The streets feel very active. There are shops, cafés, restaurants, people talking, and people walking from place to place.
Something else surprised me: people seem to stay out much later here than I am used to seeing in the United States. Even later in the evening, there are still people walking, talking, eating, and spending time together. The streets don't seem to become quiet as early as I expected.
Transportation isn't always about getting somewhere as quickly as possible. Sometimes walking through a city is part of experiencing it.
So far, I have done most of my exploring on foot, which I think is one of the best ways to experience a new city. Walking slows everything down. You notice smells coming from restaurants, hear conversations and traffic, see small shops, and notice details you would probably miss from inside a car.
I have also tried something much more important for Pedal to Port: my bicycle! Early this morning, while the streets were still relatively quiet, I took my bike out for a short test ride. I had taken it apart in Colorado and transported it to Morocco in a large cardboard box, so I wanted to make sure I had put everything back together correctly. The brakes worked. The gears shifted. The wheels looked good.
I think we're ready!
