January 15, 2004 - page 2



patterns, but the Berber rugs are more simplistic and tell stories. Typically, they also have larger knots than the plush Arab rugs. The problem we’ve discovered with co-ops is that the prices are way over-the-top, and they rip you off regardless of how much you’ve haggled off the initial price. We visited a crazy apothecary in the medina as well. We smelled far too many things to distinguish them all.

We went to a traditional clothing store and tried on all sorts of attire.

One of my favorite parts of winding through the medina were the cries of “Belech!” followed by an overloaded donkey charging down the narrow cobblestone streets. Probably my least favorite part was spending a good thirty seconds with chickens inches from my ankles. I really am going to have to get over this fear.