Stick with Hassan

It is still early when I walk through the medina of the Moroccan city Fes.

Despite the early morning, it is already sticky hot. Sellers open their shops. Out of nowhere, Hassan suddenly stands in front of me, with his arms wide open.

His eyes are friendly and he gives me a generous smile. Of course I know he probably wants to sell me something, but his cheerfulness is contagious and my curiosity is aroused.

I shake his hand and we start talking.

We talk about the weather, our families, his life in Morocco, my life in the Netherlands. After a few liters of very sweet mint tea I say goodbye. I was in no hurry, didn't have to go anywhere, didn't have to be anyone but myself and we had somehow both decided to skip the “seller-tourist” ritual.

We just had a very amusing conversation from one human being to another human being. The rest of the day I walked through the medina feeling warm and welcome. And I realised that cheerfulness connects.