Welcome to the Mancuso Family Website!
The Berber of Seville
Marrakesh, Morocco Rabat Tangier Gibraltar, UK Tavira, Spain Seville,
Algarve, Portugal
Lisbon
Coming from rural Jordan, Marrakesh was a shock... Disney third world... Another fine example of why getting out to see the world is sometimes a race against time. With the exception of the old men selling thousands of used teeth (which I really do have to give big points for), its a shamelessly contrived setup that only the most desperate tourists could enjoy. Put it on your black list. Actually the West Bank (Palestine) is ideal right now since they are too busy dealing with their own civil war and are really nice people...really no kidding. Don´t believe everything you see on the news about the Middle East. It was almost time to give up on Morocco when I took a detour to Rabat. Pulled in at 9pm and the city was just getting set up for an free outdoor all night concert.. The giant palm lined streets full of sophisticated, kind and unassuming people is what all emerging cities should aspire to be. Then Tangier, what should have been a dirty port city was a charming little town full of historic buildings. Not a bad comeback...Morocco redeemed in a big way in the midnight hour.
The Rock of Gibraltar... a little island that was so underwhelming I caught the early bus to Tavira, Spain. It was about here I felt the line pass beneath my feet. Over a month hacking it out in the third world, here I was, time for some first class R&R. Of course what could prepare you for the Andalusian seduction of Seville, Spain. Three days of fine dining and an entire walking only town full of colonial architecture. The highlight was seeing three couples get married in the Plaza de Espana where Princess Lea and Hans Solo were in one of the Star Wars movies (actually I don't recall that but the people there said that).
So only a few countries left and lots of vino, grilled fresh seafood and rum rasin gelato. Outdoor cafes, rolling olive groves, dinner at midnight to beat the coming rush, bus rides that look like an IMAX film, nude beaches, and trying to pass my Spanish off. I take no pleasure in this mind you, It is all for my brothers.
Taking one for the team,
Jose the Berber Mancuso
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