Rhythm of Love

'You are welcome' says Yosseff. And his smile says it all. His family shop is in the heart of ' new ' Imsouoane. He has lived here all his life. He surfs and runs the shop, which includes the most delicious sandwiches and plates you could want. They are presented with care and attention to detail, they look good and taste great at a cost which beggars belief. Such good value for money at 25 to 35 dirhams each. And served with music and that smile? Nice one Yosseff, you are a great intro to this blog, which is all about people and being here.

First up is the lovely Marzin Family, yes I know we've met them before but they have moved on and their leaving is another stage in this life of ours. We all come and go and this day, they 'go'.

  

                                     

'With a tear in one eye and a smile in the other' they embrace the moment and stretch the parting until a swim is had and a chat with all their new friends is complete. We wish them all the energy they deserve to continue their journey into the next phase of their lives. Beautiful people.

Sonam you're a star, Lazhar you'll go far

Renan and Solange, what a melange.

Love at first sight, hold on tight.

The journey will lead, to your happiness.

                                                  Phew, poetry now! What next.

How about Redwan, the campsite interface! Not the owner but the ' man at the gate ', this charming, friendly Moroccan is a joy to see in the morning, evening or whatever time you can find him!! He always has time for a chat and will get the showers working whenever you ask ! But don,'t ask why shower number two is hot and number three is cold! That is one of the many mysteries that make this campsite a modern ' Carry On Camping ' in the finest style. In a conversation with Redwan, there is space. Something quite rare. No hurry to fill the air with words, there's plenty of time.

Lets move on to Fifi, a delightful 26 year old Portuguese girl who lives in France. She's a real sweetheart and has come to be a regular visitor who smiles at us like old friends of the family or dare I say it, like her ( joke ) parents. We have regular English/ French lessons and it always ends in a smile, as the photo shows. She and Krysia have a great rapport and endeavour to speak in each others tongue to great amusement and warmth. Nothing quite like talking to a Portuguese girl in French who then wants to talk back in English!!

The other day we happened to meet her in the mountains at a natural water source where all sorts of washing of clothes and bodies took place while we continued to swap our language lessons. While sunning herself in front of Krysia's camera, I alerted her to a couple of local lads approaching but she didn't connect to the meaning of the warning and lay in the most beautiful pose, much to the lads delight!

  

She swiftly covered up when she realized that I had meant it and was a little embarased to say the least! No harm done as the lads took a swift wash and left with big smiling faces. Who wouldn't !!

With her at the source was Carroll and her son Manu, who have been in Imsouane longer than us and they too have touched our hearts with open warmth and friendliness. They are 'wild' camping in the village at the moment and are a favourite with the local lads who are obviously top notch locals. As Fifi says, ' total respect' . As safe here as anywhere and a lot safer than most places.

At the source

  

And in the village

Manu is another young person being given the chance to feel the warmth of human nature and to learn from life as well as from books. The lads below are just two of many locals who are treating Manu and his Mum with love and respect. They have great fun together and as the photo plainly shows, the lads are characters to be treasured

Keeping with the local theme, this next photo introduces Mbarka who is a thoroughly modern girl who lives and works in Agadir. A single and self supporting lass, she thrives on having a good time with friends from anywhere in the world. She is a big fan of couch surfing as a way of providing cheap accommodation to like minded souls around the globe. Simon had '' warned'' us about you Mbarka! Joking of course. She is a regular visitor to Imsouane for weekends and this time for a week! While on holiday Mbarka wants to make the most of her spare time and is responsible for two events to have taken place this week that we won't forget for a long time.

I haven't played a gig in a while now but to find myself entertaining a gathering of campers and locals in Imsouane was a surprise to say the least. Mbarka was responsible for the Pizza evening but it was an older french couple that requested the live music as they must have heard it another evening around the campfire. No one was more surprised than myself but fortunately I had Renan to accompany me on guitar as well as Simon on harmonica. Local Simu and Redwan joined in too and we brought the evening pizza night up from \a meal to a live bash with yours truly getting everyone to sing along to impromptu songs such as ' How do you leave Imsouane' ! Which aptly describes a 'problem' here with two folk I can think of, Simon and Cirrus having been here 5 months and Jean- Loup, 4.

  

As the Pizza night wasn't enough for Mbarka, she organized an evening meal in Imsouane at Simu's cafe and yep, I was heading the bill with Simon, as the entertainment!! two gigs in Imsouane! And all due to the most lovely lass from Tan Tan in the deep Western Sahara, who has become a thoroughly modern surfy girl from Agadir. Mbarka means blessed in Arabic and she certainly is, as are we by knowing her.

Now Ben and Katarina might only have stayed in the campsite for a couple of days but left their mark with infectious smiles and heartfelt emotion. They had heard about all of 'us' from Wolfy and had to come and see for themselves this little haven of idiosyncratic behaviour. They found it in time for Pizza night and loved it.  

Ben, it has to be said, has the most genuine 'cuddle' a man can offer ! So Katarina's life must be a real joy! The energy I felt in Ben's goodbye man hug was as close to a real time cuddle from my Jon as it can get. I know it must sound strange but this lad from Germany left me feeling like Jon had passed a hug through Ben to me and for that I thank him from the bottom of my heart. Come to think of it, Daniel was an excellent man hugger too. Maybe it's something German? Maybe we are being very lucky with the people we are meeting. All this talk of man hugs! And I'm thinking of our Jaimie's Storm, now there's a good hugger for you and Adam, blimey there's another one, I'm blessed with attracting man hugs from all over the place! Thomas Beynon gives a great hug! What a lucky man I am. The spirit of dear Jon coming through all the lovely men in my life! And I promise that I am not coming out.

Which brings me anything but subtly to another neighbour, Rener, who has just left after sharing our company for a couple of weeks. A jovial chap from Holland, he spontaneously came to Morocco three months ago and has had a great time. We won't remember you for your man cuddles Rener but your laugh will stay with us as will your smile.  

So I'll post this blog now while the internet allows and will have to include some more dear folk at a later date. So many interesting and lovely people. The Rhythm of Love in Imsouane. Amazing.