We were told to meet in the theatre at 7:45 so we were up at the crack of dawn and walking down when I remembered I hadn’t picked up my camera. Never mind, it was a quick trip three floors and half the ship!! Back in time to have our #20 bus allocated and we were off.
There were many dozing heads during the three hour trip, despite the informative narration by Miriam our travel guide for the day. Another *bonus with christine and her walking stick- we scored the front seats so had ample opportunities for clear pics and private conversations with our host.
We were SO pleased we’d spoken to one of the staff members who was from Morocco who had recommended Marrakech.
The sights were the very epitome of what I imagined to be Middle East landscape. The adobe mud houses. The miles of brown and tan soil. A little three wheeled car.
Donkeys pulling along carts overloaded with their goods to sell. It was magical. Miriam explained that there were two main groups in Morocco, the arabs and the berbers. She pointed out some Berber villages along the way too.
As we arrived into Marrakech there was a noticeable difference in the style of building and the traffic resembled the process of braiding hair(for those of you who know what I mean). Somehow the traffic seems to perform a magical dance which entwines itself and undoes itself without effort except using the horn (or claxon as it’s called here). Miriam said when they sold you a car they said good car, good horn and good luck. Haha.
She also described pedestrian crossings as an ‘idea’ but was really just a ‘decoration’ for the road!! Hahaha. It’s TRUE. The people were crossing the major highways and standing still on the white lines in the middle of the road (not the median strip!) until they had the opportunity to run to the next bit. TOTALLY INSANE!
Finally finding our first destination we alighted from our transportation and followed the number 20 paddle held high above the head of our local guide ‘Abdul’.
From then on it was a MAZE and ‘amazing’. Our first stop was to have an opportunity for photos outside a palace. Beautiful gardens, fountains and mosaic lined buildings.
Back in the bus and on to the next area viewing camels on the side of the road on our way.
Walking. Walking. And more walking! We navigated what I have now dubbed the “maze of Marrakech”!
Being narrowly avoided by peddlers with donkey carts. Pedlers with their own outrageously laiden carts. Dozens and dozens of scooters with both driver and pillion passengers all down laneways riddled with goods for sale and no bigger than about two meters. Mind blowing!
All the time being approached by vendors desperate to sell you fake snakes, jewellery and even pictures of yourself. We reached a beautiful palace which would have been glorious in its hay day. Mosaics, carved wood and spectacular curved archways. A real delight to a building lover (like me).
We kept walking! ….. finally reaching our destination for lunch.
OMG. I seriously would go back just to view this place properly. We went in the main dining room because it was dealing with five bus loads of us, but this place had so many rooms to serve dinners. It felt like it was a sort of bee hive.
The room was beautiful, a huge chandelier, mosaic lined walls and ceiling, authentic music welcoming us in. We shared the table with a Dutch couple and four people from Romania.
The Moroccan food was delicious. I’ve never had it before but want to try it again. The bread (another thing I shouldn’t have eaten because of my coeliac) was scrumptious. Chicken in the Tagine and couscous with beef (or lamb) – sensational. Finishing off with sliced oranges sprinkled with cinnamon (TRY IT) and little shortbreads. All washed down with water and red wine. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
Next there was MORE WALKING…. we went to a naturalist pharmacy where we were shown the herbs, spices and oils made in the area. Sadly I couldn’t bring back the herbs and spices because of the Australian restrictions but I think I purchased everything else in the shop!! I do believe I’m coming back looking fifty years younger! Apparently cactus oil is IT!
I finished off with a two minute neck massage and had my hand hennaed before we had to WALK AGAIN to the main square. We were given half an hour to buy things or as we did, have monkeys descend on us!
EVERYTHING costing money!!
Even a guy who had pictures of us walking ‘somewhere’. Totally unaware of this stalker who was trying to sell these pics to us all. We viewed the snake tamers and monkeys but I didn’t take pics as they were on the lookout for money (I’d run out of change).
I felt sorry not to buy the things being shown to us but at least they were trying to do things for their money. The people in Barcelona. ’assuming tips’ and keeping LOTS of change as their ‘self determined tip’ still leaves me more disillusioned.
We had a coke and shared our table with the couple Maryke and Joop from our bus (and our table)
Summonsed to assemble again we WALKED to the bus which thankfully was not so far away. Passing a solid line of ponys and their colourful carts ready for their next passengers. It was a bright sight.
Phew, sitting is glorious! Another three hours and a brief toilet stop later and we were back. Only to find that once through the customs office we had MORE WALKING to get to the ship. OMG. When we finally got to our room it was only time for a shower before collapsing onto the bed. I don’t remember anything after that!!!! At least we did over the 10,000 steps. Phew!
Lady Boomer 