Getting High

Up in the mountains


I woke up early Monday morning to find another hotel. I went to all three of the budget options from LP and none had anything available for a single. One had a triple room and I decided to take it. Yes, it is more money but when I’m in Europe, the money spent here will seem like change. I spent all day either in bed or in the bathroom. I quickly went out to resupply my water supply and get some bananas and bread to eat. I felt really weak and I didn’t like it.

I hoped to be recovered on Tuesday to go hiking in the area but I was still up most of the night lying in bed or in the bathroom. Tuesday during the day I could tell I was feeling better and went for a little walk around town. My legs felt so exhausted it was like I hadn’t walked in weeks instead of one day.

I woke up this morning, Wednesday, at 6:30am and was out the door to hike the mountain hovering over Chefchaouen by 7am. I read that I should bring lunch with me so yesterday I bought a Snickers and then planned to buy some more food this morning. At 7am no shops or restaurants are open, everyone is sleeping so I headed out with my snickers and 2 water bottles. I had to work my way through the streets to get to the top of town and then on a road to where the trail starts. I came across some barking dogs and stopped. I stood looking at them for a minute and then started walking toward them and they cowered and ran away, they were scared of me. The sun was on the other side of the mountain lighting everything but not yet able to make things hot and it was wonderful. As I hiked I heard a rustling sound and looked to my right to see a wild pig. I stared at it and realized that it was tied to a tree and couldn’t get me so I relaxed.

The trail followed a gravel/dirt/4 wheeling road up and over the mountains. I stopped at every outlook to take pictures and to rest. The wind would blow and I would throw back my head and close my eyes and feel like I was flying, it was an incredible, I love that feeling. As I approached a turn I saw a mother dog and her teenage pups. The mother started barking at me and the pups stared. I gave them as wide a birth as I could and put my hands in a way to show that I meant them no harm. For no reason the mother moved towards me in an aggressive way and her pups started to bark and they started to encircle me. My mind flashed to a scene from Shantaram where the main character and a boy are attacked by dogs. Then my mind flashed to Prajwal and the dogs of India and me telling him to use the bottom of your foot to their noses if they ever attack. I started to talk to the mother in a soft tone and made gestures to let her know I wasn’t a threat. They kept coming and barking and I was scared, really scared. Then suddenly a burst of rocks exploded in front of the mother and she whined and backed up still barking. Another explosion of rocks hit in front of her and the pups scattered and she ran over the hill and away from me. I turned to see a little old woman hurling rocks the size of her fist. She looked like a Major League baseball player hurling those rocks. I went to her to thank her and she told me through her motions, never show them kindness or fear, show them anger and rocks and they won’t be a problem. I thanked her and continued on my hike.

I passed through fields of corn and then I passed through fields of marijuana. Not to say that I hadn’t expected that it was a possibility to see fields of marijuana but to actually see them was something else. That is definitely something I haven’t seen before. Shortly after that I reached the end of my hike at the top of the mountain and turned around to head back home.

One the way back I heard some dogs barking and I quickly grabbed two large rocks in case these dogs were also interested in attacking, luckily they weren’t and left me alone. I passed a kid who was watching his family’s goats and sheep and he saw I was listening to my mp3 player. He asked me he could listen and I obliged him, knowing he wouldn’t like it and he certainly did not. I was listening to an audio book in English. He asked me if he could have the mp3 player and I told him no, but we smiled and were both happy. I had forgotten how much I love hiking, it’s so free, in all senses, and exhilarating.

CLICK HERE FOR TODAY'S PICTURES