Joha

Joha is a Muslim folk hero- he is known as Mullah Nasrudin in India/Pakistan - Hoja or Khoja in Turkey - Joha in the Middle East and Goha in Egypt. We have learned about him through Tahir Shah's book In Arabian Nights, kindly lent by Alec and Briony and which we are thoroughly enjoying. We have each begun to poke around for other tales of this uniquely eastern wise fool.

Here is one I liked today:


"Friends," announced Joha, "I have discovered the cause of all problems!"

Everyone was attentive.

"It is people providing 'solutions' " proclaimed Joha.


In the desert by the way, we covered 85km in two and half days with our guide Hatar and cook Abdul. We told jokes and riddles and sang songs at the fire, walked in silence and in conversation, found seashells and fossils, baked bread in the sand, climbed up dunes and down them, learned about camel diets and never showered once. It was great.

Sahara

High Atlas Mountains

Walking through scripture landscapes, arid mountains cradling the lush green of the river valley.

Pomegranate= pomme graine= apple of seeds= the true fruit of Eden?

Breakfast in Assaka including hot bread in that blanket, cooked directly on the coals that morning.
Produce of the valley: almonds, olives, carrots, green beans, and some giant squash variety, much too large for this photo.
Evening in Assaka, tea on the 'terrace' to the soothing braying of donkeys
The whole walk was like this, perfect weather on scenery from another millenia.

Morocco

TANGIER

Outside our bedroom window in the morning:

Breakfast on the rooftop:

almond cake, latkes, homemade doughnuts, homemade apple sauce, pomegranate, couscous pudding, some kind of cottage cream cheese, creme caramel, fresh squeezed orange juice, coffee, mint tea

Exploring the palace gardens at the Kasbah museum

Where we found in abundance:

And looked over the wall to see the bay of Tangier:

On into the Medina (old city) where we saw, among many other things:

Out into the "Ville Nouvelle" and main town square full of new and not-so-new characters alike:

Continuing to wander the streets further afield, relishing moment after moment:

Paris wrap-up

Well, a lot of course happened in my last month in Paris, life got busier and I stopped writing. But here are some scattered images to give you a sketch of what was going down.

Way back before Matt arrived I went to get an extra key cut. This was the shop I chose to patronize. And would again if I only had reason. I had Matt come back with me later just to take pictures, none of which could really capture the depth of it. Just so many key parts and brick-a-brack.

After Matt arrived I was inspired to do more touristy things again, like go to the Rodin museum. Where we enjoyed watching live people as much as the sculptures:

While wiling away a few hours before dinner we meandered through the Christmas market on the Champs Elysees where we could peruse quintessential Frenchness condensed into stands displaying wares such as in this mountainous array of cheeses. The hot mulled wine hit just the spot though and we were surprised to find we were thoroughly enjoying ourselves amongst the usual kitsch.

Perhaps less evident but equally french to me, the Barbapapa stand, whose proprietor in this case reminded me somewhat of the Barbapapa family.

Then there was the chance encounter with Xiao Lin whom I had met in Taiwan in 2008 and happened to be performing in a show we went to see at the Theatre de Chaillot. I was thrilled to see her- she said it is like a Chinese saying about how two people meet on a circle and the circle is complete when they meet again.