Exploring the Souks

We had a few bottles of wine on our last night in Paris. Woke up very early and made my way to the airport and then onto the plane. Somehow my bag seemed twice as heavy as it was when I left LA, and I didn't buy anything in Paris?! I was not feeling 100% and trying to drag the bag down stairs through the metro was not very fun!
The flight seemed very long... it was 2.5 hours and it was packed!When going through Passport Control I was the only person (american) that had to get a Health Screening. They wanted to know when I left the US and if I had a fever...guess they are taking the flu pretty seriously as no other nationality had to go to through that process.
I landed..Ahmed picked me up and then onto the riad. He dropped me at the outside of the Medina and then my friend with the chariot (wheelbarrow) then took me to the riad. It was exactly as I hoped. Quiet, beautiful and comfortable. It is all around a courtyard. There are three bedrooms each en suite, there is a lounge area with books and magazines to hang out in and read.
There is a kitchen with a little table to sit at...but breakfast is served outside. And then Patricia has a little office..

Patricia. She is a trip. Very eccentric, very talkative, very interesting. She has a story for everything..and has lived many lives and she likes to be the center of attention!! but not in a showy way...I think she is just used to things being that way. She has a beautiful daughter in London and two grandbabies.. She has been here for 9 years or so.. She seems to be a little jaded by the lifestyle now. And what seems exotic might now be more day to day.
She lives here full time which is different than a lot of Riad owners who stay here for a little and then go back to London, Paris,...etc. She Loves being around people..and she has been a great person to talk to. She is very genuine, very strong and very sincere. She has been a great to me.
She is also very willing to share everything with me..her information, her time, and her home.
It is great.

There were two major thunderstorms the first two nights. They were great! I never get them at home..it was soothing to go to bed to the rain and the smell of jasmine.
I walked the souks and have met a lot of people. Everyone has been so nice and welcoming..and not in your face as has been described. I stop and talk to all the merchants and tell them I am here for trois semaine.. three weeks..I think that lets them then just talk and not feel like they have to sell me anything.

I saw the dyemakers..and am going back to see more. I will most likely buy some pigments and play around with those. You can also paint with them. The colors are like nothing I have ever seen.

Going off to see some sights today. The Tombs, and the old school.
It is ramadan so everyone is on their best behavoir. Also the KING is here. I saw him yesterday whihc is a rare treat I am told.