Blogs from Western Sahara, Africa - page 3

Western Sahara rarely features on lists of the world's countries anymore. Even on most maps, this large area of northwest Africa generally appears as part of Morocco. However, even in the eyes of the United Nations, Western Sahara is a seperate entity. The country used to be known as Rio de Oro after it was grabbed by Spain during the scramble for Africa in the late nineteenth century. They grabbed it as a protectorate mainly because other European countries were claiming new colonies so why shouldn't they. It was soon realised that the land had little economic worth and never broke even before it was given up by Spain in 1975. The country was divided in two with the top half going to Morocco and the bottom half to Mauritania. But Morocco wanted all of ... read more

Not only is this a physical journey for me, but also a journey in english semantics. Be indulgent, have patience with my linguistic faults as I try to twitch and wrestle with english expressions that you'll find far from idiomaticly correct. It felt good to leave Chefchaouen at last, next time I'll be back with the hordes of tourists in July or August. Not only did all the hotels get booked by police and security staff prior to the kings arrival, the constant cold and the afternoon drizzle got to me at last. So of to Fes it was. Once again I had sharpened my elbows all for nothing, the hassle I'd prepared for was not to come. I mean, of course you've got the restaurant-touts at the main entrance to the medina, but they were ... read more

Since I last wrote I went through Marrakesh, Agadir, Laayoune, Dakhla, and then across the border into Mauritania where I have so far been to Noadhibou and Nouakchott. Marrakesh was pretty and interesting but too touristic for me. Laayoune and Dakhla are in Western Sahara, which is disputed, and there seems to be some tension between the Moroccans who are sort of occupying it, and the Saharans. The desert is really beautiful, and unbelievably huge. The main even of this segment of the trip, however, occured between Dakhla and Noadhibou, where I was attempting to cross the border. I left around sunset, hoping to arrive in Noadhibou around dawn, and I knew it was a bad idea to travel at night, but I didn't want to stay in Dakhla for the night, so I jumped ... read more

I seem to be missing a lot of stuff out, about the camping, the trucks, our new friends... We have camped on rocky football pitches, sandy hollows, in wind, rain and beautiful starlight, on a range of 'proper' campgrounds, and have slept in the truck (cook group privilege). We are part of a cook group of three - teamed up with a neat girl from Holland called Lous. When our turn comes round, we have to shop for and prepare lunch, dinner and breakfast. We have had to dig the truck out a couple of times already, once from mud and once from sand. Its hard work, but fun so far. I'm sure after a while it wont be so fun! No one on our truck has gotten sick yet, on the other truck - there ... read more