Secret Blog Post

The world wide web. It's a big place. And we've already had some funny instances of random far-flung people finding their way to The Baraka Chronicles on their own. Given this fact, and because some things are better shared with a trusted few than left to float in the ether for any old reader, we decided not to post today's blog entry. Instead, if you're a curious reader, send us an email and we'll share an incriminating tale.

So why this sudden bout of concern? Morocco is a complicated, many-layered place and the more we become invested in it, the more we understand how much there is to learn.



A few days ago, Simone took us to visit Riad Farnatchi, one of Marrakech's premiere maison d'hotes, for some design inspiration. The Riad, a marvel, resembles some of the grand palaces that we saw in Fes, with five luxury suites and two commanding courtyards, one with a burbling fountain and green tiled pool. The manager of the Riad, Lynn, is a veteran of the luxury hotel world and having lived in Morocco for six years, understands the mentality of the country. She's full of amusing stories, but also a few cautionary tales. She recounts one in which a journalist friend made a simple misstep and found himself shackled to a Nigerian deportee on a bus headed to the Algerian border. Another involved a scary, midnight run to the police station, confiscated passports, and clients thrown into jail on alarming, trumped up charges. Lucky for them, Lynn's over-the-top client service extended to such circumstances and all was eventually righted. Sure, Paul Bowles stories instill a bit of fear, but those were written half a century ago; these tales are much closer and therefore more resonant.

So, since we don't have Lynn watching our backs, we're practicing a bit of self-censorship.