Daily Prompt: If I could turn back time

If you could return to the past to relive a part of your life, either to experience the wonderful bits again, or to do something over, which part of you life would you return to? Why?

So there I was relaxing in Arabian style somewhere in Marrakesh, Morocco 25 years younger, 1990 aged 44 more or less. Oh yes I was the Queen of the Arabian nights, at least I thought so. Shall I return to those days, enjoying the ability to wear something that would accentuate the figure that I still had, going places and doing things that I now only have in my dreams.?

I took a look at what I wrote the last time on this prompt and things do not change much really. No thank you, I do not want to relive any part of my life, especially not the part about bringing up four children, going to work daily and fitting in household, cooking, cleaning, washing and ironing in the few precious moments I had to spare. Of course, not having my aches and pains when I was younger was an advantage, but that was just physical. I no longer want to relive the psychological side of it all: planning, multi tasking and definitely not the financial side. 

With a family you had to keep everyone happy. New clothes for the kids when the old ones got too small or the jeans wore through. And then they grew up and wanted everything that all the others had. Of course we survived, mummy and daddy were working for the benefits and in between we even managed a holiday in Marrakesh: yes and no. My husband’s company did an annual excursion to treat the reps and we were included, so it was all covered by the company. Marrakesh was something I would never had want to miss. My one and only trip to a country in North Africa: landing in Casablanca and changing planes to Marrakesh, somewhere near the Atlas mountains. My first impression of Morocco was a ridden group of soldiers on camels dressed in their oriental uniform each a Rudolph Valentino lookalike. OK, not quite, but it was something I will never forget.

There is a big disadvantage to this reliving the past thing, you do not think the same. You do not have the life’s experiences that you have at the age of 69: not that I am wisdom in person but things that happen in life do tend to leave their impression on you. Today when I creep out of bed in the morning I have to think about it.  How to do it that I can actually stand on my two legs and walk to the kitchen. It is not easy and I often think “why didn’t anyone tell me about this when I was younger”, but perhaps it is better so. the little surprises in life.

When I see the younger generation today, I think of myself at that time. I have my regrets. I did not have an iPhone to play with whilst waiting for the local train. Computers were still in the DOS IBM stage where you perhaps play some music and do things that you did not really understand at least I didn’t until the first Commodore arrived, but even then it was reserved for my son and I was just watching in the wings.

Every stage of life has its fun side and mine today is taking photos with my digital camera, writing my prompts on my computer(s), yes I have two. You cannot take it with you, so why not, where there is an Apple (not to eat) there is a Window, so I have the best of both worlds. In the days gone bye my money was spent on the others, today I spend it on myself, if there is enough.

So I am not going anywhere daily prompt, I am content where I am, and please don’t repeat this one again, otherwise I will have to think about how it was with my ancestors in the days of mammoths and learning how to light a fire. I suppose even they had their fun days.

“Look Ug, it’s burning”

“How did you do that Og?

“Just rubbed two sticks together.”

“Mummy can I have two sticks as well.”

“No Ig, it is too dangerous, you might burn yourself.”

4 days in Marrakesh, Morocco - 1990

Did I ever mention that I spent a few days in Marrakesh once - probably not, but here I am standing outside of the hotel. My husband was working for a company at that time where we were invited once a year somewhere special. It was mainly done as goodwill for the salesmen. In 1990 we went to Marrakesh. I had never been to Africa and I was wondering how it would be. Morocco at that time was under King Hassan. We flew from Zürich to Casablance and arrived at Casablanca in the early evening. The only thing I actually saw was the airport. I remember having to go to the toilet. When we women went in there was a lady standing there with a toilet roll in her hand asking if we needed paper. Something that we in our "luxury" life in the West gave us something to think about. We all naturally said yes and we were handed out 3 pieces of paper each. I suppose they were saving at the time.

From Casasblanca we flew to Marrakesh and remember being astonished at how green the country looked from above, probably I was expecting more desert. We arrived at the hotel late in the evening, but in the coach on the way from the airport everything looked so different as we are used to it in Europe.

The hotel looked quite impressive from the inside. It was a congress hotel, so made to European tastes. Naturally it was covered with oriental carpets on the floors - most impressive. Marrakesh is an interesting town, surrounded by the town walls. One of the first visits we made was to the gardens of Menara, where the town water supply is kept.

The water flows down from the Atlas mountains and is collected in this enormous reservoir. The houses in Marrakesh were built to suit the hot climates. Very thik walls and small slits to keep the heat out. Of course we made a tour of the town and saw many sites. If anyone remembers the Alfred Hitchcock film "The man who knew too much" with James Stuart and Doris Day, then the first scenes may be familiar. They were filmed in Marrakesh and showed the main square Jemal-El-Fna. There is a café at the end of the square which is the best place for tourists like ourselves to take a photo overlooking the square.

We also visited the souks, which are the market bazaars. The "shops" are very close together and very small, usually just one room but you could buy everything. We visited a carpet shop. This was a lot bigger and for the tourists. We were surprised how cheap the carpets were and they even accepted credit cards, which was surprising, but I suppose modern days were slowly moving into Marrakesh at the time. I remember seeing a shop selling fish. He had an enormous fish on the counter, which was black with flies. I was just wondering where he got the fish from as there is no sea or river in the area, and whether anyone actually bought it.

In the evening we visited a restaurant in Marrakesh. There was entertainment provided - something for the men

and naturally for the women as well?

We went on an excursion towards the Atlas mountains. This part of the country is very popular in Summer as it is sheltered from the mountains and a bit cooler. We visited a Moroccan village. It was a sort of tourist thing, and I think the lady of the village was used to receiving visitors and handing out her hand afterwards, but it did give an insight into life in Morroco.

On the way back from this village we were again invited by a village chieftern as he would be honoured to offer his hospitality. We all entered his home which was mainly one very large room. The usual pile of many carpets were in the corner and we were told that at night they were spread on the floor for the family to sleep on. We were surprised to see he had electricity. From where the electricty came we couldn't see, but the installations were very obvious and put me remind of our old house in Bethnal Green, East London in the 1950's. He had a television in the corner of the room on a shelf high up. It just seemed as if nothing really fit in. Here is his village.

Back in Marrakesh we spent the last couple of days touring the town. The King had his summer palace in Marrakesh, as the temperatures are not so hot as at his other palast. We drove past it. Of course, his place was a bit more better looking than that of the other buildings.

One evening we had a local show time. We were invited to a large arena where the Moroccans showed their talents at horseriding. We had the evening meal in a sort of large Bedouin tent. On the menu was lamb, but sort of half a lamb on a large plate. You dived in with your hands and tore pieces off. It was naturally served with couscous. I quite like lamb, so enjoyed the meal.

Eventually it was time to leave Marrakesh. I enjoyed my visit to this land of so many contrasts to our way of life. The people were very friendly, but sort of if I don't come today, then I will probably come tomorrow. National dress was quite interesting. The men wore long coats, something like a long kasak, with hoods on and there were some women that were masked, but not all. At that time King Hassan was quite liberal with the women and as his own daughter never wore a veil, he didn't make it law to wear one. I don't know the situation today, but this was almost 20 years ago.