Fulfilling a dream in Morocco | Stuff.co.nz

Fulfilling a dream in Morocco | Stuff.co.nz: "Tall and slender with a tousled head of fiery red hair, New Zealander Patricia Lebaud cuts an incongruous figure as she strolls through the narrow laneways of the Mouassine district of Marrakech in Morocco.

While men around her wear long-flowing biblical-style djellabas and the women-folk cover up in demure loose-fitting robes, securing their tresses under modest headdresses, this former Aucklander sports tight black leggings, over-sized tops, swing earrings and glittering sandals.

'Pat-ree-chia! Pat-ree-chia!' Children and adults call out in greeting, acknowledging this foreigner who has lived in the medina or old city now for almost 10 years.

She ducks motor-scooters and push-bikes, young lads kicking football and the odd donkey-drawn cart delivering goods to neighbours. And today, as we walk together to the nearest old city gate of Bab Laksour, we come across young lads carrying live sheep on their shoulders, trying to squeeze them into boots of cars or into hand-drawn carts to take home.

'For la Fete – Aid es-Seghir,' she explains. This 'grand festival' commemorates the day when Abraham, about to sacrifice his son, Ismail, was stopped by Allah who gave him a ram to sacrifice in his place. 'Muslim families save up to buy the biggest sheep,' she says, 'and then share it at a family meal.'"

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