Africa at last!

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Day 3. 22^ndJan

Didn’t get up ‘till noon as last night we stayed up until 3am drinking whisky and smoking….

We had seen the weather forecast and it was bad till the afternoon and as it was already chucking it down, we decided to have a party and sleep in.

There was thunder & lightening, very, very frightening! And huge waves in Valencia apparently.

So it was a late start to the day. Went to shops with John for fish, spuds & more whisky (a good Scottish blend called William Lawson’s at 40%!,(MISSING) nice & smooth and not bad at €8. I got Bob a new bottle as we drank his last one dry).

Walked to the Coach Station with Bob at around 6:45pm – 20min walk. I bought 2 tickets for the 6:45am to Algeceras on Friday, Bob bought 2 tickets to Saville for next Monday (his wife is coming over here tomorrow). We saw that Michaels coach was due at 8:10pm so went to cafe across the road for coffee. Not long after finishing it, Michael rang to say he had arrived, on a different coach not shown on notice board! He found us in our cafe. His phone is annoying in not allowing him to send texts, although he can receive them, may become a problem when lost in the Medina though…

So it was back to the apartment where John had cooked fish, broccoli and lightly fried spuds, with a cheese sauce. Yum again.

Am being well fed whilst here, after the smoked tofu with vedge last night (John & Bob had Spanish Black Pudding containing rice!)

Now it’s hot toddies yet again – honey, hot water, lots of whisky and a slice of lemon.



Day 4. 23^rd Jan

Got up around 10am after sleep disturbed about 5am by heavy hailstorm with thunder & lightening again. Had breakfast and chat with Michael.

He may have to leave earlier from Morocco as his brother-in-law has died, another Michael – Maureen’s brother. Apparently he died in a hotel room from choking, may need an inquest and/or autopsy which wouldn’t affect our plans, but Michael wants to attend the funeral whenever. This may affect me as John has full house when we return (I had been planning to stay with Michael near Granada) so if Michael has to leave early I may hang on in Marrakech or Tangier for 3 or 4 more nights before my flight home.

Michael, John & Bob all went out leaving me alone. I took a siesta for an hour or so and felt much better for it. Then wrote all this. So a lazy day – I needed it.



Day 5. 24^th Jan

Got up at 5:30am!!! Had a cuppa & bread with honey, then set off for the bus station. Luckily it didn’t rain much, just a few light showers. Bit of a pain dragging my trolly-bag for 25mins but we got there with time to spare and eventually our coach arrived. The coach left at 6:50 with all 6 other passengers too. We stopped at Marbella where a few more got on and arrived at Algeciras at about 8:30. Pouring with rain so we waited there for 20mins then went to cafe for coffee. Not far to the port but we didn’t fancy a soaking so we got a taxi for €8.50. Then bought our ferry tickets from Tarifa to Tangier. But they had cancelled the 11am sailing and we had to wait until 12noon for the free bus to Tarifa, more coffee and a danish pastry and much talking.The bus came on time and we entered Tarifa port. Spanish customs scanned our luggage and my braces set of the walk-through scanner but I didn’t have to drop my pants re: Brian Rix (for those who recall him).

When on boat we joined the line to the police check where we handed in out passports and little declaration slips which we had already filled in. The boat was a catamaran with very few cars on board, but quite a few foot passengers. Then we found a window seat and watched Spain slipping into the distance and Morocco looming closer. Even with the bad weather both were always visible. Upon leaving the dock we had our passport stamps checked and then began to be hassled by guys offering taxi’s. We said “No” and wandered past the car park until we found the ATM which google had told me would be there. We each got 1000MAD’s (Moroccan Dinars) at around £100. Then went looking for a taxi. First a guy stopped with a tatty mini-bus, but 2 Grand Taxies pulled up behind, tooting their horns and we got into one after agreeing €3 to go to the Train Station. There we bought our train tickets for 8am tomorrow, we can have a lie-in!!!

Then we got a Petite Taxi to the Grand Socco (30MAD’s, so about €3 again) and had our first mint tea as it was raining. We checked the direction to our Hotel Mamosa and, when the rain eased off we set off walking down the very narrow streets (reminiscent of Varanasi) towards the Petite Socco which I knew was only a few hundred yards from Mamosa. An old man joined us and took us the route that I was going to take, but ‘twas good to be certain. When we arrived he wanted €2 but I only had €1 which he seemed happy to accept.

We checked in at Hotel which asked us to pay cash (will have to check if Booking.com have taken it from my credit-card already!) We were then taken to our rooms, thankfully on 1^st floor. Nice wide bed, en-suite bathroom, drawers, and a cupboard with shelves (no wardrobe). Nicely decorated though and with loo-rolls, soap, shampoo & towels – things I didn’t always get in India.

So now we are in our own rooms and plan to meet up for food at some point and maybe go to the cinema later that we’d seen at the Grand Socco…

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Comments

[Amy Friedman]

Didja see The Rock?
When Simon and I drove down to Algeciras from Malaga, that turn where you suddenly see THE ROCK looming, 80 times bigger than you expected, was gobsmacking. It is staggeringly large. And you sort of float past it on the ferry over to Morocco. My goodness, that is a very large ROCK. Shouldn't it be called the Mountain of Gibralter? Then I'd have been prepared to see it, looming, all giant. And full of wild monkeys. Have a fine time in the souk. Don't forget to rock the Casbah. Lots of rocks on this trip.

[DickDiamond]

I did see the Rock Amy, but it was looming through the dawn rain as our coach got near Algeciras. Didn't see it on the ferry from Tarifa but we were on the other side of the boat. Talk about Brit Rock!

[Amy Friedman]

Still thinking about ROCK
I had the same overwhelming moment when I went to the London Natural History Museum for the first time, and you go into a room and all of the sudden there is a LIFE-SIZE BLUE WHALE taking up most of the space. It was the same moment of WHOA. THAT THING IS REALLY BIG. Here is a really good thing to buy in the souk: intricate cut-out patterns for hand henna designs. You should get them for all your friends. They pack really small because they are flat. Your sisters, you have many of them, will love them.