Marakech 2

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Trip start
February 28, 2023
Marakech 2 Steve Catterall
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Day 1
Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at 10:00 AM
☁️ 4 °C
Altitude: 12 m
England Lytham 53.742199, -2.9453153°44’32” N 2°56’43” W
Start again
February 28, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 4 °C
Well couldn't get away last time so extended this break to nine days, gives me a really good chance to see all that Marrakech offers ☺️

Can't believe how quick from arriving on the train at 11:15 through to the lounge for 12:00

Oh my god... Never been on a flight so bad, guy at side of me has massive elbows that reach well over into my ribs and a woman in the seat on front hasn't shut up for 3 1/2 hours...even when she's having a drink, trouble is she's talking to the woman next to her but people can hear her half way down the bloody plane, she doesn't even draw a breath. I hope to god she's not on plane coming back 🥺😭Read more
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Marakech 2 Steve Catterall
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Day 1
Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at 9:46 PM
☁️ 17 °C
Altitude: 469 m
Morocco Marrakesh 31.636667, -8.01531°38’12” N 8°0’54” W
Well finally arrived
February 28, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
The silence is deafening after that flight, but sun is shining and it's 21 degrees

Hotels nice , really pleasant people, first of night for beer 🍺
Travelerwhat's the place like
2/28/23Reply
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Marakech 2 Steve Catterall
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Day 2
Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at 9:39 AM
⛅ 16 °C
Altitude: 469 m
Morocco Marrakesh 31.636667, -8.01531°38’12” N 8°0’54” W
Day 2... exploring the medina
March 1, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Off to explore the Medina today, a little stroll and then stop for a mint tea.

Well the little stroll has ended up as over 11 kilometres through the souls in the Medina,

Had a guide to show the hidden areas and alley's in the souls, seen the artisans at work making their stuff. Nice to know it's not all made in china lol

Would never have found the sights and sounds, or seen real tradesmen making stuff. Back in cafe now for a quick drink and then watch as the square is transformed for nighttime extravaganzasRead more
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Marakech 2 Steve Catterall
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Day 3
Thursday, March 2, 2023 at 11:41 AM
⛅ 16 °C
Altitude: 472 m
Morocco Bahia Palace 31.621667, -7.98166731°37’18” N 7°58’54” W
Palais bahia
March 2, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Nice day today, went to the Bahia palace for a look round, the work done on painting the doors, windows and ceilings is fantastic, but I think watching a guy in the souk doing that sort of work yesterday made me appreciate the intricacies of it more.

Walked back to hotel through the Medina and found the way back quite easy today. Even found a Carrefour supermarket where I bought some preserved lemons , funny but the "poor weather in Morocco" doesn't seem to have produced a crop shortage here ha ha.

Found out that the Al Fassia restaurant is only round the corner from the hotel, it is the sister restaurant to the one I visited on my last visit and is shown as one of Andy Oliver's top ten restaurants in the world. Managed to get a table without a booking, probably because the doors had literally only just opened.Read more
Travelerthat mosaic looks good it wo.uld be nice in my garden
3/2/23Reply
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Marakech 2 Steve Catterall
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Day 4
Friday, March 3, 2023 at 10:48 AM
☁️ 21 °C
Altitude: 378 m
Morocco Douar Arguita 31.546667, -9.36833331°32’48” N 9°22’6” W
A day out to the seaside
March 3, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
Today's an early start for a trip to the seaside port of Essaouira.

The trip also includes a stop at a women's co-operative where they produce argan oil which I'm quite looking forward to.

It will be nice to get out from the hussle and bustle of the city traffic and noiseRead more
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Marakech 2 Steve Catterall
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Day 4
Friday, March 3, 2023 at 10:48 AM
☁️ 15 °C
Altitude: 378 m
Morocco Douar Arguita 31.546667, -9.36833331°32’48” N 9°22’6” W
Argan Oil Co-operative
March 3, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
Wow goats in trees,had the whole process explained. The tree grows a berry that has 3 shells, outside green one (eaten by goats) a brown inner shell which is then split to get a final nut that looks like an almond.

Then the nut is roasted for edible oil, or simply ground and mixed with water which forms a solid clump of brown gunge lol

The gunge is squeezed by hand and the oil extracted the gunge that is left is used as an exfoliating lotion.

All in all every bit of the tree and it's nuts are used, really cool to see the process, but very labour intensive.Read more
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Marakech 2 Steve Catterall
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Day 4
Friday, March 3, 2023 at 2:08 PM
⛅ 19 °C
Altitude: 18 m
Morocco Jorf Barmil 31.515, -9.77166731°30’54” N 9°46’18” W
2
The port of Essaouira
March 3, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Fantastic fishing port, really hectic and busy area with absolutely all sorts of fish and sea food.
Once in the Medina area it was far more relaxed than marrakech, the took a stroll along a beach to die for, clear sand , few people, sunshine - what more could you ask for 🌞Read more
Traveler prawns look good can taste from here
3/4/23Reply
Steve Catterallreally tasty indeed 😋
3/4/23Reply
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Marakech 2 Steve Catterall
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Day 5
Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 12:34 PM
☁️ 16 °C
Altitude: 1,148 m
Morocco Tamassint 30.941667, -6.96666730°56’30” N 6°58’0” W
Atlas Film studio visit
March 4, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
A surprise stop at Atlas film studio, only a small place but it has done stuff like game of thrones, gladiator, prison break the mummy and some others that I've never heard of .

Quite surprised how basic the sets are, just wood and plaster- only a short visit but interestingRead more
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Marakech 2 Steve Catterall
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Day 5
Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 2:00 PM
⛅ 7 °C
Altitude: 2,008 m
Morocco Ighrem n’Ougdal 31.237845, -7.41406531°14’16” N 7°24’51” W
Ait Benhaddou kasbah
March 4, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C
Arrived for lunch and then it's scale the heights.
Well , made it to the top and back down, done this before but this time the climb to the top seemed really easy.
Also had a guide this time and he explained all about the site, used in film sets like game of thrones, gladiator , Lawrence of Arabia, and lots of others.
Guide explained how the building at the very top of the site was the grain store, but god knows how or why they got the grain up there!
Apparently there are still two Berber families who live there permanently 🥺Read more
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Marakech 2 Steve Catterall
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Day 5
Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 5:08 PM
⛅ 12 °C
Altitude: 1,365 m
Morocco Assif Wounila 31.111667, -7.13666731°6’42” N 7°8’12” W
A trip through the Atlas mountains
March 4, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
Today it's yet another early start and the plan is a trip which crosses the atlas mountains through the Tizi n Tichka pass and on to Ait Benhaddou kasbah followed by a visit to Ouarazazatea and the film studios that are there.Read more
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Marakech 2 Steve Catterall
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Day 6
Sunday, March 5, 2023 at 12:44 PM
⛅ 21 °C
Altitude: 468 m
Morocco Marrakesh 31.636962, -8.01435531°38’13” N 8°0’52” W
Sunday is a day of rest
March 5, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Well it's Sunday so good lie in , breakfast then to sit on veranda in the glorious sunshine, might go for a walk later and maybe watch grand Prix
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Marakech 2 Steve Catterall
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Day 7
Monday, March 6, 2023 at 9:31 AM
🌙 10 °C
Altitude: 474 m
Morocco Oulad Ouaslam 31.75, -7.83333331°45’0” N 7°49’60” W
Watch the sunrise
March 6, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ 🌙 10 °C
Up really early today to watch the sun rise over the atlas mountains ☺️

Balloon ride to watch the sunrise and the pilot actually landed the balloon back on a trailer !

Followed by Breakfast and a short trip on a camel 🐪Read more
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Marakech 2 Steve Catterall
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Day 7
Monday, March 6, 2023 at 9:01 PM
☁️ 18 °C
Altitude: 464 m
Morocco Marrakesh 31.64, -8.01666731°38’24” N 8°1’0” W
Chilling afternoon
March 6, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Back at hotel to try and cool down (23° in shade) and out for Chinese tonight

Good rest on the balcony this afternoon then found a really brilliant Asian restaurant that did Thai, Korean & japanese food.
Started with sushi rolls, followed by crab rolls finishing with a pad Thai that was exquisite. Asked for a beer but as I was sat outside I couldn't have one, although was welcome to have one inside, but as it is still roasting decided to stay put and ended up with a lovely ginger and lemon 'raw' drink (very healthy) 😉Read more
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Marakech 2 Steve Catterall
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Day 8
Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at 11:57 AM
☁️ 10 °C
Altitude: 1,607 m
Morocco Setti Fatma 31.225, -7.67333331°13’30” N 7°40’24” W
Trip to the five valleys
March 7, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
Well a trip to the five valleys, which includes some hiking 🤨
The route includes ourika to have short hike to see a waterfall and then a drive on to oukaimeden and then views of Sidi Fares , then on to Asni and back through Tahnoaut.
Absolutely no idea what I've let myself in for 🤣🤣🤣

A really good trip, the hike was bearable but worthwhile, nice to see monkeys running free and wild amongst the rocks and houses.

Spectacular colours on the mountains as we travelled to a Berber house for lunch. Really contrasting views with snow on mountain tops.

The food was delicious, I had a chicken tagline while relaxing in a really peaceful valley, I could have stopped longer.

Only sad thing was to look at the poor wattle and daub houses in all the villages and yet really smart mosques that have been built by the villagers rather than improving their homes.Read more
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Marakech 2 Steve Catterall
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Day 9
Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at 5:04 PM
⛅ 13 °C
Altitude: 476 m
Morocco Djemaa el Fna 31.626667, -7.98666731°37’36” N 7°59’12” W
Another day
March 8, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
Well had a lie in today, the weather is really overcast, it's the first day I haven't been able to see the atlas mountains.

Well chilled in hotel and sun came out , went to Medina and bought a small tagine for my firepit, wandered around and ended up on rooftop terrace of amor n akoch for evening meal, and yes it's camel tagine fo me 🐪😋

Only 62 days to go until my next trip, yet another to tick off my bucket list, although don't think the weather will hit anywhere near the 31° that we've had here this week 😎Read more
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Marakech 2 Steve Catterall
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Day 10
Thursday, March 9, 2023 at 7:53 AM
⛅ 12 °C
Altitude: 468 m
Morocco Marrakesh 31.636877, -8.01435831°38’13” N 8°0’52” W
Time to go home
March 9, 2023 in Morocco ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
Well, it's time to go home, really enjoyed this break, good food, just enough sight seeing, great weather great food and it's been really good to have some company on the trip.

Still back to Rosie now, ive missed her waking me up at silly o clock but Georgia has sent me a pic showing that she's not missing me at all - typical cat 🐱

Still, only 62 days to go to my next trip which really is a bucket list special for me, although I can't see the weather getting anywhere near the heat here but my countdown begins 😎Read more
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Trip end
March 9, 2023