When the king is in town

New Year's Lights - or are they Christmas Lights? (Yes, those are Chrsitmas-tree shaped lights at the top right)

sorry - just can't seem to stop taking pictures of snow!

Princess Selma - the King's wife

When the king is in town –

The king was in Ifrane most of December and again in January. The gossip is that either he or his daughter has severe allergies or asthma and the doctor has prescribed mountain air. So what are some of the effects of King Mohammad VI being here?

You already know about all the flags, soldiers and lack of food in town because of all that those soldiers eat, etc. So what else goes on?

Ifrane is in a festive mood - Ifranis are very proud that the king has been here so long. Obviously he likes it. And he must like us :)

The king declared that our town square (with a lion statue and a fountain) should be the most beautiful in Morocco. So on Christmas night, the square and the entire town were covered in … New Year’s lights (looking very much like Christmas lights, but we’re not supposed to think that). I have never been so completely delighted to see Christmas/New Year’s lights in my life! The whole town sparkles and there is something very special about the twinkling under layers of snow. Conveniently, Morocco’s flag colors are red and green!

Soldiers stand out in the cold for hours and hours guarding all roads in and out of town. Two of them have died of hypothermia…

And roads close completely when the king wants to go to a neighboring location for the day. But you never know when that will be, so it’s hard to plan.

Then “M-6” as the college students call him, announced - much to the shock of the university community - that we have a new president! It is a king-appointed position, but he usually leaves it up to the board of trustees. Not this time. How did we hear this? Through the newspaper! There was no announcement by AUI and rumors are flying.

Speaking of rumors, the latest is that he has a second wife. When I asked my friend about this, she said, “Why not? His father had 40!” But he abolished the harem when he became king and the whole country is enamored with his lovely wife and children. The fact that Morocco wants to get into the European Union (never mind that they are on the wrong continent), makes me sure he would never do something that would be seen with disdain in Europe.

People complain about all the money it takes to have a monarchy. With 37 palaces and enormous preparations before he visits any town, the cost has to be huge. But most will also agree that a monarchy is the best thing for Morocco. We westerners think everyone needs democracy. But what we don’t realize is that it doesn’t work everywhere. Moroccans are worried that without the king to keep a lid on Islamists, radical Islam could take over moderate Morocco. The king even approves only one sermon to be preached each week from the Mosques – an amazing contrast to Pakistan where sermons are so violent that we were told to stay home on Fridays.

So as the US prepares for a complete turnover of power – not much will change over here!