Silver, in Berber, who studied in Manchester.

Anas means silver in Berber, an official language of Morocco. He worked at Pikala Cafe near my riad, a bicycle-themed oasis.

Upon arrival, I met Silver in Berber with large thin-framed glasses. He studied linguistics in Manchester England instead of New Jersey because it was more economical to do so. He’s there looking thin and dapper by the cash register. Within two minutes, he was erasing the black chalkboard with the dessert du jour: Moroccan Cheez Cake with kiwi to give me a history lesson on North Africa. His grandfather was the chef for former French Resident-General Augustin Guillaume.

Anas: We know all this thanks to Greek historians Herodotus and Strabo. They wrote articles about what was shared between the Greek and Berber cultures. The rain God…we worshipped several God. Before, we were pagans. We had a God of war named Gurzil (or Agurzil as he pronounced it).

Maria: This is Moroccan mythology?

Anas: Rituals and myths. Agurzil is half man with the head of ram (I think). Our God of rain is Anzar.

(wipes the menu chalkboard clean under Moroccan Cheez Cake)

 Maria: Is this your café?

 Anas: The owner is from Netherlands.

Anas: (drawing a map of North Africa) Morocco used to be called Mauritania….