whats that soundtrack...

theres something to be said for the morrocan music that pervades everywhere and i finally figured out why...you know its the street hippies who sit on the corner and play their flutes or their flamenco guitars...but its like everywhere you go there is this totally chill beat in the background, very mellow soundtrack to my new life. obviously that gets broken up with really great american pop in the bars (and of course kate perry...but hey, i'm down with the kissed a girl song so why not) then back on the streets for some mellow opium den tunes. the morrocan/muslim influence here is really interesting like that, its everywhere but you dont necessarily notice it at first. for example, when the catholics took over spain they built their churches on top of all of the mosques, so the outside facades are all beautiful gothic or baroque buildings but a lot of times inside there will be remants of morrocan terraces, lots of beautiful tile work, etc. so what you see is very classic european but underneath are the heavy north african influences. our cultural program leader monica says this is because when the catholics took over they literally implanted their culture on top of muslim culture (instead of attempting to erradicate it completely) so that the influences still remain underneath, like the skin of an onion or some equally cheesy analogy. it's surreal, last night we stood and looked at the beautiful cathedral in the center of the city while two little hippie kids were playing morrocan flutes and dancing. such a great cultural blend. same can be said in the food...lots of times we will get a tapas where the sauce will have slight curry undertones...not a strong flavor just the slight undercurrent of curry. Still waters run deep as they say...