. OnHiatus.com > Journal 1 > Day Index > Journal Entry: September 16, 1998
Wednesday, September 16, 1998
Marrakesh to Casablanca, Morocco
Morocco's Flag
Map
Casablanca, Morocco:
Latitude: 33° 36' 25" North
Longitude: 7° 38' 1" West
Altitude: 78 feet
From Seattle: 6068 miles
Lodging: Hotel - Hôtel Colbert
Map
Today's Travel:
Country: Morocco
Regions: The High Atlas, Atlantic Coast
Route: Train: Marrakesh - Casa Voyageurs
Path:Marrakesh - Casablanca, Morocco
Linear:157 miles
Weather: Sunny / Partial Sun / Overcast
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Map
Trip Stats to Date:
Day: 524
Linear Dist: 124499
Countries Visited: 35
Regions Visited: 149
More stats...
Hotels: 131
Friends / Family: 154
Camping: 42
Hostels: 141
Transit: 49
Other Lodging: 6
Beers: 1928
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Journal Entry:
Couldn't sleep last night - a combination of nerves, a loud Tom cat, loneliness, and a queasy stomach. Spent the morning dumping my journal to the internet and answering email, and buying my train ticket (also managed to squeeze in several more glasses of OJ - Final OJ count for Marrakesh: 37). The train ride was through some particularly bland countryside but at least was only three and a half hours (though it seemed much longer). Battled through the taxis / guides / misc. touts to a hotel right next to the train station (and thus easy access to the airport) but they wanted 80 dh for a room. This seemed a bit pricey to me though a little later I realized this was only US$8, and in fact was what I was paying in Marrakesh. Caught a taxi (off the street so he was willing to use the meter) to a downtown hotel. Spent a quiet evening reading (some on Senegal, some for fun).

Language Notes: Moroccan Arabic
Salaam al laikoum
Greeting ('peace with you')
Respond Al laikoum salaam ('with you peace')
Labass?
How are you? ('No harm?')
Respond labass ('No harm')
Hom-d'alah
Thank god
Schwea
A little
Shukran
Thanks
Sidi
Sir
Kem falooz?
How much money?
Marabah
Welcome (not used as in classical Arabic)
La shukran
No thank you
La
No
Em-shee
Go away (rude)
Yalah
Come on (repeat for emphasis)
Yalah em-shu
Let's go
En'shalah
Maybe ('May God will it')
Ma'shalah
Because ('God's will is done')
Schwea
A little
Wahid / Zjoue
One / Two
Ashara
Ten
Wa'x'hah
Good ('x' sounds like 'ch' as in loch)
Safi
Enough / finished

Language Notes: Berber
Azule
Hi
Sah-ha
Thanks / cheers

Related Sites:
CNN: Current Weather in Casablanca
US State Department Consular Information Sheets: Morocco
CIA World Fact Book: Morocco
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