http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Marrakech-Tensift-El-Haouz/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Africa , Morocco , Marrakech Tensift El Haouz en-us Sat, 05 Dec 09 04:14:08 +0000 Sat, 05 Dec 09 04:14:08 +0000 We made it to the vicinity of the Madrid airport on Monday without hassles and quickly found a 3star suite hotel where we checked in to a small apartment with two bedrooms and a sitting room. We went to a nearby shopping mall where we noted the similarities with American malls as well as the differences. We decided on a bar for tapas and beer then went to the supermercado and picked up some http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Marrakech-Tensift-El-Haouz/Marrakech/blog-457027.html Well after the trekking in the mountains we decided to just spend the last couple of days chilling and relaxing in the sunshine. We went to the new water park just outside of Marrakech luckily yep luckily as it was out of season most of it was closed but what was open was the lovely peaceful 'quiet pool' where we spent the day just soaking up the rays and swimming no children no noise it rea http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Marrakech-Tensift-El-Haouz/Marrakech/blog-455283.html Have just spent the most amazing 2 days trekking the Atlas Mountains let me start from the beginning.Del I got picked up from our hotel at 9am on Wednesday morning after a hour and a half in a taxi we were dropped off in a small Berber village at what we thought was our 'hotel' not a bad place but much to my dismay no en suite Mohamad our guide then arrived and introduced himself and inform http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Marrakech-Tensift-El-Haouz/Ourika-Valley/blog-454218.html Marrakech The High AtlasWhen we landed in Marrakech the sun was already going down and by the time we got in a taxi at the airport and arrived at the Djemaa El Fna it was dark. When we stepped out of the cab I pulled the collar of my coat up around my neck and breathed in the smell of wood smoke barbequed meat and incense. The air was still and cold and from all corners of the square drums bea http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Marrakech-Tensift-El-Haouz/Marrakech/blog-453901.html Well just spent last couple of days in Marrakech and what a different couple of days it has been. We're staying at the Moroccan House Hotel which is very authentic its more like a raid than a hotel the rooms are so over the top with four poster bed and lots of drapes it doesn't serve alchol but like true Brits we discovered the hotel over the road does lol. Staff are lovely and really helpfu http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Marrakech-Tensift-El-Haouz/Marrakech/blog-453711.html Off on travels again looking forward to experiencing the sights of Marrakech. Intend to trek the Atlas mountains and sleep with the locals and I mean sleep. Will be staying in a typical Morrocan House not far from the Madina. http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Marrakech-Tensift-El-Haouz/Marrakech/blog-445601.html Hello again my intredpid friends and welcome once more to the adventures of your favorite traveller Lord Master Ian Michael. I shall pick up where my story so hasitily finished In Marrakech. Secretly just continuting the story right here is a bit of a stretch because I actually went back to Rabat got food poisoning said goodbye to my Desert compatriots and picked up a new group of peeps then http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Marrakech-Tensift-El-Haouz/Marrakech/blog-441462.html i am planning a trekking holiday in the atlas mountains1520 days.keadventures have a good intenerary.any suggestions http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Marrakech-Tensift-El-Haouz/Marrakech/blog-441173.html So my mom has been forwarding me my daily readings and I thought that you all might enjoy this one or at least I feel like it is a good one for this blog since I am on a journey not to say I am not always on a journey but a specific journey. This is by Melody Beattie from Journey to the Heart Part 2. 8232 ldquo8232Map your own journey. 8232Go on your own journey. Don't let others h http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Marrakech-Tensift-El-Haouz/Marrakech/blog-438621.html test another blo http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Marrakech-Tensift-El-Haouz/blog-436421.html If you think yoursquore well rehearsed in the choreography required to navigate Oxford Street at rush hour on a Friday night then try any street in the medina of Marrakech. Dropped off by our taxi from the airport we found ourselves wading upstream as cyclists donkey carts the odd car and a multitude of mopeds often carrying whole families of father mother and child all share the same thr http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Marrakech-Tensift-El-Haouz/Marrakech/blog-430725.html Just one word to describe what we saw and experience during 3 days and 2 nights IMPRESSIVE. I did not have any preconceived idea of what the desert would be like but I never thought the landscape would amaze me so much. I did not consider myself a desertlover person before but this trip totally changed my mindWe went into a tour with 10 more people total strangers which after a few hours in http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Marrakech-Tensift-El-Haouz/Ourika-Valley/blog-426698.html It was a calm relief from the heat of Marrakesh... there were pretty cafes everywhere very 'elven' as mom would say with candles and lights in the trees. We went hiking on a little trail that actually goes very far up into the mountains but since we didn't have much water we decided not to continue very far. The views from that trails were great they looked down onto the valley and the waterfa http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Marrakech-Tensift-El-Haouz/Ourika-Valley/blog-419710.html Essaouira is an oasis in all the ways that Marrakech is not. The sea breeze eases the scorching heat in even the narrowest alleyways the locals are wealthy enough that they only hassle halfheartedly and the accomodations are top notch. Ironically this is where myself and friends have endured some of the scourges of Morocco bedbugs stomach bugs and beligerent street confrontations. But http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Marrakech-Tensift-El-Haouz/Essaouira/blog-415445.html 3 Countries 2 Continents 1 WeekThis week started with me realizing that my time in Alicante had just ended. However it was exciting start also because after a four hour train ride and an hour on the metro I got to meet Brady at the airport. It has been months since I had seen any family so it was exciting to see Brady. After dropping off our bags we went to a Spanish restaurant for lunch http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Marrakech-Tensift-El-Haouz/blog-412876.html In our week long break between retreats we took a ferry over to Morocco North Africa. Arriving in Tanger we had a few hours to spare before our overnight train departed for Marrakech. Our first impressions of Morocco was that was an intense place. In the cities things are nonstop. Market stalls open early and trade late into the night. Everyone wants something from you and will stop at nothin http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Marrakech-Tensift-El-Haouz/Marrakech/blog-412289.html Last Friday we left for a marathon trip around the South of the country. Many hours in the bus brought us to beautiful hotels vibrant cities and the most diverse yet stunning natural beauty I have ever seen. I appear to be allergic to charging camera batteries because after replacing a lost battery charger before departing I have now lost my camera battery. Thus this post is missing pictures f http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Marrakech-Tensift-El-Haouz/Marrakech/blog-409600.html Arrived in Marrakech at dusk just in time to see the Djemma elFna the large square in the middle of the market area transform into an explosion of sensoral stimulation dozens of food stands selling cous cous and tajines spice stands mint tea snake charmers monkeys dancers drummers henna painters acrobatics completely and utterly fascinating and overwhelming We then spent the nex http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Marrakech-Tensift-El-Haouz/Marrakech/blog-406204.html Casa was scary There were no women anywhere Strange. Our taxi driver then brought us to an amazing restaurant We all tried tagine with vegtables and coucous Maury did and got an amazinggg couscous sauce We ate about 5 baskets of bread salads and ended with Moroccan tea We then went home and to bed. In the morning we tried Moroccan breakfast served by the hostel. Bread jelly butter f http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Marrakech-Tensift-El-Haouz/blog-405861.html Shopping in Marrakech.We're constantly plagued by thoughts inundating our minds about how we were constantly being ripped off while in Morocco. This is a common theme for us as well as most travelers. And we're not talking about paying more for something compared to a local. We're talking about sellers that start the price off at 10 times a reasonable price then insult you and harshly argue wi http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Morocco/Marrakech-Tensift-El-Haouz/Marrakech/blog-402625.html