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Morocco and Spain 2023

March - April 2023
A 29-day adventure by Maree Read more
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  • TravelerMorocco and Spain 2023
    Day 7

    Day 2 Off to Fez

    March 19, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ 🌙 18 °C

    Today, we take a guided tour of the World Heritage-listed site of Volubilis, one of the Roman empire's most remote bases. The remains make an undeniably impressive sight as they come into view on the edge of a long, high plateau. We had a tour of the ancient hilltop ruins with a local guide who was very good. The ruins were amazing, they had been re-discovered by a French archaeologist. The site had been covered in soil and many mosaic floors had been preserved.

    Then we return to Meknes and take a few hours to explore with another great local guide.
    Meknes royal Kasbah has 40 Km of walls made of clay, earth and lime packed down.
    He takes us to a mosque, Medina markets and the Royal golf course. Morocco is encouraging golf to be played by everyone not just the elite. Even have golf schools for kids now.
    The Medina is the 3rd largest in Morocco.
    We have a camel burger for lunch at a local restaurant in the medina. Some people chose not to but most had it and enjoyed it. I did, of course.

    In the afternoon, we take a 1-hour train to Fes, where we'll spend the next two nights. Fes is the most complete medieval city in the Arab world, and the most ancient of Morocco's imperial cities.

    I'm noticing more dogs around. There are many cats in the Moroccan cities, dogs are generally not liked. According to the guide on my first day " they bark too loud and scare the 2 angels of your shoulders"

    The Meknes area is very fertile agricultural land. Crops I've noticed - garlic, rape seed, olive trees, others.
    The guide said today they are gearing up for an agricultural expo which is very big.

    For tea we go to a private house, a friend of Hassan's who feeds us (for a price, 130 durhims, ÷7 for $AUD) which is very authentic and lovely. We had a soup with lovely bread and sides then a chicken pie Morocco style. It's called a pastilla.    Read more

  • TravelerMorocco and Spain 2023
    Day 7

    Rock the Kasbah

    March 19, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    What is a Kasbah?
    It is a fortress, commonly a citadel that protects a city or settlement area, or that serves as the administrative center. A kasbah citadel typically housed the military garrison and other privileged buildings such as a palace, along with other amenities such as a mosque and a hammam (bathhouse). Some kasbahs are built in a strategic elevated position overlooking the city, like the Kasbah of the Oudayas in Rabat. It could also be a large purpose-built royal quarter, protected by its own set of walls, that housed the palace of the ruler and the administration of the state. Examples of this include the Kasbah of Marrakesh and the Kasbah of Tunis, both founded by the Almohads, who built or redeveloped similar palace enclosures in many important cities of their empire.  In some cases, kasbahs could be simple fortified enclosures around a city that housed military garrisons, without being the main citadel. In Fez, for example, there were up to 13 kasbahs built throughout the city in different periods, including the Kasbah an-Nouar and the Kasbah Cherarda.Read more

  • TravelerMorocco and Spain 2023
    Day 8

    Day 3 Fes Walkabout

    March 20, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    A local guide joins us and we explore Fes. Mainly the Old Medina. On the way we pop in to the Jewish cemetery, the royal palace and some market streets.
    Then we go on the minibus to "the panoramic view" which certainly let's you see the green countryside and the huge old Medina.

    We also go to a pottery co-op where we get shown how the pottery and mosaics are done with the option to shop. I bought a donkey for my toilet wall!! 🤣🤣
    There was so much beautiful stuff I could have bought but I have to cart it with me so restrained myself.

    Then into the Medina, we have 1 guide at the front, and one at the back keeping all 15 of us from getting lost. Again this is a place with very high walls and very narrow streets. It's easy to get lost. It claims to be the biggest Medina in Morocco - it is huge and jam packed.

    We visit a tannery that is done the ancient way in big vats and the opportunity to shop. I don't.
    When you walk in here they give you a sprig of mint - it's meant to cover the stink of the tannery, it doesn't!!

    By then it's lunch time in a beautiful Ryad. I had lamb and prune targine. Yummy.

    Then to a weaving display and opportunity to shop. I didn't.

    We passed a few other places along the way as well as all the market stalls.
    Orange blossoms are out at the moment and they're selling the blossoms or flower water. It smells beautiful.

    We get back around 5.

    Fes has never been invaded or had buildings destroyed so they claim they are one of the oldest continuous cities in the world.    Read more

  • TravelerMorocco and Spain 2023
    2
    Day 9

    Day 4 Bus ride to Chefchouen

    March 21, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Late morning start for an 11 am coach bus ride to Chefchouen. It takes 4 hours with a lunch stop after 2 hours.
    A comfortable coach with plenty of room and big windows.
    We drive up into the Rif Mountains on a good sealed road highway.

    The countryside is very fertile farm land.
    Wheat and barley, crops not usually irrigated. Enough rain and moisture. Donkey tilling plus tractors. Some farms have forms of irrigation. I did actually see a modern irrigation system once. A few dams are being made

    All farms are privately owned by families.
    A few cows, mainly sheep with their shepherd. Some goats in amongst a sheep flock. A few chooks.
    Soil varies white to lovely chocolate.
    Large hay or silage stacks covered with plastic. Quite a few people with spray packs.

    We get into Chefchouen about 4 pm.
    This place is beautiful, lots of blue buildings , it is called "The Blue 🔵 City". We go on a quick "orientation walk" with Hassan as we have all day tomorrow to explore.

    Then to a restaurant Hassan knows for a sardine targine. It is very nice.    Read more

  • TravelerMorocco and Spain 2023
    Day 10

    The Blue 🔵 City

    March 22, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    No-one actually knows why or how the blue paint started but they're famous for it now.

    A guided walking tour this morning then after a lovely salad lunch and a much sought after (by me) Earl Grey tea, I took myself off to explore the blue streets.Read more

  • TravelerMorocco and Spain 2023
    Day 11

    To Tangier by minibus

    March 23, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Today we leave the Blue City by very comfy minibus for a 3 hour trip to Tangier. We go through the Rif Mountains again, very spectacular. More very fertile farmland.

    Tangier is on the coast, you can see across the Strait of Gibraltar to Spain.

    We go to a supermarket to pick up food for "a picnic" in a national park.
    Then drive to where the Atlantic ocean and the Mediterranean Sea meets. A lighthouse. Here are many eucalyptus trees!

    We spend a few minutes at the beach, by popular demand. It was going to happen but people got quite loud as they wanted the beach.
    I put my feet in the Atlantic.

    We then have 3 hours free time but that's between 5-8pm when most things are closed. It is now Ramadan too so not everything is open.

    We then minibus to a private house where the woman cooks for us (for a fee) then we board an overnight train to Marrakesh at 11.30 pm.
    Very long day.    Read more

  • TravelerMorocco and Spain 2023
    Day 12

    Marrakech, the Red 🔴 City

    March 24, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Got into Marrakech about 9 am. Had an adequate sleep in the bunk.

    Got to our Hotel Morocco by taxi, then went to another hotel for breakfast while our rooms were getting ready.

    Settle into room then I head off on my own to explore. Walked 3-4 K to the Medina where town centre, Souks and markets are. 30degree heat now so pleased I brought my hat and drink bottle. Walked back as well.

    So now I can say I'm over the markets and ready for my next tour to "go bush".

    We have our farewell dinner at the same hotel we had breakfast in. It was a very nice meal.

    Still have a day in Marrakech tomorrow but change hotels to meet up with the next tour tomorrow night.    Read more

  • TravelerMorocco and Spain 2023
    Day 13

    Switch tours today

    March 25, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ 🌙 21 °C

    Another 30 degree day today.
    This tour finishes after breakfast so then I pack up, say goodbye to Debbie, my Israeli roomie and move to the next hotel.
    Hotel Meriem is 4 star and very flash!!
    2 swimming pools with bar, comfy beds and the hotel shiny😂

    The room isn't ready yet so I make my way to the Yves Saint Laurent Berber art museum and Marjorelle Garden complex I have booked for 11.30.

    On the way I get an iced coffee at Starbucks and call into a small Berber farmers market. I buy some lip balm made from the "famous" Moroccan Argan oil with orange blossom. It's good.

    The museum and gardens are interesting.
    I also have lunch in the garden cafe.

    I head back to the hotel, calling into Starbucks again for a bottle of water and can Earl Grey tea.

    I get my room, get changed into my bathers and have a lovely cool swim. Just what I needed to cool the body temp down.

    I meet my new room mate for this next tour. She is German Swiss, lives in Switzerland near the German border. Her name is Marion. Nice lass

    At 6 pm we meet in the lobby to introduce ourselves to the group and tour leader. There are 11 women and Chama our female guide. This is a women's only tour. The majority are from various places in the US, 1 from Quebec Canada, 2 from UK, and us.

    After the meet and greet Chama takes us to a restaurant to have Ftour, which is the meal they have to break their fast during Ramadan. It's good, a cross between breakfast and lunch.
    Then to bed, we have to leave tomorrow at 7.30 am    Read more

  • TravelerMorocco and Spain 2023
    Day 14

    Start of new tour

    March 26, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Today is a big drive day in a very comfortable minibus.

    We start at 7.30 am with a few stops and a lunch stop getting to destination around 5 pm.

    We go into the Hi Atlas Mountains. It is still high 20 degrees but the mountain tops have snow on them.
    The road is narrow and winding most of the way so some people didn't like that much.

    We stop for lunch where Game of Thrones, Gladiator and a few other movies are filmed.

    We are staying at a gite tonight then get joined by a "team" of other people and mules to hike with us the next 4 days.    Read more

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