29 September 2012

The P.O. Box


1

On Monday there was not the right person in the office. It is an enormous office with dozens of workers, but nobody could do that (?). On Tuesday the Internet connexion was out of order.


2


On Wednesday the person existed, but when I arrived she was talking on the phone. And she continued to talk for no less than 15 minutes. Then she excused and I answered: "No problem!", because I did not want to run unnecessary risks. She asked me what I wanted. I explained the same as the day before. Then she told me that I needed a photocopy of my passport. She was closer to fall off her chair when I said: "I have it".

Of course I had it! Here I never go out without thousands of copies of all my documents, pictures with white and blue background, my ID card, my passport, the copy of my husband's passport.. They are asking for these things even for the littlest procedure.

3


During the next 10 minutes the woman was filling yellow forms, white forms and computer forms. A lot of forms anyway. Them cut a little piece of pink card and wrote down my name. I paid. I found it very cheap, but it is because I paid only for three months (until final 2012).
— And when must I pay the rest?
— Don't worry.
— Ok.
She handed me the keys and asked me for going to the P.O. boxes room. It is placed in another street because the office is being repaired. It has been being repaired at least since November 2010 (the first time I came here).


4


I gave the one of the papers (the one with the pink card stapled) to the worker, as she had told me. The man took the paper without a word, entered the office, went out with some tools and started to change the lock of my  postbox-to-be. It seemed that it didn't work. In the meanwhile, I was noticing that the post boxes are organised according to Chaos theory. A second worker man ask me for accompanying him to the main office. Why not?
Then he told the first lady that he had not the keys.
The lady: "But she [me] has the keys!"
The man (sceptical): "Do you have the keys?"
Me (to the sceptical man): "Yes, I do."
Me (to the lady, who did not understand anything): "They did not ask me!"
The man: "Ok, don't worry."
If I like this country is because you never have reasons to get worried.



5 (final?)


One hour later in my postbox was still a hole instead of a lock. But two hours later they had put the lock. Miraculously, my key worked.
Wow, I have an address!


PS 

Of course my post box does not look so new as in the picture. It is just publicity.

28 September 2012

Drops of Happiness


Sent by Sonja, Karen and Kaki (Finland).

27 September 2012

Circles & Stamps


Sent by Heleen (the Netherlands).

How many stamps do you stick on your envelopes?

26 September 2012

Made in, But Sent From


Sent by Heleen (the Netherlands).
Artistamp on a handmade postcard.

25 September 2012

Vintage Burgos


Sent by Laura (the United Kingdom).
Recycled postcard. It was previously a monthly cultural programme. It is the same for the following postcards. All of them show the city of Burgos (in northern Spain), and all of them have been sent by the same person. I like a lot this kind of vintage postcards, but especially when I've been to the place they show.


Paseo del Espolón, 1903

Calle de la Paloma, 25.07.1903

"Gigantones" and "gigantillos" during a visit of King Alfonso XIII of Spain, 21.08.1902

24 September 2012

22 September 2012

My Former Post Office


This is a familiar place to me: my former post office, up the stairs (the ground floor used to be a kindergarten, and then a gym, and now it is empty).

I just loved this little office, despite its limited timetable (only from 8.30 to 10.30) and the fact they usually were run out of stamps. But the office is really peaceful. The postman is usually listen to classical music, and it never was full of people, only two or three.

I miss the postman (but of course I will not post a picture of him). When I was at home in the morning, I usually listen to him whistling while delivering the letters.

I took these pictures the last days in the village, when the idea of leaving made me feel blue.


I have not yet a proper address here!

21 September 2012

Autumn Leaves



Sent by Heleen (the Netherlands).
Some leaves to indicate that the autumn is here. I received these leaves last year. I am not sure if autumn starts today or tomorrow, but last night was raining a lot and today the air is fresh.

20 September 2012

Return to Sender


Return to sender
Elvis Presley

Return to sender
Return to sender

I gave a letter to the postman
He put it in his sack
Bright and early next mornin'
He brought my letter back
(she wrote upon it)

Return to sender
Address unknown
No such number
No such soul
We had a quarrel
A lover's spat
I write I'm sorry
But my letter keeps coming back

So when I dropped it in the mail box
As any special deed
Bright and early next morning
It came right back to me
(she wrote upon it)

Return to sender
Address unknown
No such person
No such soul

This time I'm gonna take it myself
And put it right in her hand
And if it comes back the very next day
Then I'll understand
(The writing on it)

Return to sender
Address unknown
No such number
No such soul
Return to sender
Return to sender
Return to sender
Return to sender

19 September 2012

Stamped Cat


Sent by Bianca (Germany).
Rubber stamp on the reverse of a postcard.

18 September 2012

17 September 2012

Ask for the Moon



Sent to Laura (the UK).
Postcard made by reusing a brochure. The illustration inside is drawn by Ekilikua.

15 September 2012

First Outgoings


Sent to Heleen (the Netherlands).
Also published here.

The first letter and the first postcard I have sent from Morocco (to the UK and the Netherlands) have spent a week to reach the recipients' mail boxes. It doesn't seem a lot of time, does it?



14 September 2012

Adopted Postcard


Sent to Postmuse (the United States).
This is my second contribution to the Orphaned Postcard Project. I like the title she has chosen: A certain light.
I spoke here about the project. An here is my first contribution.

13 September 2012

Roald Dahl Day


I've been lately reading some books written by Roald Dahl (and sending some postcards!). By the way, one of my favourite authors. And I've been getting these beautiful stamps sent by Laura (the UK). They belong to a stamp set issued by the Royal Mail.

I've published two of them here and here. I wanted to publish it today again because today we celebrate the Roald Dahl Day! Yes, the official Roald Day Day takes places every year on 13 September. And in 2012 the swizzfiggling BFG, which is famous for catching, creating and making dreams come true, is turning 30. If you do not know how to celebrate it, here and here you have some scrumdiddlyumptious ideas.

50 Scrumdiddlyumptious Ways to Celebrate Roald Dahl Day!

12 September 2012

Star Letter


Sent to Laura (the United Kingdom).
The first letter sent from Morocco!

11 September 2012

Buying Stamps


There is something odd about buying stamps in this post office. But finally I have got them!

10 September 2012

Fiep's School


Sent by Heleen (the Netherlands).
Illustration by Fiep Westendorp (1916-2004). It is a very big postcard: 19 x 24 cm!!
Even if I got this postcard in July, I have decided to post it today because the school year is starting!

By the way: you can see here the postcards of Fiep that I've got. 

08 September 2012

My Post Office


I think there are three post offices in this city, and I have been to two of them so far.

I usually went to the central post office, but sometimes it was too crowded. So I walked to the little one, near my first apartment. People there were nicer; they always tried to find the more beautiful stamps for me and understand me in Arabic.

The fact is that I had not been here for months. Last Monday I went to the central post office in order to buy stamps, but it was late, so I was not sure it were open. The doorman recognised me immediately and told me (in French): "Oh, good afternoon madame. How are you? You here again to buy stamps. Sorry, but you should come back tomorrow". 

I am afraid I am known  by the post employees as "the foreign woman who buys so many stamps", or something like that :P

07 September 2012

Lezende vrouwen


Collage made of postcards sent by Laura (the UK), Tarya (Finland) and Frits (the Netherlands).

When I receive a postcard about one of my favourite subjects it makes my day. Of course it is easy if you have a loooong list of favourite subjects ;)

One of mine is reading women. Of course I am not the only one who loves them. My friend Laura also owns a good collection of reading women, even if she does not upload all her postcards (too many postcards, too much work...). But the most amazing collection I have ever seen is Lezende Women. I have also contributed myself to increase this collection long time ago, by sending this and this.

After seeing this amazing blog, I am not sure if you feel like visiting my humble collection of reading women...

06 September 2012

Dirty Little Secret




Dirty Little Secret

[This is a song based on the PostSecret project.]

Let me know that I've done wrong,
When I've known this all along,
I go around a time or two,
Just to waste my time with you.
Tell me all that you've thrown away,
Find out games you don't wanna play,
You are the only one that needs to know--
I'll keep you my dirty little secret,
(Dirty little secret)
Don't tell anyone or you`ll be just another regret,
(Just another regret, hope that you can keep it)
My dirty little secret,
Who has to know? 
When we live such fragile lives,
It's the best way we survive,
I go around a time or two,
Just to waste my time with you,
Tell me all that you've thrown away,
find out games you don't wanna play,
you are the only one that needs to know---
I'll keep you my dirty little secret,
(Dirty little secret)
Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret,
(Just another regret, hope that you can keep it)
My dirty little secret.
Who has to know?
The way she feels inside (inside!)
Those thoughts I can't deny (can't deny!)
These sleeping dogs won't lie (won't lie!)
And all I've tried to hide
It's eating me apart 
Trace this life back! 
I'll keep you my dirty little secret,
(Dirty little secret)
Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret.
(Just another regret)
I'll keep you my dirty little secret,
Don't tell anyone or you'll be just another regret,
(Just another regret, hope that you can keep it)
My dirty little secret,
Dirty little secret,
Dirty little secret. 
Who has to know?
Who has to know?

05 September 2012

India with Love


Sent by Heleen (the Netherlands).
Food packaging sent as a postcard.

04 September 2012

Almost Maxicard



Sent by Heleen (the Netherlands).
This is not a maximum card, but the sender managed to find exactly the right stamp. This mail box is located at  the Zaanse Schans and is from 1914. You can read more about this postcard, and the stamp, and the Dutch postboxes here.



03 September 2012

Venez


Sent to Heleen (the Netherlands).
Altered postcard with washi tape and a quotation of Moroccan-French writer Tahar Ben Jelloun  (from the book Le premier amour est toujours le dernier):
"Venez, approchez, je vends du sable, je vends du temps, je donne en prime quelques grammes de patience, j'écris sur votre ombre les grandes lignes de votre destin, j'achète aussi le vent, la pousière et la santé. Venez, je suis d'un autre siècle, je ne veux pas d'argent, juste une pincée de sel et quelques brins de safran..."

02 September 2012

I Will Write Home Every Day

«And then while I'm away
I'll write home every day
And I'll send all my loving to you»

Paul McCartney