Beautiful Morocco! A lovely adventure around Morocco, brings back great memories of my own trip there. I think you visited most places I went to too. I also was unable to visit the Sahara on my trip, due to similar-sounding tummy troubles... Sorry to hear... I do indeed hope you get to see the desert at another time instead. Seems like you were still able to pack lots in though ?
Next Trip Good to hear, I look forward to reading more about your trip ? Next big trip for me is a summer adventure around Peru, Ecuador and hopefully the Galapagos ?
I never went to Granada I went to Spain earlier this year and I first planned to visit Granada. But then I learned that you need to book tickets to Al Hambra like two months in advance if you want to visit and since I hadn't I couldn't be bothered to go there at all. Next time I'll prepare myself better before I go. I hope Spain lived up to your expectations. /Ake
Marrakech Sorry I'm a bit late to this blog. Great to see you travelling again Andrea. I imagine indeed that the tricksters and scammers of the Marrakech markets could get nothing on you! Interesting to read about Argan, and the tree-dwelling goats. Also great to hear you made it to Essaouira - one of my favourite places in Morocco ? I look forward to reading more.
I can see why Essasouira is a fav place for you! So great all of it! i really enjoyed Morocco albeit a short trip, but none the less amazing. Thanks for paving the way for the rest of us to experience it. What’s next for you?
Enjoyed reading your blog here which is not only very amusing but at the same time weaves in some good info for the rest of us who would like to see the same sights. Great, great photos!
Free tapas in Granda? What? With all the traveling we've done we've never been to Spain. Wine, cheese, tapas... sounds like a wonderful country. ... and free tapas! What a wonderful concept. I'll have to be certain to go during the rainy season so we are forced into those wine and tapas bars. For you it was Spain and for me it was Greece. I was afraid to go thinking I had overinflated how I would feel about it once I arrived. It met all my dreams and in some situations exceeded. One more tapas bar before boarding that plane.
I know right? Wonderful place that Spain, and I have nothing European to compare it to, so I’m pretty sure I could get used to Greece or Italy if forced.
Love this pic That was a really good picture. Perfect how there is one stork on each (Pillar? Baluster?) pointy thing up there. One of many great photos in this blog. And a good entertaining story as well. Glad to hear that you felt safe and wasn't bothered by anyone. We felt the same when we were in Morocco some years ago, with one strange exception. The staff at the airport were very rude and unfriendly towards us. Both on the way in and on the way out. We are talking about different kind of staff as well. People working to the airline were terrible. The staff at the restaurant were unfriendly and staff at the information desk lied to us and were right out hostile. Very unusual situation. But the rest of the trip was fine and everybody was great and friendly towards us. It was only at the airport were we were treated like we were the scum of the earth. /Ake
Rude airport staff Strange! Everyone we encountered in the hospitality sector seemed fairly friendly and polite. Airport included. It does make you wonder if they are just having a bad day or it was something you did or didn't do. Thank you for reading Ake & Emma. Yes, and apparently these cranes perch on the Kings castle only when he is absent. Like they are waiting for his return.
A good wash and scrub! We loved our hammam experience in Turkey and seriously can't wait to do it again (despite some slight trauma issues!) - the process sounds fairly similar, except the old woman scrubbing me only had a g-string on and when she bent over me...I was slapped by her body parts :D I've been told the chance of getting gastro in Morocco is comparable to India... but as with anything, it's the luck of the draw I suppose... poor Winnie the Pooh.
Luck of the draw Yes poor ol Winnie the Pooh. I ate the same stuff and didn’t get sick. As soon as we could get some wine in her she was fine! Oh my those hammams are something else, eh? I’m with you, I can’t wait to go again! Maybe Turkey is in my future?
Hammam I laughed and laughed reading your amazing (or shall I say miserable) experience of message and bath! Not sure I would have put up being on my birthday suit like that. You have guts! Even in my green days in Canada, I had tough time in the showers in dorm. Sorry to hear about your sad experience of being duped with the stained and shitty carpet. I hate that, but that happens I know...that's one more reason I stay away from the market place. Finally, I am curious - do you you know who finally ate the carrots, the poor mule or the owner? Anything is possible there...
It’s all part the reason I travel One of the best things about traveling with another adventurous soul is they push you to try things you might not have on your own. The Hammam was one of those experiences I wouldn’t give back for anything! Winnie and I still laugh about it when remanising our time in Morocco.
Myriad of emotions As I read this episode of your travels I smiled and shook my head at times. Glad you were there to assist in Winnie's education and save her from some of the touts. Our fixer as you call him arranged for a special lunch in an all male coffee house while we were in the souks of Fez. We picked out the raw meat and he took it to his friends grill and it was cooked to perfection. Our experience in Fez was one of our favorites and shortly after there went into the mountains for a tea ceremony in someones home. Sorry you missed the shifting sands of the Sahara- we didn't do the camel trek when we were there but who knows about the future. Morocco has been one of our favorite trips.
Glad to hear you had a nice Fes souk experience and most importantly, a good fixer to make it a success! Very important. Poor Winnie the Pooh, she felt she had sucker tattooed on her forehead at times. But that’s all part of the fun. I so loved Morocco! it was such an amazing place.
Wow, outstanding You hit all the highs and lows of travel with a rolling wit and informative backdrop. I have wanted to hot Morocco before since they were the first nation to recognize US independence. Thanks for the share. I gotta start blogging again.
Hi Eric! Thanks so much for your kind comments. Yes, travel is all about the highs and the lows, and I definitely get my share. Ha ha a good sense of humor and witty sarcasm help. I hope you get to Morocco soon, it’s worth it.
Clinging to the cliffside You are not kidding or exaggerating.... those Atlas Mountains are some serious business. Can't wait until we see you again and I tell you all about our guide and his non-caring feelings about what would happen to his wife after his death. Astounding thinking and lifestyles. The mint tea all over the country is unbelievable. One day when we were shopping in the souks and I was bargaining for a piece of jewelry and I LOVE to bargain... finally he met my price. As he was wrapping it up he said to me that my ancestors must have been berbers. I thanked him with a sly smile. We stayed in Essaouria for two nights. It was lovely. I'm gullible and believed the goats got in the trees. Dave suggested with that all knowing look that it was a tourist attraction. Not that a goat never climbed a tree before but he pointed out a couple of wooden planks for the goat to stand on and questioned me as to why the goats were only in this tree beside the highway... and why the two little boys wanted money. Ok, I liked it anyway. We never tired of the circus that was Marrakech. Loved the riyadhs. MJ
Berber Genes Ha! You and my mum both. Berber barterers. I didn't care if the Goats in Trees were a tourist thing or not, it was so funny. These ones appeared to be actually eating the fruit. The goat herder says this was the time of year, other times, just for show. So I guess Dave was right. Ah what the hell. Such a great place to visit. Love Marrakech!
This Canadian girl's passion for travel comes from my adventurous parents. My brother and I spent most of our youth traveling all over North America in the family’s camper van, airplane, and boat - going as far west as the Hawaiian islands, as far north as Tuktoyaktuk, and as far south as Mexico doing lots of adventurous stuff...canoeing, surfing, fishing, camping, hiking, skiing, exploring, jellyfish poking...it was the best childhood ever!
That same adventurous spirit fueled my travel passion for over 30 years. I’ve been all over the shop. Now that I'm newly retired, I split my lif... full info
alex waring
Alexander Waring
Beautiful Morocco!
A lovely adventure around Morocco, brings back great memories of my own trip there. I think you visited most places I went to too. I also was unable to visit the Sahara on my trip, due to similar-sounding tummy troubles... Sorry to hear... I do indeed hope you get to see the desert at another time instead. Seems like you were still able to pack lots in though ?