July 6, 2019 · Poitiers, France
A Moroccan, Muslim, Magistrate gets into car in France with an Irish/American, Catholic, Bishop; what happens next? ROAD TRIP!!!!
Having met Fatih in a train from Rabat to Fez in 2015, and then again last December to share my interest in photography and the moon with him, with moon rises and sets in Taza and Fez, we now meet up after the conclusion of his Animal Law class in France.
We now are meeting in Poitiers, France where he has finished a law course on Animal Law, as he works towards his PHD. After being invited to join in with one of his classes, on Animal rights and he sharing with the class about my activities in this area. I was given a chance to share with a room full of International lawyers the works of my good friend Beerma Bishnoi and the Bishnoi Societies efforts for the protection of not only animals but plants too. (The Bishnoi’s were the one’s that instigated the name ‘Tree Hugger’ as 363 of them died, in 1737, as they tried to protect a grove of trees to be used by the King for his castle, only to be chopped through as they and the trees were felled together.)
I originally met, Fatih in a 6 seat, 1st Class, train compartment, on a 2 hour train ride that lasted 4 hours, from Rabat to Fez. In the compartment with me, was an Agriculture executive, a student, a parliamentary member and one other fellow. I had said, hello to them in Arabic, and they said hello to me in English. As they train was delayed, the gentlemen in to my left got into a big discussion with the parliamentarian to my right. The gentleman on my right used a plastic bottle of water, as the discussion, prop. I heard but did not understand the Moroccan, being spoken, as the discussion and bottle went back and forth. When all had ended, and it appeared there was agreement or at least agreement to disagree. I asked, if after watching the bottle being moved so often, if the ‘Gentleman’s argument, held water.’ With that came a big laugh from all. The ice was broken and I was able to chat with each of the gentlemen and they with me. With that the man with the bottled argument, is now my friend Fatih is on a road trip together.
We well spend a week in France, and a week in Spain, ending with Full Moon rise and sets in Oviedo, Spain. Photographing with matching cameras.
