Marakesh and a Moroccan round up!

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This is the last of our fifteen amazing days travelling Morocco, laughing, eating, shopping and getting to know another amazing culture. It’s a little sad it's coming to an end but as always we are determined to make the most of our trip right to the end. So lets cut to the chase… we shopped all day and rounded it off with a fabulous dinner complete with cocktails to celebrate a great friendship and a great time… ohhhhh!

So here's a round up of tips and antidotes from us in case our blogs have inspired some Moroccan wander lust in you…..

• Big mouse, big mouse, big mouse ----bang - no mouse.
• We love the British - especially as they sit across from us in the local fish stall and say "I am not really not comfortable with fish". Get with the program.
• "Come here and take a photo with us " in Moroccan - translates to "Come here so I can put my hand on your bum" in English. - sadly its worth the shot.
• Its ok to pretend your 15 and smuggle gin onto every terrace you go to (those high school skills do come in handy).
• Quotable desert driving quote - "I have to get out of the car NOW!!!!" No sympathy from Abdullah's X 2.
• "Hey pretty lady you want some skiff" ,"No thank you go home to your mother"- Fes.
• Donkey, goat, camel, cat, donkey, goat, camel, cat, donkey, goat, camel, cat……..
• "Carpet you want carpet lady??? Men weave and lady embroider. " Enough of the carpets.
• "Would you like a kg of sugar with your tea???"
• Because Morocco is close to the equator one minute its light and the next minute your tripping over something. Thx for the facts DW.
• Camels are uncomfortable.
• Birds - eeeek … brrrrrr brrrrr, tap, tap, tap and leap like a frog onto a sleeping Rochelle with a squeal.
• Snakes in boxes ….eeek…bang…broken box…purchase.
• See Greg we are funny!
• I am blond Berber watch me bargain.
• Bung eyes…magnets we are
• Do you exchange Australian dollars - No but we take NZ dollars (???????????????????)….Rochelle may I have some money please?
• P= I'll be home soon….. R = I will not….
• 1 x iPod = 1 x small camel
• If the beach is skanky it is acceptable to outsource to the nearest 5 star hotel - thank you Sofitel.
• Bob Marley rules
• If you are in a Muslim country you should cover up - it is the right thing to do!!!
• When travelling in Morocco you are going to meet people from 10 days ago in a different city, we miss you Russian Cossack lady.
• White pants and white boots are not a look.
• Pier and Rochelle can't spell and are bad at proff reading!
• Monkeys carry rabies, best not to touch them.
• No thank you I would not like a photo with a cobra hanging from my neck.
• It's compulsory to have your photo taken with every shopkeeper who wants out of Morocco
• Bargain hard and be prepared to walk away.
• When you are tired do not under any circumstance offer you final price first…. leads to frustration all round and a white jellaba left behind.
• Riads are definitely better than hotels.
• If you rub hard enough with a pumice stone you can remove unwanted henna but you will need to apply antibiotic cream and a band aid afterwards.
• Having your fortune told by a non English speaking woman in the middle of tourist square is always going to be accurate, yes R it will all come true I promise.
• A successful travelling relationship requires…laughter….ability to make a fool of yourself….like mindedness…leaving dignity at the door…..patience…. geez R hurry up!.....good sense of direction…. carefree attitude to money (thx Greg and ADHC)….ability to embrace all….good camera skills…… willingness to ride a donkey…. willingness to dress like a Berber….money management….(oops)…..and an appreciation of just how lucky we are!!!


This blonde Berber would like to thank the following people who played a role in this adventure:
To Greg for remembering a comment I made years ago and storing it away in his huge memory bank and then making it become a reality. To the three small Tafftys for being brave enough to let their Mum go and being so funny on Skype when I called. To Mum, Sascha and Anne for filling the child care gaps and to the amazing people of Morocco who embraced us whole heartedly and made this trip what it was. Last but not least to the ultimate in travelling companions, fifteen days without a cross word, lots of laughs and always some misadventure thrown in for good measure - thank you Shell!

Now its off to the Motherland to see my Shanghai tai tai friends- so excited I'm driving R mad!


Thanks for reading!
Love Pier

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