http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Steph-and-Rob/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Steph and Rob en-us Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:45:44 +0000 Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:45:44 +0000 We got up nice and late and thoroughly enjoyed taking our time getting ready. We almost managed to successfully avoid the slightly sleazy hotel guy but at the last moment he came over for a chat. We went out in search of a cremerie where we could buy picnic items. We bought yoghurts bread cheese and fruit including an expensive apple.As we were walking back through town towards the beach we sa http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Doukkala-Abda/Safi/blog-255500.html Ok so it sounds like we have an addiction to crepes but we have only had so many because we had to buy our own syrup for the first lot. We sat and ate the crepes whilst waiting for other people to turn up for the collective. We only had to wait about forty minutes for the taxi to fill up and we were on our way. Strangely enough we didn't receive the whole you can buy out the whole taxi spiel whi http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Doukkala-Abda/Safi/blog-254105.html The wind sounded entirely uninviting and too fierce to entice us out of bed. We willed ourselves to believe that if we stayed in bed long enough the wind would disappear. The wind didn't disappear but the day was so we did eventually get up. Whilst I got ready Rob nipped out to see if the lady selling crepes was there but she wasn't. Instead we had breakfast at our hotel which wasn't fantastic http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Doukkala-Abda/Oualidia/blog-254104.html We woke up this morning not entirely certain of how we were getting to Oualidia. Once we had packed up our bags we sought out the CTM bus station in the hope that there would be a bus. We were lucky that there was one leaving at twelve thirty and that we could leave our bags there whilst we went for a walk around.I saw that there was a bookshop nearby that had a small selection of English langu http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Doukkala-Abda/blog-254101.html The walk to the train station took no time at all and we bought the tickets with no problems. The train was comfortable even in second class it puts Englandrsquos trains to shame. We arrived in Casablanca slightly early and were the absolute last people to get off the train.We deliberately chose a hotel near the station so that we wouldn't waste the day looking for a place to stay. Unfortunatel http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Grand-Casablanca/Casablanca/blog-253511.html Thank god for Imodium. Today we decided to do Rabat so that tomorrow we can move on. We got up pretty early due in part to the day spent in bed and in part to the massive hole in the roof which lets in a lot of light.Our first port of call was to walk to the Kasbah of which I had good expectations but was actually pretty disappointed. It was pretty grotty in comparison to most others and pretty http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Rabat-Sal--Zemmour-Zaer/Rabat/blog-253120.html When I woke up this morning my tummy was making way too much noise to be good. We made it to our new hotel Centre when I was really ill in a way that eerily echoed the beginning of Rob's illness last time. At first I thought it would be brief and that a look around Rabat would be feasible but I kept on being sick and decided that bed was my safest option.Luckily for me being ill so soon after las http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Rabat-Sal--Zemmour-Zaer/Rabat/blog-253118.html We managed a pretty decent morning start but our efforts were thwarted by the lethargy of the hotel staff. We ordered a breakfast and sat around for ages waiting for them to eventually arrive with a basket of toasted baguette butter and apricot jam. The best thing about breakfast was the OJ followed by mint tea. Donrsquot think about the sugar content We had a quick stop to say goodbye to An http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Rabat-Sal--Zemmour-Zaer/Rabat/blog-253117.html We both actually managed to get up at six thirty and surprisingly our first argument wasn't until much later on. We caught a petit taxi to the station and the driver tried the usual tricks of 10dh each for baggage even though the journey only cost 10dh itself. Due to the early morning I wasn't feeling up to my usual heated argument so I told him he could take 14dh for everything or nothing at all http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Tangier-T-touan/Chefchaouen/blog-253115.html Whilst I did my usual morning routine rob got up and ate yoghurt for breakfast. Once we were ready to leave for the day Rob decided that he was in the mood for a Mcflurry so off we went to McDonalds.It was because the sun was shining that we decided to visit the panoramic view of Fes however we didn't really think properly about it. We had left the hotel without sun cream and neither of us was http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/F-s-Boulemane/Fes/blog-253113.html We were up and dressed ready to meet Anthony for half nine. We found a decent caf to have juice and a pastry for breakfast and we also bought bread for dinner later. I quickly nipped next door to an internet caf to ring dad about interviews. It looks like its mixed news I have two interviews but the dates are before our flight home. The main aim of today was to get away from the city and see a http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/F-s-Boulemane/Sefrou/blog-252021.html Having a bed that wasn't entirely hard meant that we could actually have a sleep in. Even when we woke up we chatted and lounged around for a bit. When we did get up we noticed that the sun was shining which hasn't happened for a while.The central market seemed like a good idea for picnic stuffs initially but we blatantly forgot that we were in the middle of Morocco. We strode into the market pla http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/F-s-Boulemane/Fes/blog-251430.html Our plans to rise early to escape Meknes were thwarted by sheer laziness on our behalf. However due to our recent bouts of illness we are blaming it entirely on a lack of energy.When we did leave the hotel it took some doing to get us both with our backpacks to the top of the hill. The train station was comfortingly European and the French language announcements were almost completely understood. http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/F-s-Boulemane/Fes/blog-251427.html Today we both felt better and well enough to look around Meknes. Neither of us particularly likes the place so we want to see it so that we can leave. We began our sightseeing in the main square which was previously the only part we had managed to see. We dodged the caf owners and dived into the covered market for a loo around. The first row we went down was just packed full of stalls which sold http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Mekn-s-Tafilalet/Meknes/blog-251115.html Last night we were too exhausted to set alarm and this Morning when we woke at twenty to one we realised that was a slight oversight. We packed ever so hurriedly and went to find out if we could leave our bags anywhere. The cleaner put them in a room for us and demanded 20dh. We couldn't be bothered with the aggravation so we paid and left to explore.Azrou is a beautiful little place and just outs http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Mekn-s-Tafilalet/Azrou/blog-251111.html It was a fun experience sleeping in a tent in the desert and the optimists in us say that not too many people will have slept through rain in the desert however we were both glad that we were only there one night. We woke to our alarm at around six and we dressed hastily in order to catch the sunrise. We were a bit annoyed that our guide didn't wake us but it didn't actually matter because it was http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Mekn-s-Tafilalet/Merzouga/blog-251110.html We woke this morning and waited with another English guy for the hotel owner to take us to a minibus which would take us to the desert. The minibus was massively overloaded with things on top and inside the bus. There were also twelve of us getting a lift but being the only westerners we were stuck on a bench at the back of the minibus.We were dropped off at what we were told was Hasi Labied but w http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Mekn-s-Tafilalet/Merzouga/blog-251106.html The room was freezing and there wasn't too much light to help us get up. We paid the bill and were a bit annoyed to find that our terrible breakfast wasn't included in the price of the room as it says in Lonely Planet. We phoned the guy about our trip into the desert and he said he'd do it for 300dh each. 20 that part we had no problems about but an extra night in the hotel cost a lot. We agree http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Mekn-s-Tafilalet/blog-248965.html We slept past our half nine alarm and reluctantly got up at ten instead. The room was dark and freezing but outside the sun was beginning to shine. We had breakfast which was just two flat breads with a bowl of jam and a bowl of butter. We were told by a guy at the hotel that there was a great walk that took four and a half hours and went through the gorge and then up and over. We thought it sound http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Mekn-s-Tafilalet/Todra-Gorge/blog-248957.html We were almost allowed our sleep in although a cleaner knocked on the door just as we were about to get up. The CTM bus was to leave at twelve but due to a miscalculation on our behalf we arrived half an hour early. There was nobody there no hustlers beggars or children selling chocolates etc. We paid our 5dh each for baggage and didn't even have to argue for the correct price. We got on the bus http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Mekn-s-Tafilalet/Todra-Gorge/blog-248403.html