are still superior in some way,
or at least feel they are.
it can be a bit shocking to witness.

it doesn't go down well either,
but people need to earn a living,
so (for now) they put it with it in the main,
whilst slagging them off behind their backs.

i've witnessed french people asking for directions,
and locals deliberately pointing them in the opposite way, haha.
i've seen anti-french graffiti,
but, as i said, it is illegal to hassle foreigners.

i have met lots of foreigners living here,
but i am yet to meet anyone french who does,
so i cannot offer their viewpoint.

if i had to take a guess,
i'd say the arabs are more forgiving to the french visitors,
(because as a rule they tend to want to get along with everyone)
and i'd say the amazighs would be glad if the french fucked off for ever more.

 

[yeseye]

View attachment 130305
Sitting outside with all my friends, still 28c in the shade, beer and a cocktail keeping me company

Are they imaginary friends?

 

[Blue Mist]

Are they imaginary friends?

Imaginary friends, sunshine and beer. It's actually minus 16, he's in a log cabin wearing beaver trying to thaw out a 4 month dead moose he found by the frozen river.

 

[Blue Mist]

it's odd that all the official stuff is still written in french.
any legal or banking letters etc you receive are in french..

if someone who doesn't know you addresses you in the street it is usually "monsieur".

and yet,
the truth, as far as i can gather, is that the french are not liked.
there doesn't seem to be any real hatred that i can see,
just a general dislike.
although, i'm not privvy to any anti-french underground movements.

the problem is the attitude of the french visitors.
they often talk down to the locals,
as if they are still superior in some way,
or at least feel they are.
it can be a bit shocking to witness.

it doesn't go down well either,
but people need to earn a living,
so (for now) they put it with it in the main,
whilst slagging them off behind their backs.

i've witnessed french people asking for directions,
and locals deliberately pointing them in the opposite way, haha.
i've seen anti-french graffiti,
but, as i said, it is illegal to hassle foreigners.

i have met lots of foreigners living here,
but i am yet to meet anyone french who does,
so i cannot offer their viewpoint.

if i had to take a guess,
i'd say the arabs are more forgiving to the french visitors,
(because as a rule they tend to want to get along with everyone)
and i'd say the amazighs would be glad if the french fucked off for ever more.

I normally like derailing threads but...... :-) it all sounds fascinating and everything you've said about the French i'd agree with (within my limited knowledge)

 

[idahoblues]

Imaginary friends, sunshine, beer. It's actually minus 16, he's in a log cabin wearing beavering trying to thaw out a 4 month dead moose he found by the frozen river.

Are you filming me ?

 

[idahoblues]

Are they imaginary friends?

It was an attempt at humour

 

[Mid Wales blue]

you are right,
and it's like travelling back in time, mate, it really is.

it's a fishing town on the west coast of northern africa.
it is a 3hr drive through the desert to get there.

there are tourists,
but they are more adventurous than your average holidaymaker.
no 18-30 pricks is what i mean.
plenty of surfer types and artistic dreamers,
because it's as if the real world elsewhere doesn't exist.

it's very very safe for foreigners.
the king basically decreed it illegal to hassle visitors,
he doesn't want any diplomatic situations,
he wants tourists and he wants foreigners to come and live here.

there are huge numbers of plain-clothed police.
one day this local fella started to chat to me,
within seconds a moped turned up...
"you'd be wise not to talk to this man".

there isn't one single yankie fastfood outlet,
so there is no mcdiabetes obesity.
you can get a pizza or crepes, but that's it,
otherwise it's just traditional local food at very good prices.

there is now a carrefour supermarche on the outskirts,
which makes it easier for tits like me who struggle with bartering.
View attachment 130359
and if need you need to buy a sheep (which i don't)
View attachment 130361

it's an incredibly relaxed and slow way of life,
partly down to hashish maybe
(even the old ladies like a toot)
but more because there's really no reason to be in a hurry.

the weather also helps.
there's always a good breeze coming off the sea,
which keeps it reasonable even in summer
and it never rains

it's really easy to meet global ex-pats of all sorts & make friends.
understandably, it's not so easy to become very friendly with local muslim women,
but the muslim blokes are mostly sound.

the french left a huge influence,
but it is most definitely a muslim country by rule.
the muezzin call to prayer is very loud several times a day.
and one has to respect their beliefs.
you soon learn that the off-licences are closed on fridays, haha.

the truth though is that the amount of amazighs is unknown.
they are the indigenous folk.
estimates vary, up top 70% of the population.
they have their own amazing language

road-signs are written in arabic, amazigh and european.

the majority of locals i have become friendly with are amazighs.
traditionally we call them berbers,
where the word barbarian derives from,
but they are far from barbaric,
they're lovely folk who would share their last dirham with you.

it suits me best because it is such a creative place.
as you know, i'm an artist.
this gallery has taken on some of my artworks and has already sold some.
galerie la kasbah
happy days.

and i'm gladdened that people enjoy the photos.
i'll add more soon.

Top post, very interesting.

 

[calumdown]

Top post, very interesting.

no worries, thank you.