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Published: December 8th 2007
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We have to drive up and through the Atlas mountains to make it to Marrakech, it was rainy and cold though we should not be complaining as it was our first rain it is bloody tiring and annoying to set up and put away tents ahen it is soaking wet. Wr got to the Marrakech camp site 15 kms from the city, lots of peacocks in the camp and wakes you up very early in the morning with their honking sound which Cam can imitate to perfection. Wr all hired a taxi to get to the city is is bustling and full of energy Chrissy and I broke away from the group and tried the seafood, it was excellent! We also had henna tattoos, she on her feet and me on the back of my head. Lots of things to do at the Jama el Fna which is the main plaza. The next day we went back to town and me Stewart and John decided to treat ourselves to a hammam where we got pampered, scrubbed, stretched and massaged with argan oil and then applied with some herby mud paste and then soaped and lathered, for 350 dirhams, roughly 50 dollars
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MY HENNA TATTOO this is my only chance to indulge in some pampering before the tough bush camping ahead of us crossing the Western Sahara. Had to meet up with Dave that afternoon to do our food shopping. Had to ask in French and Spanish for directions took awhile but managed to find the market. Back at the camp it rained so hard most of my laundry got wet again. That night some film crew trucks and vans came to the camp and we were hoping to see some stars but no luck. The next morning raining hard we packed up, my tent is muddy and soaking wet oh what joy it is for me!
We are headed to Essouira along the coast and we stopped for bush camp on a sunny day that turned immediately to a thunder and lightning show another wet and cold night for us. We made it to Essaouira, after a detour as one of the bridge that leads to the city got washed away by the constant rain; arriving in Essaouira rainy and gloomy we tried to find a laundrymat to dry our clothes but got confused and lost the main group that took the taxi
with our washings, but in the end we got it all back. I love this town full of vibe and lots of seafood to consume and that is what I had for lunch then chilled out at a bar and had a few beers with the group then looked for an internet then walked back with Dave to the camp along the beach: That night the girls decide to go out to town for some partying the cook group got drunk whilst cooking but the food turned up alright. I found Zoes red wine on its side in the ground i picked it up and asked whos it was no response so Mark and i finished it then off to bed with me. The next morning after hanging my clothes to dry I went out to town with tash and Mark and had a grand breakfast in town then went shopping for a bit; we decided to have a look at the port where they haul in their catch but we got lost a bit and ended up in the seedy part of town; a quick retreat and made it there; i found some place barbecuing seafood so i ordered
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HAMMAM PLACE some calamari and it was lovely. that night at the camp Ingrid cooked up a Hungaruan dish that was very delicious.
The next day we are to depart but have to grab lunch in town so we went back for more seafood. Going back to the cazmp i was surprised to see Tonka!!!! I met the truck in Beijing and never expected to see it again; Emma and Duncan the drivers, are driving it to Mauritania for a 2 week trip: Said my goodbye to the nice Croatian couple travelling Africa in their converted bus thing. They are travelling with their infant child; bless them!! Our first bush camp out of Essaouira is in the beach; very windy the girls; hrissy and danielle and Amanda went for a swim; i opened up my apple vodka and drank most of it neat as most people feel it was too strong I ended up finishing it myself; went back to my tent and passed out. The next day we stopped at this ancient Oasis caravanseari thing i think it is near the town of Guelmim not so sure; anyway we had a look quite impressive. then bush camp inside an abandoned
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CHRISSY GETTING HENNA TATTOO building whose walls are the only thing that remained; to us a good shelter from the harrowing wind as we play charade to pass the time by. We are trying to get across the vast Western Sahara and we cross it tomorrow.
WIKI INFO
Marrakech has the largest traditional market (souk) in Morocco and also has the busiest square in the entire continent of Africa, called Djemaa el Fna. The square bustles with acrobats, story-tellers, water sellers, dancers and musicians by day; and food stalls by night, becoming a huge open-air restaurant.
Like many North African and Middle Eastern cities, Marrakech comprised both an old fortified city (the médina) and an adjacent modern city (called Gueliz). It is served by Ménara International Airport (RAK is the code for the city) and a rail link to Casablanca and the north.
The city is called "Marrakech" in French, "Marrakesh" in English, and "Marrakesch" in German.
ESSAOUIRA
The Medina of Essaouira (formerly "Mogador") is a UNESCO World Heritage Listed city, as an example of a late 18th century fortified town, as transferred to North Africa.
The fishing harbour, suffering from the competition
of Agadir and Safi remains rather small, although the catches (sardines, conger eels) are surprisingly abundant due to the coastal upwelling generated by the powerful trade winds and the Canaries Current.
Tourism is of growing importance, supporting boutique hotels established in traditional Moroccan riads, within the old town's ramparts. There are a number of modern purpose-built hotels, running along the beach. The medina is home to many small arts and crafts businesses, notably cabinet making and 'thuya' wood-carving (using roots of the Tetraclinis tree), both of which have been practised in Essaouira for centuries.
Essaouira is also renowned for its windsurfing, with the powerful trade wind blowing almost constantly onto the protected, almost waveless, bay. Several world-class clubs rent top-notch material on a weekly basis.
Parasols tend to be used on the beach more as a protection against the wind and the blowing sand. Camel excursions are available on the beach and into the desert band in the interior.
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