N. Africa

Interview with Juliet Bawuah on Ghana Football and the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations

by phil January 27, 2012 N. Africa
Ghana Black Stars

The 2012 Africa Cup of Nations is underway. I’m in Bamako where dusty roadside TVs are being co-opted by crowds eager to see Mali advance. This is Africa’s largest tournament and whether or not you care about the sport, it’s hard not to appreciate the atmosphere. I have been supporting Ghana since I studied abroad [...]

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Ewoks Jawas and Turbo Viagra in Essaouira, Morocco

by phil December 27, 2010 Morocco
Thumbnail image for <strike>Ewoks</strike> Jawas and Turbo Viagra in Essaouira, Morocco

Essaouira, Morocco. The town that inspired Jimi Hendrix’s “Castles Made of Sand.” Actually, that’s not true. In fact, just about everything hasslers tell you about Jimi Hendrix in Essaouira is false. Some of their other talking points – Othello was filmed here – are true, but they are just as aggravating because the information is [...]

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Mountain. Desert. Camel. Photo. Parrot Cake.

by phil December 17, 2010 Morocco
Thumbnail image for Mountain. Desert. Camel. Photo. Parrot Cake.

Among the many benefits of writing a travel blog: making new friends and reconnecting with old ones. Me and Nicky were last together in 2007, on a group tour to Colca Canyon in Peru. Group tours are silly affairs. Everything gets colored by the other people you are herded around with. For me and Nicky, [...]

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Things to Eat and Drink in Morocco that Taste Good

by phil December 13, 2010 Morocco
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By now I assume you have reached camel drawing proficiency. If you have not sent me a picture of one of your camels, please do. Phil.paoletta at gmail dot com or post it on the facebook page. For each camel drawn, $1 is being donated to Partners in Health. There has been a lot of [...]

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3 Fun Strategies to Deal with Hasslers, Hawkers, and Touts

by phil November 30, 2010 Camel Drawing
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“My friend!” This is the universal greeting offered by those who want your money. They may or may not be offering a service in return. They are well versed in the art of psychological warfare. The more touristic the area, the more practice they’ve had. I used to play a lot of Toe Jam and [...]

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Capping the Loose Stool Count at 70, First Thoughts on Morocco, and Camel Drawing in Bamako

by phil November 26, 2010 Camel Drawing
Thumbnail image for Capping the Loose Stool Count at 70, First Thoughts on Morocco, and Camel Drawing in Bamako

The loose stool count is at 61. A conservative 61 due to negligent bookkeeping in Timbuktu. Also, pooping blood should probably count double. But let’s pretend it’s 61. My goal for the remainder of this trip? Keep it under 70. In Mali, Cote D’Ivoire, and Ghana that might have been too ambitious. Here in Morocco, [...]

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