Rockin’ in Moroc

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!

Primary jobs in Paris

It is hard to believe that after about 16 months away, we have not really done the ‘Paris thing’ yet. Oh well, save the best for last (or nearly last!). After a couple of weeks living the Moroccan life, boy did Paris feel like half a world away, not to mention 15 degrees colder!! And the hot shower was soooo good!

We had 3 days to do our thing, and spent the first day with our sightseeing hats on, maps in hand. Walking along the Siene, we weren’t sure which way to look... the surrounding buildings were beautiful. After checking out the Notre Dame, we joined the long, snaked queue to enter the Louvre. The line moved quite quickly and before we knew it we were wandering the galleries and of course, snapping the Mona Lisa. You could spend weeks in there! Hunger prevailed and we pushed on, wandering the streets and just, well, being all Parisian like! Oh, and the Eiffel Tour at night – how many photos can you take?! Pretty spectacular, even when you almost step on a rat and can’t find a hot chocolate anywhere close by.... Another highlight was watching the Rugby World Cup final at the live site near Hotel De Ville. The three Kiwi’s right in the middle of the French mass had the last laugh!

We were lucky enough to have a job interview each on Skype while in Paris (although you wouldn’t believe this was the only place where we did not have internet access, why couldn’t it be a couple of days earlier while we were relaxing in semi remote Morocco, I mean really!). Anyways, it always works out so we ‘borrowed’ the Wifi from the nearby Ibis hotel, and after a test run the day before we were set. Needless to say, we spent some precious Paris time preparing, as we were far from in work mode, however we got the jobs in the end and had a reason to celebrate! Thanks Paris, it was a pleasure!

Interesting Italy

One destination we were really looking forward to in Italia... and we had a pretty full on itinerary! With a few days to spare prior to the much anticipated arrival of Mom & Dad Brick (which we were thrilled at as it had been over a year since we had seen each other), we started in Naples.

Why you ask? Naples is, well, to put it nicely... a hole. But the pizza was amazing! Lucky were there for all of one night, sleeping at ‘6 small rooms’ (located in a dingy alley way), enough time to gobble down a pizza at ‘Pizzeria Di Matteo’ and catch some z’s before our Italy experience really got started.

Despite some minor confusion on the train, resulting in us missing our stop and having to back track, we found our accommodation just outside of Sorrento. We had such a lovely walk in to the city centre, and although touristy we knew we were on a good thing. With a few hours to spare in the afternoon (but with very little time in the scheme of things), we hopped on bus to Positano, in order to get a small taste of the Amalfi Coast. What a lovely little town, boy were we camera happy with snaps of the view, the ocean, the view, the buildings, the view.... you get the point! Very much looking forward to coming back and exploring more of what the Amalfi Coast has to offer.

Next on the itinerary – the charming island of Capri. It was decided we would spend our only full day exploring this beautiful island, and what brilliant weather for it! After the ferry over, we had the water bottles and walking shoes ready... luck because the amount of steps just to get the Capri town from the Port is enough to make anyone’s butt outshine that of Pippa Middleton....

Capri must’s:

• Walk to the ruins of Villa Jovis, high on a cliff overlooking the ocean

• Wander the tiny, winding streets of Anacapri

• Treat yourself to lemonade ice-cream, sooo good!

• Wander up and down the via Krupp, a steep, snaking path that gets the heart rate moving!

• Take a costal walk to see the Faraglioni and the Arc Naturale... very beautiful!

Although we had little time, and decided against the Blue Grotto, an attraction Capri is so famous for, Capri was definitely one of our Italian highlights...

Welcome to J&J Brick and welcome to Rome! After meeting the travellers and starting the gasbagging over a kebab, we thought we should also start the sightseeing. And where would any true tourist begin? The Colosseum. And I must say, I am not sure if the phenomenal structure itself is more impressive, or the fact that the city is so built up so closely around it. Nonetheless we joined the crowds in the heat, strolled around, happy snapped and even tackled the Roman Forum straight afterwards. It is fair to say that the pasta and wine back at our apartment were well earned that night!

The following day, in true tourist form, we made a ‘bee’-line (or is it v-line) to the Vatican. There is not much to be said about how amazing and over the top and extravagant the whole interior is, and that is even before entering the Sistine Chapel. Wow-factor. Wow. And a heap of people.... A tough life we lead, taking in only a small percentage of the many imposing sights of Rome; the Trevi Fountain, Sant Angelo bridge, St.Peter’s Basilica (probably the best Bee had even seen, sorry Gerard!), Piazza Navona – the list goes on... Oh how could we forget the small Church of “Immacolata Concezione” with its 3000 monk bones and skulls, used to make decorative patterns in its rooms. Very interesting... Rome = 7/10.

An afternoon and evening in Florence was spend strolling the beautiful streets (as opposed to waiting in line to see the statue of David – next time Michelangelo). The massive Duomo and unique Ponte Viichio bridge clear stand outs. And the gelato, now a staple in the diet, naturally.

Cinque Terre – wow. We had heard such amazing things about the villages of Cinque Terre and we were not the least bit disappointed. Which was great, as so far Italy had been good, but not breathtaking. The four if us stayed in a town just outside of La Spezia, the largest town south of the Cinque Terre region. Trains were very easily accessible between the villages, as was a pretty challenging walking track (any walking would be challenging in 30C heat, sun bearing down on Gerard’s forehead!). Oh, Riomaggiore and Manarola would have to be our favourites, if we had to pick!

Let us sum it up for you in a few words: endless sea views, winding streets, colourful buildings, cliff top walking, tasty gelato, swimming of the rocks, pizza at sunset. What more could you ask for?

So coming of such a high for a couple of days, we were back on the train via Florence and headed direction Venice, our last Italy stop. Obviously Venice is one of the most talked about cities in the world we were finally about to see what all the fuss was about. First word that comes to mind – Enchanting.

Now we could go on about the endless canals (some so small you could not even imagine a gondola squeezing through), the endless bridges (the Rio Alto bridge is worth mentioning, very impressive) and the endless masks (wow).... but we won’t. It was just so user friendly, jumping on and off the water taxi’s, strolling around the footpaths and over canals and just taking in the beautiful city. A trip out to the glass blowing island and purchasing fresh salmon from the market ticked off both souvenirs and dinner, not to mention getting lost in the maze of canals and streets in the evening time which led us to find a funky bar (sorry, can’t tell you where it is!)

Our Venetian adventure rounded off our whole Italian experience and also meant it was time to sadly say ‘see you in two months’ to J&J, as were going our separate ways. Paris for them, Morocco for us... Bring it on!

Oktoberfest II

Being one year older and wiser and after last year’s shenanigans, the phrase for 2011 was pace. It was great to have large crew together this year to discuss old times and simply enjoy each others’ company. Oktoberfest will be up there with San Fermin as ‘do not miss’ festivals in any European conversations.

I’m not sure we have really seen much of England yet...

After realising that we hadn’t seen enough of the UK to make a fair overall judgement, our last two weeks was spent exploring the country areas. The adventure in Gerard was calling and so a three day, 100km trek was quickly put together taking in part of the Great South West Walk from Weymouth to Exmouth. With tent, camping gear, food, boiler and the trusty compass packed it was time for some ‘individual pursuits.’ The walk was tough to say the least and thank god for Ipods and Ministry of Sound is all I can say. Pumping through gale force winds and showers on the first day from West Fleet to Lyme Regis was a tough welcoming. This 50km stretch took in some delightful scenery including the longest sandbank I’ve ever seen in Chesil Beach – it never seemed to end! The variety of the terrains of the walk, scenery of the Jurassic Coast cliffs and fresh seafood experience (especially the Lyme Bay crab) was glorious.

The second and third days took in about 25km on each day but proved to be more challenging due to the constant changes in altitude. I’ll tell you what, everything just works out. I was one hill from defeat at 6.30pm when the sun was setting, 25kg on my back was feeling like I was carrying a horse and I didn’t have a campsite in sight. It was looking like a night of sleeping it rough! Darryn to the rescue. A fellow walking his dog tells me to take his lead and after a good yarn leads me to a remote caravan park. It gets better. After setting up the tent (fairly shattered by now) an old fellow, Charlie, comes over with the offer of a cup of tea (‘because it looks like you could do with one’). I will be forever grateful for the Earl of Grey. After a morning trek through some jungle like conditions out of Sidmouth, the last day was a day of much the same, great scenery, great food and lots of ‘holiday parks.’ I don’t know how you can holiday in a park with 1000 other fellow Chavs but each to their own. I suppose the lovely beaches get them through.....Oops. All in all it was a great challenge and a very worthwhile expedition.

The expeditions didn’t stop here though. As we’d already conquered Wales’ highest peak, Mt. Snowdon, it was time to do England’s highest peak, Scafell Pyke (this leaves Ben Nevis but we know we’ll be back to Scotland!). Scafell Pyke lies in the Lake District of England and has some of the best mountains and lakes in the UK in addition to little villages. The pictures tell our story!

P, P, Pretty Prague

What a beautiful, oh I mean, pretty city to put the smiles back on our faces after some sad goodbyes. We arrived on the train from Austria in to the Czech delight and found our bed (not bad, not bad – a small plug for the Czech Inn Hostel). We were lucky enough to arrive just in time for the 6.00pm entertainment that the much talked about clock tower had to offer... a tad overrated but nice, oh and quite funny to see all the tourists with their cameras at the ready!!

Speaking of lucky, we also had timed our visit to the Czech capital to absolute perfection – Teychney was in town! It was so nice to have a beer and a meal (even if we were charged for margarine, bread, salt, sauce... you name it) with a wonderful chick – and what an infectious laugh!

The remainder of our time in Prague was spent strolling the streets, skipping out on a walking tour (boy was that guy frustrating), watching the AFL at our hostel (GO CATS!) and ended with a visit to the Prague Castle. Ok but not a must do... Thanks Praha!