A Slice of Life
Bill Lites
Day 6 (Continued)
Then we were taken to a Moroccan carpet shop, where we were all seated around this large display room with the walls covered with an assortment of smaller rugs. DiVoran remembers that they were very insistent that we wanted to purchase one of their fine carpets. She kept telling them that she didn’t want to buy a carpet, but they must have thought their salesmanship would win her over, and kept at her until she finally said emphatically, ‘NO!’
The owner would explain the style and origin of his finest carpets (wall samples) and then ask if anyone had a favorite they wanted to see in full-size. I guess, as with most tour groups, there were several couples who were interested in purchasing Moroccan carpets. When someone picked a particular wall sample, two of his helpers would find and bring out that carpet and roll it out on the floor in front of us. The selection was huge and amazing, and the workmanship was outstanding. If the customer decided to purchase the carpet, the owner might barter with the customer over the price some, which would include the cost and method of transportation of their carpet back to the United States, or whatever country they were from, as part of the deal.
After the carpet store, on another street, the aroma of freshly baked bread wafted into our nostrils. We stopped at a small bakery, where DiVoran and I, and several other people, bought samples of the different types of breads that were available for sale (some still warm from the oven). There was the typical Moroccan flat bread, square decorative breads, and small buns. Once we had completed our purchases, we stepped outside, and all shared our different breads around the group. What a taste treat that was. What a tragedy, that today that kind of group activity can’t be enjoyed!
Photo Credit: https://www.virginlimitededition.com/bread-making-class/
It made it very convenient to have two tour guides for our walk thru the streets of Tangier. That way, if some wanted to stop at a certain shop, the rest of the group could continue with the other guide. We bought a few souvenir items for our family as we browsed the many shops and, after assembling back with the rest of our group, were ready when our tour guide said it was time to head to the hotel for lunch.
We boarded the bus which took us to the Hotel Ahlen, located in the Karima Quarter of Tangier, where we were to spend the night. We were assigned our rooms and told where to assemble for lunch. We unpacked our things and had time for a short rest before we were called for lunch. Our lunch was served in a large dining room at the Ahlem Restaurant there in the hotel.
—–To Be Continued—–
Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 64 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing. He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville. Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.
One of Bill’s favorite Scriptures is: John 10:10
Old Things R New 
Those men were so set on selling us a hand-created rug that I wracked my brain trying to think how and why I would buy one. They worked hard and surely had a wife and children at home to take care of.
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wow!
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