Day 15. 3rdFeb (Monday) Got up late for a 9am breakfast at our Premier Inn. Buffet style, but with fish omelet rather than boiled eggs. After shovelling that down, I packed my bags & left them in Mike’s room, then I checked out at reception and we walked to the Atlantic, taking the easiest zig-zag route which took us past a hotel with 3 tennis courts. This interested Mike considerably, but he could not find it on google maps… The beach was full of roped-off areas full of sun-loungers, with just a handful of very brown Europeans slithering about on them in their sun-cream. It was quite hot again, high 20’s at least, although there was a good breeze from the sea, we found a shady cafe and had some orange juice. On our way back ... read more

Day 13. 1stFeb (Saturday) Up at 8 again whilst still dark. Had a boiled egg, green & black olives, bread & butter, with coffee & orange juice. 2 birds come in the restaurant each morning, as at Ouarzazate, despite no open windows or doors. I did hear their dawn chorus coming from inside as I arose. Michael was wondering what happens to all the bird poo they must produce, and whether the cleaners hate them. Canny little birds, very like sparrows, they hop around the tables and carpets mainly, looking for crumbs. Around 9:30 we went for our morning constitutional, today heading for the Kasbah then onwards to the North, following the wall towards the North East corner. Here we went through a small doorway to the outside of the wall, sitting beside a fenced off ... read more

Day 11. 30thJan (Thursday) A rather quick blog as I want my bed! Got up 7:30, had breakfast with Mike. 2 birds came in, manager said they come every morning for breakfast! Mike went off to the Kasbah again, for guided tour this time in order to test his French. I dozed off for half hour then packed bags. Mike came back and we decided to check out and make our way slowly to bus station, stopping at corner tea room on the way. We both had milky drinks, me coffee, Mike chocolate. We refused the bottled water as were carrying enough to see us through. At bus station I weighed my bag in and we waited 10mins until allowed on bus. Nearer the back this time so better suspension. We set off on time 12:30 ... read more

Day 9. 28thJan (Tuesday) Last night we went to the on-site bar! It had a pool table and football on screens, just like home! Quite strange really over here. Eventually we settled on a bottle of red wine from the Meknes area (to the North, near Fez) which we drank after a game of pool which Mike won. Were given a large plate of fritters, olives & cold chick peas and another plate of salted popcorn. The only downside was the loud local music which we found annoying and had to shout over. Most others in the bar seemed local Moroccans. When I went to pay it was not the 70Dhs we had expected but 150Dhs (£14)! We left at midnight feeling merry… Got up late and had a good hot shower and washed 2 t-shirts, ... read more

Day 7. 26thJan We got up at around 9, a good lie-in for us recently. Michael said he preferred a walk before breakfast so we went half a mile, towards the Bahia Palace to the South East of our Hotel and had a pancake with cream cheese and jam (on the menu as butter & honey, but near enough). Then into Bahia Palace (70Dh) (10Dh in my guide book!) which was quite spectacular and extensive. Fantastically intricate mosaics on walls and ceilings, nice gardens in large courtyards, amazing painted ceilings, small stained glass windows in many colours – larger ones in just a few colours. We spent about an hour there admiring the detail. Quite a few parties were being guided around but we managed to avoid having our own, which was good. In the Grand ... read more