Blogs from Morocco, Africa - page 183

When you’re about to land in Morocco and you’re still not sure if you need a visa to get in ... ”always look on the bright side of life...do do ... da da da da da da”. When you’re luggage still hasn’t arrived an hour after your flight has landed ... ”always look on the bright side of life...do do ... da da da da da da”. When your arranged transfer isn’t waiting for you after you finally get your luggage ... ”always look on the bright side of life...do do ... da da da da da da”. When you realise your sim card doesn’t work so you can’t call the hotel about the missing transfer and you have no idea where you are ... ”always look on the bright side of life...do do ... da ... read more

It's only been a few days since I've written but I have much to say and not quite enough time in which to say it. To begin with, on the plane ride here I decided to try to turn over a new leaf and start focusing on the present, instead of dwelling on the past - why did I let that camel rider talk me into giving him so much baksheesh?! - or planning for the future - where will I be having dinner after the museum this afternoon, and where will I get stamps for those postcards? This appears like a good idea, and undoubtedly it will be when I get to France and back to San Francisco, but attempting to fully experience Morocco can be a bit overwhelming, to say the least, and I ... read more

After we returned from south of the High Atlas to Marrakech so Kate could travel back to North Carolina for a family gathering, she spent a furious last day of shopping around our neighborhood in the Ville Nouvelle looking for gifts for the folks back home and then trying to pack up all her spoils. Hassan, our innkeeper at the Hotel Toulousaine, was kind enough to take her to the airport for her 24-hour, 4-flight, 3-airline marathon, which she survived without a hitch. On the other hand, my incipient Marrakech Hack developed into a full-blown upper respiratory case complete with ear infecton, and I spent the two weeks she was gone trying to shake it while moping around the neighborhood from cafe to cafe, too enervated even to wander the medina, much less make good on ... read more

Jonathans fast time - the truth We in the tent believe that Jonathan did not actually run the race; he studied the map book really well and then got a lift in the jeep! Shocking I know, but it is not possible for an Irish man to run that fast! (Apart from my brother stubbie who is running Boston the weekend after next!) Team Naïve Team Naïve were housed in Tent 63, the name came about on the first day given that we were all new to the race. It was made up of six persons, me and Jon (designated team photographer), Alice (our in house Doctor) Mark (our interpreter), James (the Hedge trimmer) and Jes (who still managed to pull the French doctor even though he smelled like a goat!). The Tent Jonathan’s experience ... read more

Found it really difficult to motivate myself this morning, perhpas I lost the momentum with the really nice rest day yesterday, or that mind tiredness is a result of physical tiredness. Everybody seemed to be taking tody really seriously and looking for a time to compare to road marathons. Today was my most difficult day so far and I really struggled at half way. Helen and Maria: thanks so much for the handwritten letters, they were 100 percent responsible for getting me going again. I set some targets, to be the number 1 Irish person in the race, and also in the stage. Poor Alan Lafferty stormed off today and must have been devestated when I passed him with just 3km to go, but it gave me a real lift. Seppy and the rest of tent ... read more