Our first steps into Africa were in the streets of Casablanca where we had a few days to kill before our tour started that would take us in and around the most popular destinations of Morocco. Searing heat, glaring eyes and interesting smells were the first greetings for the lucky couple. After seeing so much of mainland Europe we were after a vastly different cultural experience and it looked like Morocco would produce. After the usual tour group introductions including our older and seemingly subdued tour leader Ahmed, we hit the road for our week long road trip.
Mosques, palaces, dance parties (Moroccan style), tasty tagines and spices were the main cultural experiences of the first few days with Bee being paraded like a queen on a human carried chair at one stage (not to mention King Gerard was lucky enough to be selected to have one Queen Bee but also a Queen Argentinean... at the same time!). The Medina in Fez was an initial highlight – a web of streets and walkways with displays and demonstrations on everything Moroccan, from leather production to carpet and clothing colouring and weaving. It was amazing. Another pleasant surprise was the dry humour and knowledge of tour leader Ahmed. Gerard turned into his whipping boy and demonstration king who at one point was taken advantage of and inadverantly tasted soup when it should have been honey! A great man who we struck up a great friendship with.
After passing through the Low Atlas Mountains, we took in Erfoud where our love for fossilised plates was struck up (we spent the next week looking and negotiating for the right price...). An amazing sunset on the highest dunes in Morocco after an average Jeep ride but great camel ride for Bee was a true highlight of the trip. To see these massive dunes get closer and closer with a full stomach of spicy Moroccan soup bouncing around in your stomach is a welcome sight! The oasis that followed us after we arrived in the Atlas Mountains was also quite a sight in a deserted and barren land. To see a little bit of green in the form of date palms was an amazing sight that we didn’t get sick of... Todra Gorge and the Kasbahs were also high up on the list of places and things visited in addition to the drive to our final destination of Marrakesh which took in some sights that remind you of life on Mars and a mountain pass over 2100m high.... Although I’ve never been to Mars. Maybe.
And so, our tour came to an end in the buzzing activity of Marrakesh. Crowded, bustling, cheap food and plenty of tourists. Not exactly our experience of Morocco so far...
After the hustle of Marrakesh it was time for some relax and what better way to knock relax over than a week in a Moroccan fishing village – Taghazout just north of Agadir. Apartment and a chauffeur driven car booked (in the form of Ahmed) it was time to hit the waves. Only issue was we didn’t have any money, the apartment was being barricaded by the ‘minder’ who was refusing to leave and there was no ATM in the village... Cue Chris - the hard working Irishman (about 70 by the way) who happened to own and run the apartments. In between talks about Ireland, reminders of who we were, Paradise (truly by name and nature) and hash we had somehow killed three hours. Our room was ready. Ohh, no hot water. Whoops. Ahh, it just all works out! After a nice wash down with some boiled water on the stove it was time for some cous cous – a treat for all who were staying at the apartments, all troubles forgotten.
The next week was spent dodging camels, horses, goats and rubbish on the sand and also being beaten up by Panorama Beach with Gerard losing his watch and ending day one with a black eye. The food in Taghazout was amazing all week, and for less than $2 a feed we still had some cash to splurge so it was off to ‘Paradise’ for a day’s retreat. A good break from the beach, Paradise was a valley that included a stream and natural rock pool / slide formed in an oasis. Besides catching some rays and jumping off the cliffs into the pools, the little turtles and eating a tagine in a hippy’s hut were definite reminders that we were in paradise without a worry in the world.
Sad to leave Morocco really, an amazing place!
