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Published: August 7th 2007
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4/5/07 Granada-->Algeciras-->Tangier-->Rabat
We had to wake up early this morning in order to catch our train, and were unable to have any of the free breakfast (which included waffles) from the hostel. Originally our plans were to meet up with two of the guys we know from Galway and to travel down to Morocco, but we found out that they had similar issues with transportation and so there was a very good possibility that they would not make it in time. However, all of Sudie’s fears were put to rest when, upon walking into the station, there were the boys. The scenery from the train through the southern part of Spain was gorgeous. When we arrived we asked directions to the port (which was pretty much just a straight shot), and then set about trying to get tickets for the ferry. We ended up asking at a couple of booths, and finally found tickets on the fast ferry that was leaving in about 45minutes. From there, we had to go and stand in the check in line which took forever. There was only one person and I was beginning to worry that we were going to miss it (we needed
Rabat
The Kasbah to get into Tangier by a certain time or we would miss our train to Rabat). When we were about 3 people from the front, we found out from various people around us (who were able to translate what was going on) that the ferry was full and they weren’t letting anyone else on. We had to go back down to where we got our tickets and were given the option of a refund, or tickets for the next ferry (a slow one) that left in about a half an hour. We took the tickets and rushed up to the check in line again. This time, we were about 3 people away again, and we were informed that the ferry had already left. I was about ready to kill someone by this time. Finally after a lot of yelling between the check in man and the other people in line he gave us all tickets and we ran on through to the gate. However, when we got through security, there was just this big mass of people waiting below a TV screen that said closed. After a few minutes of contemplating what in the world we were going to do
next the masses started to cheer and everybody moved forward through the doors. We made it onto the boat at last.
By the time we arrived in Tangier we had already missed the train but none of us really wanted to stay in Tangier for the night (it didn’t look like a very nice city), so we caught taxis to the train station anyways. We had to take 2 taxis among the 4 of us because the petite taxis are only allowed to take a maximum of 3 people at a time. Sudie and I ended up paying more than the boys did, but it really wasn’t that big of a deal. When we arrived at the station we bought tickets for the next train which was leaving in about 45 minutes. We all got something to eat at this little café/ food place in the station. It was so cheap, and the food was really good. Yay for the dirham!
I have to say that I was quite surprised at how green the countryside was. I really didn’t expect it to be. It was quite pretty. After about 5 hours on the train of continuous entertainment thanks to some
On the boat
These are our "We are going to Africa!!!!" faces of the cutest children ever (at one point our entire part of the train was involved in a game of keep the balloon away from the little boy), we made it into Rabat. The trip was slightly troublesome because none of the stops were labeled and they didn’t announce what the stop was so we were never sure if we were supposed to get off there or not. Thankfully one of the guys who came along with us could speak some French so we kept making him ask various people if we were at our stop yet. Since it was fairly late and all of us were tired, we decided to try and find a place to stay that was as close as possible. We tried a couple, and then finally found one (thanks to the Lonely Planet guidebook, and David’s French). Sudie and I ended up sharing a room, and the boys shared another (we could have gotten away with just one room, but the boys were unwilling to sleep in the same bed—silly boys). The room was hilarious. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t terrible, but it was cheap and sometimes you get what you pay for. We
Morocco
A view from our train ended the night totally exhausted and laughing our heads off (ok, it was mainly me laughing but the whole situation was really very funny) in the semi darkness of our room.
4/6/07 Rabat
We woke up fairly early to make sure we were able to see as much of the Moroccan capital city as possible, and after paying for a shower that had absolutely no heat we set off down Ave Mohammed V, making our way through the Medina (I was a little disappointed with the fact that they were pretty much only selling modern clothes and other things that looked like the stuff you can buy at any dollar store back in the states), and finally stopping at a cemetery. From there, we made our way to the beach which was incredible (and the weather was perfect). We stayed there for quite a while just walking around and looking at the water. Our wandering continued and we ended up in the Kasbah which is the oldest part of the city, and was really quite nice. The buildings are all whitewashed, and there was a garden mixed in there somewhere. After getting our bearings via Lonely Planet we
headed towards the Le Tour Hassan and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V. The minaret (Le Tour Hassan) was originally supposed to be the tallest in the Muslim world, but it was never completed. In addition, the mosque which was adjacent to it was destroyed in an earthquake in 1755. The Mausoleum holds the present king’s father and grandfather. The whole site was really cool to see. We were also there during one of the calls to prayer (the first time I have ever heard it) and it was really amazing. When we had seen it all, we wandered back towards the main avenue and ended up stopping at this little café. I got the tea (which is basically mint tea with a lot of sugar in it) which was so good. After a brief stop off at the hotel to use the bathrooms (usually you have to pay a sort of attendant in order to use the public toilets, in addition there is rarely toilet paper (thank goodness for my Charmin to Go), they are rarely very clean, and you always run the risk of getting stuck using the Turkish toilet (pretty much just a hole in the floor)) we
Rabat
The beach decided to end our last night in Rabat by, once again, wandering.
As we were walking along the side of some park, the boys stopped to listen to a guy who was playing the guitar. As we were standing there, this group of Moroccan guys comes walking past us. Somehow, I’m not quite sure how it happened, but the next thing I knew Pat and David were talking, very enthusiastically, with these three Moroccan guys. The main theme of their conversation: Rock and Roll (and pretty much anything else music related). We ended up walking around with them for probably another hour and a half, until we had to go to bed (due to our very early wake up time the following day). They were about our age, all very nice, and two of them spoke excellent English (the other only knew French and Arabic). It was a lot of fun and it was the perfect end to our stay in our first Moroccan city.
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