Driving around Morocco and a sweet spot

We have rented a nine passenger van for our two weeks. We always rent with AutoEurope and I think I could be their biggest fan, they are awesome! We just got in the car and drove!!! We didn't think we'd go too far, but we forewarned Pedro at the hostel if we didn't return that night don't worry about us!

About an hour east of Marrakech,  we drove through a town, Sidi Rahhal, a small town that appeared to be mainly a very dusty street and something told me for us to stop there for lunch. I saw a man cooking outside with tangines (the traditional pottery used in Morocco, with a chimney type cover) and he caught my attention.

This was not a tourist area, far from it I guess. Within seconds the kids found a building beside us filled with school kids playing Foosball and Pool/billiards in this one huge room of just cement walls with little to no decoration. Nothing new inside and each game, to play, cost 1 dirham/mad (about ten cents). Kids gathered around us as we made sure everyone had money to play, more kids showed up and everyone was smiling! It got a little crazy with so many kids asking for money, but the cost was so minimal and I was certain they'd remember my kids for a long time and I knew my kids would remember these few hours forever so throwing minimal money at the situation was worth it.

 

Two older " kids" in their early 20s watched over my kids and translated beautifully. Both were very impressive young men, one we called " Smiles" as his smile was lovely and his name sounded similar, the other was Adam, who impressed me of his handling of my kids, especially Loftin and Aynsleigh.

I got many wonderful shots of the girls playing Foosball with tons of boys and feel pretty certain these boys have probably never played Foosball with a girl before. This was a mama heart moment!!!!

It was beautiful to see, and Steve and I relaxing street side right next door eating our wonderful tangine was just an added bonus.

.