minor catch up from London

Hello

a minor catch up today as I am tired from travelling from Marrakech and need some food and a shower and ... It is so different here from Marrakech - the people, the heat, the noise, the traffic etc. I took the bus in from Luton airport to Baker street underground station and was trying to figure out the tube conection to St Pancras where I was going and realized I was just outside of Madame Tussaud's and only about a mile from my hostel so I just walked. This keyboard is so easy compared to the keyboard in Marrakech. that one was based on a french keyboard with letters in different places and had arabic characters as well so that some of the 'letter' keys had 4 possible functions! Going to get myself sorted out a bit tonight and start thinking of what I want to do here. When I was walking over from Baker Street station/Madam |Tussaud's I walked by the Royal Acadamy of Music. There was a young chines woman unlocking her bike who I passed and who catching up to me at a crosswalk asked where I was from. She saw the maple leaf on my pack and was herself from Burnaby and studying piano and performance at the Royal Academy.

Anyway now I go back to Morocco to catch up with where I left off. the fi9rst time I went to the Medina (old city - world heritage site) I was at the internet cafe and met Carla and Mohammed both from england and ended up going with them for coffee on the edge of the square for a oouple of hours of conversation and the best people watching I have ever experienced! Mohammed a moderate and thoughtful muslim originally from Sierra Leone. went down a long narrow alley with shops on both sides and scooters going thru and found laundry. haven't taken any pictures of the square or the soukks as they are too long, caried, colourful, rich etc to be captured with pictures.|Got hassled/hussled by a guy who was going to show me an auction. I reacted slowly and got pulled through many shops before getting back to square. I gave him change from pocket. He wanted more which I didn't give. Lesson -- DON'T GO WITH HIM IN THE FIRST PLACE! Unpleasant experience.
Next Day - met group. seem nice. Packed stuff that I am not taking in my pack each day trekking in a small sports bag that willl be given to the muleteers to take to our camp each day. drove over a mountainour terrain in a small van until reaching our accommodations for the night in Happy Valley. Our guide 'Mo' for Mohammed is from here. he took us for a small walk around the village so we meet him and him us. Bought a scarf which I understand may be very useful. I was concerned about the froup and me but this seems like it should be a good group with a good guide.
Next Day - leave the next day at first light after a light but good breakfast for a s short day walk to a high camp defintely in the mountains. Mules arrive a bit after us with considerable supplies. We don't travel light. - Yesterday Mo explained to Liz that in Morocco he could have 4 wives, one chines, one canadian etc. It dawned on her that he was kidding her and she exclaimed 'bullshit! He was dumbstruck in surprise but got her back when he let her explain to him what cookies were. more to come but shower and food needed now!