I Love Lamp: Moroccan Lanterns

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When I was in Morocco this past March working on that documentary I spent the last five days of the trip alone in the city I used to live in, Rabat.

While its souqs are not nearly as famous and bustling as those of Marrakech or Fez, there are still plenty of treasures to be found. I picked up all kinds of classic Moroccan goodies like leather slippers, caftans, scarves, and hand painted ceramics but my absolute favorite finds were these two handmade lanterns:

Funnily enough, I was so wrapped up in the joking and arguing that went into the haggling process (I got the shop keeper down to less than $9 each!) that I didn't notice they weren't exactly the same size until I got back to my hotel room. That said, I kind of like that about them now. It emphasizes their handmade element that is missing from all the other factory-made crap in my life.

They're about a foot and half tall, so needless to say they were a real bitch to pack but I've wanted a pair of them ever since I first went to Morocco eight years ago, so it was totally worth awkwardly lugging them around the airport.

Living with souvenirs from my travels is one of my favorite ways to keep those memories and friendships in the forefront of my mind. That said, sometimes it's hard to work your finds into your State-side life. For example, what the hell am I going to do with this giant coffee bag and  four ponchos from Colombia?