Blogs from Africa - page 3369

Geo: 35.8179, -5.19417Crazy adventure for 3 weeks in Tangier, Asilah, Chefchouen (Rif Mtns).We really hadn't a clue what we were doing but arrived in Tangier at night with nothing booked & a guide book that suggested some where. But we met 3 more people on the flight with nothing booked either & a place picked from their guide book which turned out to have no room at the inn. So the 5 of us tried the one in our book which once upon a time had been a fab hotel. It was on the edge of kasbah over looking the port & the view was great but the hotel was all faded grandeur with basic enough rooms, it was grand we were happy, so cracked open the duty free with our new friends & let our ... read more

We were here... read more

Bread rolls and croissants with preserves and café-au-lait and orange juice pursued us throughout the rest of Morocco. Rolling through the countryside was a delight to me. Jean and I usually sat together on the bus, and she didn’t want the window seat. For long periods of time, I looked out the window at the not-quite-desert landscape. I could see “forever” across a barely undulating landscape of a dull cinnamon colour, touched by scrub bushes. Sometimes indifferent goats wandered across my view. Occasionally, in the distance, I saw a large Bedouin tent encampment. Their long, dark tents blended into the landscape, as if they were a natural feature. As we drove through villages and towns, I was intrigued by the variety of women’s dress. Some wore traditional dress and some wore Western styles, even amongst professionals ... read more

This is a continuation of my putting our old travel journals onto this blog site. See previous ones: Guatemala 1988, which is the first in this series; Costa Rica 1989 (w/Christmas in Cozumel, Mexico and last days in Guatemala), which is the second; Cuba & Mexico 1989, the third; Argentina (w/Uruguay, a bit of Brazil & Paraguay) 1989, the fourth; Chile & Bolivia (including Mendoza, Argentina & Tacna, Peru), the fifth; Peru, Ecuador & Galapagos Islands 1989, the sixth; Ecuador Part II & Bogotá, Colombia 1989, the seventh; Brazil Part I 1989, the eighth; Brazil Part II 1989, the ninth; and this will be the tenth. YOU CAN CLICK ON ANY PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT, THEN GO BACK TO THE JOURNAL OR GO THROUGH THE PHOTOS (CLICK ON THE NUMBERS AT THE TOP) IN THAT ENLARGED ... read more

This morning, I was taken to the airport by Habib and Kamel. I am flying back to europe to get a connection to Australia. I had been dreading this moment when I would have to say goodbye - would I end up making a scene, falling into a sobbing mess on the airport floor? I was already choking back tears, but they had no idea. So I just said a quick goodbye and went through customs without looking back. I thought that once I was on the plane I would be 'safe'. Habib must have wondered why I left in such an abrupt and cold manner. But it was the only civilised way I could manage it! sorry! But the customs officer stopped me and wanted to go through my bags, and as he was carefully ... read more