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| Ready to board Royal Air Maroc |
Day one started at 3:45 pm yesterday after beating out the Friday rush hour traffic in Brooklyn and being dropped off at JFK for flight to Casablanca. I met my fellow traveler and roommate in Casablanca, Jennifer, in line for the Royal Air Maroc ticket counter and discovered that not only was there no curbside check in, but no conveyor belt. We had to transport our own bags across the terminal to the bag check. Jennifer was smart - one bag - but I have never been able to travel light and stack my heavy bag filled with art supply, presentation documents, papers to grade, you name it - on top of my rolling bag filled with entirely too many clothes for a climate that promises to be in the low 70's each day. Security check seemed a massive sea of humanity, but we breezed through in 20 minutes. Seems we have all become such efficient travelers - taking off our shoes and belts - no complaining. The biggest hitch was a woman in front of me who couldn't remove her jewelry and was made to wait in the "pat down room." There was a lot of calling through the din, "Don't remove your i-Pads!" Seems we have all learned to travel lighter that way too including me, which is how I have managed to create this blog.
Jennifer and I were treated at the other end to the sight of a flock of cardinal red Royal Air Maroc stewardesses waiting for a flight - red from head to toe, shoes, stockings, shifts. Seemed to presage the richness of color to come - red being the color of the Moroccan flag. The rest of our party was waiting at the gate, including 9 year old Richard, who seemed very knowledgable about all the latest electronics as we all negogtiated converting our i-Phones to travel mode.
The flight was fast and uneventful arriving half hour early due to favorable winds and we get our first taste of Moroccan culture. All the announcements are in Arabic first, then Fernch and English almost as an after thought. Many families with children; women in beautiful silk head scarves. The radio played Arabic music, which my seat-mate hummed softly to herself though out the six hours, as she adjusted her yellow and gold scarf.
We arrive in Casablanca at 6:00 am - tired, sore, but excited for the day.
More later...
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