Camel Ride - Diary

I rode a camel today, along the Moroccan coast. I had just walked several kilometers along the beach at Essaouira and was sitting at the base of the sand dunes, lazily watching kite surfers and reading a travel book. The author was describing the joys of packing one’s bags, getting on a plane and letting the world revolve around you. I was half asleep, enjoying the warm, cloudless day, relaxing for the first time in weeks with my shirt off. Pausing from my reading I casually took photos of the surfers and people riding horses in the sea. Occasionally a camel wandered past carrying a bemused tourist. What a contrast, I thought, to the first class travel experiences I was reading about.

I often have a plan when I leave my room. I walk through the medina, past shop owners opening their shutters and setting up products on the footpath, to the port. There I photograph the fishermen in the early morning light as they repair nets and chat, preparing for the day at sea. Then I buy a paper, eat breakfast in a quiet cafe, and go to the beach. Sometimes circumstances conspire to turn my broad outline for the day into unknown challenges and excitements. I am prepared for a change of plans, a chance meeting or an unexpected event.

I was salivating with the author about Portuguese pastries when I saw Mimoon approaching. I had noticed him the day before sitting in the sand near the dunes, a colorful intrusion amongst the other animals. He was saddled in multi-colored shreds of cloth interwoven into a blue plastic base, haughtily looking at me. I stopped and took his photo. I recognized him immediately today. He sauntered over with his owner, and stood towering above where I lay.

I looked up as the camel looked down, and our eyes met. Camels have a sad, smug look, and when I smiled he turned his head away to look at the sea. I said hello to the rider, who jumped down and introduced himself. Yassid asked if I would like a photo taken of me on the camel. I mildly protested as thoughts of hundreds of dirham being extorted from me flashed through my mind, and said ‘Yes’. My book could wait. Here was one of those travel moments that demanded attention. It wasn’t every day that a camel interrupted my reading. In fact never on any day had it happened, and may not do so again.

I got up and handed my camera to Yassid and climbed onto the camel. Yassid took a photo and then, with a mild command, the camel stood up, jerking me into reality. Trapped two meters above the ground, I was involuntarily taken into the water for more photos. Suddenly, I was one of the bemused tourists I had seen earlier.