Laminated Gold

Today I finally received my carte de sejour which is basically my work visa in Morocco. This means I can open up a bank account, stay in the country for longer than 3 months at a time and overall be considered a resident in the country instead of an extended visitor. 

Mmm...too bad I'm leaving forever next week. That's right. It took a year to get this card. And it looks like the only thing I will use it for is to get out of the country. 

I've survived day one of Moroccan bureaucracy. I never felt so exhausted by waiting and looking stupid while other people discuss me and what it is that I want. The end goal is to receive a piece of paper that allows our belongings to make it through customs. I hope to have it by the end of tomorrow. Cross your fingers that my vapid express continues to work and they give this poor girl a customs clearance just so she'll go away and stop staring at them blankly.

I will never complain about any form of US bureaucracy. Ever. Again. You don't know how good you have it with the DMV. Yes, I'm serious.

Home is where he is....and the food.

Beef Bourguignon is in the oven. Husband is in the house and we are not in a hotel room. Life doesn't get much better than this.

What a difference a year makes

Last year on this day Kept Man and I flew to Marrakech for the first time. I was nervous, scared, unsure and uneasy.

And it was Kept Man's birthday.

This year on the same day I am again flying into Marrakech but for the last time. I'm coming to officially say goodbye, collect our things, my husband and move our lives out of Morocco and into the Czech Republic.

This year Kept Man and I will celebrate his birthday in better spirits. At a restaurant we've been trying to eat at for the past year even though it is around the corner from our apartment. This is going to be a better year. Things are settling down.

So Happy Birthday Garren! I hope that this year provides you with the opportunities you want and that we're together so much you're practically sick of me. See you in a few hours birthday boy.

This week

.....I was annoyed by the fact that since I have bought my Kindle there have been many books that are unavailable to download. The books I have most desperately wanted have been 'unavailable in the ebook format' and I have been told that I should 'click here to inform the publisher that I would like to read the book on my kindle'

This weekend I decided that I no longer wanted to play by the rules of the publishers who were trying to gouge me price wise for an ebook or just deny me completely so that they sell more hardback copies. So i did some minor looking on the web. Previously I've had no luck, but this time I found four books that I have been wanting to read for months now in pdf version. I was able to download and have readable copies of all four books on my Kindle.

Good job guys. Instead of having a client who was willing and happy to buy your books, you restricted the availability or increased the price to ridiculous amounts so that she found a cheaper, more readily accessible option. Smart move. Really. How long do you think it will take before most ebook readers are downloading free copies instead of paying you for one? Maybe you should ask the record companies what they think. Re-think your ebook strategy. Now.

On the brighter side I've finished two of the four books I've downloaded and am as happy as a clam.

Arrrrr Matey!

You know what I love about the Czech Republic? Their work for 'Hi' is Ahoj as in 'Ahoy Landlubber!'

It's like I'm on a pirate ship every day. I keep looking out for sails, masts and canons. Alas no pirates ships are in sight in a land locked country but everyday secretly, I add Matey to the end of my ahoj greetings and giggle silently to myself.

It's the little things people.

I hear you Danny Glover

Went on a little outing last night to La Bodeguita del Medio. It's a popular cuban bar near Old Town Square with live music on the weekends and salsa dancers to watch. The music is great as are the mojitos and daiquiri and if you're looking for a lively evening in Prague I would recommend it.

But at the same time last night was a strange echo of evenings spent at Santa Barbara bars with Krista or Courtney in tow where party buckets full of booze and long straws could be seen at other tables. While there were no party buckets there were 'classier' fish blow size mojitos at various tables with long straws. And while the crowd was not 20 something college students everyone there was pretty much acting as if they were. I was constantly looking around myself last night and laughing at how people don't change. At any age group people who are out looking for a good time basically all act the same way. Age is not a defining factor for stupidity.

So while I had a good time, next time I think I'll enjoy the music, dancing and drinks but leave an hour or two earlier because I am not interested in doing the things I did in my twenties. Namely drinking too much and staying up too late. And today in old lady fashion you probably think I'm displaying, I'm going to dinner and a movie to be in bed at a reasonable hour to get my beauty sleep.

Destroyed

A weekend in Barcelona equals good food, decent weather, great friends, mini reunion with my husband of one year, amazing gelato and painful feet.

Either I didn't expect to walk so much or my flip flops really just hate me. Blisters and a possible streched tendon were my prize. Don't worry Christine, I don't think it's actually streched or skewed or really hurt it at all. I'm ok. Not even limping anymore. I swear. My feet are only starting to forgive me for abusing them, and only because I have avoided the blister loving shoes since returning to Prague, but the weekend was worth it.

Want recommendations? I've got them!

Amorino Gelato - They shape the gelato into a flower people. And you can have as many flavors as you want. Genius!
Ciutat Comtal- mmmm Razor Clams and Champagne based Sangria
La Bouqueria - I love you Spanish Iberico Jamon. LOVE YOU
Park Guell - Gaudi is not boring

And as usual I need a vacation from my vacation. One of these days it will be a lay on the beach and only roll over for booze or food kind of vacation. One of these days....

Hopefully Kept Man will provide you all with photos. He has the camera.