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Published: November 15th 2012
allen
Fellow travellerFinally here in just about 1 piece...Train to Brussels, bus to Charleroi, Ryanair to Fes..pouring rain..... and cold not at all what was expected of Africa...I know, I know, I know...it is not monolithic...First contact with overland truck is not encouraging, they are in the medina and we cannot find them or so they say......we must find a place for the night. I feel like Joseph in Bethlehem, dragging my donkey with pregnant Mary past closed doors in the dark, through the winding alleys of Fes. Finally a Riad! Of course the usual let's take advantage of the foreigners ensues..overcharging is rife in Morocco, my recommendation always book accomodation online...We end up dragging our bags back down the stairs as the room we are given for 70 euros has 1 bed and a crib....they are insistent that it is a second bed but even infant Jesus would have rebelled against the red velvet drapery and lumpy mattress.
Next on to the Riad Splendida, luxurious, ornate with a swimming pool uplit in the courtyard, the manager a smooth, hand rubbing, just the better side of smarmy, well fed Moroccan, obviously used to huge success with single female guests. Whipping out his
Tim
Fellow Traveller iPhone 4 he is quick to point out that my iPhone 3 is old and that he is about to upgrade to a 5...another tiresomely competitive man..
The room is spacious, clean and well appointed. We ask for dinner and a fabulous spread appears of warm and cold salads, preserved and stewed beans, vegetables and the best ikra I have had since grandma's, smokey, unctuous, heavenly..
Sleep comes quickly and early the next morning we are off to the Diamant Vert camping to meet our overland cohort. Pouring rain, tents covered in mud, wet clothes dripping from every surface, we are horrified and grateful for our night in the riad. The truck lumbers out with laundry swinging from overhead lines. Our fellow passengers are a very mixed bag it will take time to separate the dross from the gold. The initial divide seems to be front of truck versus back...
We are heading to Volubilis the Roman ruins that covered acres with an extensive aqueduct system. 20,000 nobles and 100,000's of workers produced wine, wool, wheat and other items beginning with w for export to Rome. Impressive mosaics and a very funny faux-guide of Berber origin make
Peter
Fellow Traveller our day truly memorable as he squats to illustrate caca...arches to 'fait peepee', and bends over to make the vomitorium come alive..
The day passes and at night fall we make "KEMP" this is South African for CAMP! Turkey stew is served up and then it is off to bed in our brand new sleeping bags in our damp, cat urine smelling tent..I feel like the proverbial caterpillar as I twist and turn in my cocoon my only hope that tomorrow I will emerge as a butterfly into the morning sun...No such luck, rain meets us again!
And so Patty and I make our escape from the expedition in Rabat, running off to Casablanca , then on to Fes for 3 heavenly nights of hot and cold running water, service with a smile and delicious meals...sadly today we are rejoining the expedition and tonight KEMP will be our reality once again....
xxxx
Thinking daily of each of you and hoping that you are well and happy..I have a number in Morocco so if you would like to get it please call the shop and ask Kika for it....
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Michiel
non-member comment
Cheating
Isn't running away to luxurious hotels called cheating? Back on the truck with you! After all you're sharing it with all these beautiful men ;) Have fun! Love, M