Hello, Universe? I’m listening.

I’ve been ranting to my fiance this past week about how I want to go to Morocco on my own this summer. He says no. He doesn’t like it when I go by myself, but he never has time off work to go with me so I’ve always gone on my own.

“I’ll be back in time for our wedding!” I say. It would be challenging financially, but I want to go! We went back and forth about it for a while. He was upset because it would be just before our wedding and honeymoon. I protested and bookmarked trip ideas anyways. I do what I want!

Then, the universe called.

Friday afternoon I was walking to my apartment when I saw two women who looked familiar. ”Um, hello?” ”Hi!” It was two of my co-workers. ”Hey, we didn’t know you lived around here! We’re stopping here for a drink for happy hour, you should join us,” they said. Um, me? ”Sure. I’ll just drop off my stuff and I’ll be there.”

I never go out, but I felt like I couldn’t say no. I mean, what a crazy coincidence to run into them on the street. So I went.

The bar wasn’t all bad. A few drinks later a coworker asked, “You guys ready to go to dinner? We have a reservation at a Moroccan place called Marrakesh. In some alley down the street. you have to ring the doorbell to get in.

A Moroccan place you have to ring a bell to get in? In an alley? Okay, I have to see this. The restaurant ended up being about two blocks from my apartment. TWO BLOCKS. I had no idea.

We rang the bell, and were greeted by a large mustached man in flowing white pants. He welcomed us into the tiny front room already filled with people crouched together on puffy couches and pillows. A narrow path allowed people to squeeze by, and he quickly ushered us around a corner and then up two flights of stairs. We arrived at the top floor.

(The view of part of our room.)

We literally had our own room. Red velvet seating lining the walls with enough pillows to build a pillow fort to the ceiling. I half stumbled to a seat because I was so in awe everything I saw.

More decorations. I have no idea what it is. It was floor to ceiling rugs and pillows and decorations.

We finally settled in, then both wine and conversation flowed as the food started coming.

The first course. I think I ate about five pitas at this point. My favorite was the mushy brown looking stuff. Savory, spicy, delicious eggplant.

About 5 minutes later.

The third or fourth course, I think. Beef kebab. The food just kept coming!

And then they gave us more.

Here’s me on the left. Thoroughly enjoying the excellent food, and company. (And the fact that I’m actually not behind the camera for once.)

The bill. Written in arabic! I stopped taking pictures after about the third or fourth course because I was enjoying myself so much. Something I usually have a hard time doing.

Four hours later I exited the restaurant and emerged into the chilly alley for my walk home. Belly full, satisfied, a great evening with friends.

Okay, universe. I read you. There are tons of amazing places right in my backyard. Maybe I will hold off on going to Morocco this summer and focus on enjoying my wedding and honeymoon instead.