Mint Tea Express

Everything in Morocco seems to be built by the principle of »functionality, but make it aesthetic«. Be it the souks, medinas, riads, street vendors, royal palaces, tajines, or multiple-millenia old dessert villages, your eyes are eternally pleased by the combination of patterns, colors, shapes and materials. As I was typing this at Marrakech airport cafe, I overheard a group of travelers ranting about Moroccans being »scammers«. And that remark irritated me. Moroccans are, like most Arabs, savvy businessmen. They are top-notch negotiators by default, and better at it than you or I will ever be. And that's why you overpaid that rug or the sunset ride on a camel's back – they simply beat you at haggling. Well, there is always room for bad weeds, like the dudes approaching you on the street and accompanying you uninvited to your hotel, demanding a fee for »showing you the way«. But apart from that, it's mostly a clear transaction at a mutually agreed price. I was sold on Morocco in my late teens through William S Burroughs and his solo adventures during 50s in Tangier, which was then known as the »Interzone«. It seemed like all the cool people of the world concentrated there in the 50s and lived their beatnik lives in this unique blend of Arabic, Berber, European influences. This series comprises of shots from Taghazout, Chefchaouen, Fez, Imsouane and Aït Benhaddou. In some of those places I spent months, others I merely passed by. Obviously, there is always a personal, time-specific feeling involved behind every shot. I still remember hows and whys of the moments there but I don't see a point in explaining my feelings behind the photos. It's like translating a joke to another language – high chances are you are gonna butcher it. There is one remark that pops to my mind – the lone street vendor in Aït Benhaddou, a stunning fortified village that's usually, I assume, crawling with tourists. Which wasn't the case here. This was shot during late pandemic times, when Morocco eased up traveling for a short period, but it didn't result in tourist masses flocking in like they normally do. As a result you'd get a more unspoilt version of Morocco, with unusually empty streets. The photo shows a street vendor leaning against the clay wall, illuminated, as he's experiencing poor market performance.