Morrocco bound

A 12-day adventure by Steve Read more

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Trip start
April 30, 2022
Morrocco bound Steve Catterall
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Day 1
Saturday, April 30, 2022 at 10:19 AM
☁️ 12 °C
Altitude: 27 m
England Woodplumpton 53.79796, -2.755153°47’53” N 2°45’18” W
And we're off
April 30, 2022 in England ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
Well chauffeur drive to Gatwick, just been picked up in a six seater coach, only me all the way to Gatwick ! Very nice, driver reckons we will probably stop once for refreshments lol should be at Gatwick for 3 ish.

Well sorted now, booked into hotel now for a few beers then early to bed and early to riseRead more
TravelerVery fancy! Safe travels, I look forward to seeing your journey! 😁 x
4/30/22Reply
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Morrocco bound Steve Catterall
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Day 2
Sunday, May 1, 2022 at 5:34 AM
☁️ 8 °C
Altitude: 62 m
England Gatwick Airport Railway Station 51.15576, -0.1627351°9’21” N 0°9’46” W
Cassablanca next
May 1, 2022 in England ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C
Well early flight from Gatwick at 06.20 should be landing at Marrakech around 9.30

Well arrived must say customs and entry was a pain in the arse, changed my money, got a sim for phone now just waiting for coach to cassablanca

Pit stop for refreshments , 27 degrees at moment, just had lunch, salad and esspresso £3.75. Looks like it's going to be reasonably cheap here, dinners in evening and breakfast are in the tour so it's really only lunch and beer of course.

Been told tonight is end of Ramadan so everyone will be feasting for Eid when sun goes down , sounding goodRead more
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Morrocco bound Steve Catterall
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Day 2
Sunday, May 1, 2022 at 2:46 PM
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 13 m
Morocco El Hank 33.60495, -7.631133°36’18” N 7°37’52” W
Hassan 11 mosque
May 1, 2022 in Morocco ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Well it's certainly a massive mosque, thought the carpet was tatty when compared to the mosque in Amman, but this one is certainly larger
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Morrocco bound Steve Catterall
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Day 2
Sunday, May 1, 2022 at 5:14 PM
☀️ 21 °C
Altitude: 50 m
Morocco Casablanca 33.58661, -7.6320133°35’12” N 7°37’55” W
Kenzi tower hotel
May 1, 2022 in Morocco ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Wow I'm up on the 13th floor watching the cruisers down below to quote David Bowie ha ha

Beautiful room it's as big as my lounge and bathroom is twice the size!

Dinner tonite is on 27th floor restaurant and the 'sky bar' is a rooftop bar on the 28th....will need to investigate both after a shower, been a long day from 3.0 am 😵‍💫

Well restaurant was good but very noisy due to Eid celebrations, and because of Eid all bars are shut .... But can get bottles of Casablanca beer on as room service 😵‍💫 but we could drink them in the closed bar at receptionRead more
TravelerWow great big room! hope you have a great meal with a view!
5/1/22Reply
Steve Catterallhope so I will post it later, not sure what we are doing but all good up to now xxx
5/1/22Reply
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Day 3
Monday, May 2, 2022 at 11:36 AM
⛅ 15 °C
Altitude: 50 m
Morocco Casablanca 33.58661, -7.63233°35’12” N 7°37’55” W
Casablanca to rabat
May 2, 2022 in Morocco ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
Sensible start time of 9.00 today. Quick breakfast and stroll round, everywhere is deserted, probably too much festivities last night.
Seen some lovely tagines .
Tour round french area then onto Moroccan quarter very interesting, can't imagine how manic it would be if it wasn't Eid.Read more
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Day 3
Monday, May 2, 2022 at 3:00 PM
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 45 m
Morocco Casablanca 33.57903, -7.6066233°34’45” N 7°36’24” W
Rabat
May 2, 2022 in Morocco ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Well after visiting the equivalent to a poor version of Blackpool prom we head off to Rabat, en route is a stop at the obligatory Ric's bar, again shut due to Eid. However as none of the film was actually filmed in Casablanca the hype can live on ..so play it again Sam.

Lunch in Rabat,
Wow what contract Rabat is, clean,green wide streets and the Medina, well I'm glad most shops were closed but fantastic place, very much reminded me of Portugal. Went to royal palace but very strict about getting close to it.

Just arrived at hotel, another nice looking hotel and it has a bar that's open so think it will be a fun night tonightRead more
TravelerWow what a beautiful looking place- love the winding narrow roads and buildings. That meal looks delicious too! Hope you’ve enjoyed your day and a couple of beers lol xx
5/2/22Reply
Steve Catterallyeah now I have been able to get a beer 🍺
5/2/22Reply
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Day 4
Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at 1:42 PM
🌧 13 °C
Altitude: 427 m
Morocco Bled Oulad Mouka 34.07296, -5.5445434°4’23” N 5°32’40” W
Volubilis
May 3, 2022 in Morocco ⋅ 🌧 13 °C
Well it's rained up to now, shame really because I could have spent all day here

Fantastic murals and taken round by a really informative local guide.
TravelerWow beautiful mosaics they’re so intricate! I love places like this! Good to see you’re getting in all the history and that the food is as good as hoped! 😁👍🏼
5/3/22Reply
Steve Catterallyeah, the rain is a by product but it's not put a damper on things
5/3/22Reply
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Morrocco bound Steve Catterall
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Day 4
Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at 1:44 PM
🌧 13 °C
Altitude: 442 m
Morocco Bled Leqouiyyes 34.0693, -5.5399234°4’9” N 5°32’24” W
Lunch at meknes
May 3, 2022 in Morocco ⋅ 🌧 13 °C
Time for lunch and short bus tour of meknes then off to hotel in fes

Well can't get my head round this, breakfast and evening meals included in the tour but lunch is wherever we stop and to be honest lunches have been brilliant,

Salad, lamb tagine and 2 beers for £12 and taste is fantasticRead more
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Day 5
Wednesday, May 4, 2022 at 6:24 AM
⛅ 11 °C
Altitude: 406 m
Morocco Oued Lmaleh 34.06967, -4.9815134°4’11” N 4°58’53” W
Hotel in fes
May 4, 2022 in Morocco ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C
Lovely hotel with really good view looking down onto fes, it rained last night but today looks like it's going to be hot
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Day 5
Wednesday, May 4, 2022 at 11:05 AM
⛅ 17 °C
Altitude: 291 m
Morocco Oued Lmaleh 34.06106, -4.9488534°3’40” N 4°56’56” W
Day round fes
May 4, 2022 in Morocco ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Well short stroll past yet another royal palace then a visit to an artisan potters to watch pots being made, really interesting - bought my tagine here but went mad and bought espresso cup saucer and plate to go with it.

Well tour of the souk and tannery, tannery absolutely stinks, as you go in they give you a sprig of mint to keep wafting by your nose lol

Then we all went round the souk, to be honest not really as busy as I thought, yet again another real nice cafe for lunch, then a short stroll through the market before a nice stroll around the gardens, slightly disappointing as most of the flowers are same as in my garden lol, the main disappointment was that the water courses were all empty as water would have made the gardens a lot nicer, also there were a few sheds/pens with peacocks in them and they all looked in a sorry state, wish they had been roaming around.Read more
TravelerSomething so special about the doorways! So fun seeing how it’s all made- that purple set is gorgeous! And I love that djellaba, pointed hood is so cool. Wish I was there! Hope weather better for you to be out in today, and that you get to enjoy more culture and food 😎
5/4/22Reply
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Morrocco bound Steve Catterall
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Day 5
Wednesday, May 4, 2022 at 10:25 PM
⛅ 13 °C
Altitude: 409 m
Morocco Oued Lmaleh 34.06968, -4.9815334°4’11” N 4°58’54” W
Stroll around the hotel
May 4, 2022 in Morocco ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
Well back at hotel and decided to take a stroll around a ruin next door , was really good, very relaxing, sat on some gravestones watching a goatherd ambling through the graves with his goats.

Just had dinner, really nice and believe it or not I had salad lol world record walked more than have done in a long time AND healthy food 🤣Read more
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Day 6
Thursday, May 5, 2022 at 9:53 AM
⛅ 13 °C
Altitude: 409 m
Morocco Oued Lmaleh 34.06968, -4.9815734°4’11” N 4°58’54” W
Leaving fez and crossing atlas mountains
May 5, 2022 in Morocco ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
Today the plan is early start and head to Ilfrane and then cross the middle atlas mountains (about 6 hrs) to Erfoud, Then check in to hotel and from there we go in 4x4's into Sahara desert in time to watch the sunset

Arrived at ifrane, nice drive up the mountains and to be honest we could have been driving through the lake District very green and lots of pine trees. Ifrane is very modern and all the houses have big sloping roofs, apparently in winter it's a ski resort !Read more
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Day 6
Thursday, May 5, 2022 at 2:29 PM
☀️ 11 °C
Altitude: 1,833 m
Morocco Azrou 33.40431, -5.1832533°24’16” N 5°10’60” W
Cedre forest
May 5, 2022 in Morocco ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C
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Day 6
Thursday, May 5, 2022 at 4:11 PM
☀️ 25 °C
Altitude: 1,027 m
Morocco Tazammourit 31.95762, -4.4224131°57’27” N 4°25’21” W
Still going through atlas mountains
May 5, 2022 in Morocco ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Still travelling, an hour to the hotel 😵‍💫
Excellent got to hotel just before sunset, into 4x4 and then off into Sahara to see the sunset on the dunes, then back to hotel which looks nice
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Day 7
Friday, May 6, 2022 at 8:00 AM
☀️ 18 °C
Altitude: 1,472 m
Morocco Aït Baha 31.58, -5.5883331°34’48” N 5°35’18” W
Through the gorge to dades
May 6, 2022 in Morocco ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
Erfoud largest valley of palm trees famous for quality of dates

Stopped at an underground water system in middle of nowhere, very interesting going underground to see the water system

Passed though several oasis on the way to the gorge, would have liked longer to explore but it was a quick twenty minute pit stopRead more
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Day 7
Friday, May 6, 2022 at 8:49 AM
🌙 22 °C
Altitude: 805 m
Morocco Al M ’adid 31.48667, -4.2133331°29’12” N 4°12’48” W
Xaluca hotel
May 6, 2022 in Morocco ⋅ 🌙 22 °C
Wow what a hotel, right on edge of sahara
TravelerWow now that’s exactly how I imagine Morocco, very traditional, looks lovely! Hope you’re enjoying yourself xx
5/6/22Reply
Steve Catterallit's really good, hotel is right on edge of sahara having a chilling morning then moving on, the whole area is famous for ammonite fossils which is why they are all over the hotel and the sink is made from a quarried stone with fossils sticking out of it xx
5/6/22Reply
TravelerHi how many ammonite fell off 😂🤣
5/6/22Reply
Steve Catterallonly one ! 😵‍💫
5/6/22Reply
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Day 7
Friday, May 6, 2022 at 5:00 PM
☀️ 29 °C
Altitude: 869 m
Morocco Fezna 31.51499, -4.5860331°30’54” N 4°35’10” W
Xaluca hotel
May 6, 2022 in Morocco ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
Well arrived at new hotel, same chain of hotels with pool bar and restaurant, this afternoon is just a day for us all to relax by the pool ready to travel through the high atlas mountains (rather than middle) into Marrakech tomorrow where there's 3 nights 😜Read more
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Day 8
Saturday, May 7, 2022 at 11:38 AM
☀️ 26 °C
Altitude: 1,129 m
Morocco Kasbah Taourirt 30.92, -6.930°55’12” N 6°54’0” W
Kasbah tourit
May 7, 2022 in Morocco ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Visited the kasbah, very interesting guide explained how old the buildings were and how people lived in there up until mid 1970's.
E
Great view from the roof very hot outside bit surprising how cool it was inside, cooking done in another building outside of the casbah. Ceilings made from woven oleander wood as it acts as an insect repellent.Read more
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Day 8
Saturday, May 7, 2022 at 3:00 PM
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 1,561 m
Morocco Aït Baha 31.58667, -5.5916731°35’12” N 5°35’30” W
Ait benhaddou
May 7, 2022 in Morocco ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Can't believe made it to the top !
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Day 8
Saturday, May 7, 2022 at 3:04 PM
☀️ 14 °C
Altitude: 2,197 m
Morocco Tizi-n-Tiraz 31.28667, -7.3816731°17’12” N 7°22’54” W
The road to marrakech
May 7, 2022 in Morocco ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
Leave dades today and head through the high atlas mountains to Marrakech.

On the way visiting kasbah taourirt and stop at ait benhaddou which is a fortified city used for films like gladiator

After that its tizi n tichka mountain pass which apparently is the highest in the country

Should be roughly a six hour drive to the palm plaza hotel in Marrakech. Well that was a wrong guess 20.00 and just arrived at hotel.Read more
TravelerWatch out for falling pieces of the mountains😂😅
5/7/22Reply
Steve Catterallcaught a piece 😜
5/7/22Reply
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Day 8
Saturday, May 7, 2022 at 7:46 PM
🌙 28 °C
Altitude: 493 m
Morocco El Caïd Omar 31.5948, -7.989331°35’41” N 7°59’21” W
Palm plaza hotel Marrakech
May 7, 2022 in Morocco ⋅ 🌙 28 °C
Well finally arrived, the hotel is massive. Can't see much outside as it's dark lol but room is lovely and the lobby is as big as my house and garden ??
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Day 9
Sunday, May 8, 2022 at 10:46 AM
🌙 24 °C
Altitude: 464 m
Morocco Medina 31.62333, -7.99531°37’24” N 7°59’42” W
Marrakech day tour
May 8, 2022 in Morocco ⋅ 🌙 24 °C
Well a trip round Marrakech souks, there's one for everything and so much choice.

Not sure if I enjoyed the haggling but you think you have a bargain when you argue down from an exorbitant price but when 60 dirham is a fiver you can sometimes get a bargain lol. Anyhow I think I paid what things were worth.

Street food looked ok in some places but goats heads were a step too far for me lol.

Anyhow back to the pool at 1600 and mohijtos for a change 😜Read more
TravelerWow great photos ! I’m no good at haggling lol 🤣
5/9/22Reply
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Morrocco bound Steve Catterall
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Day 10
Monday, May 9, 2022 at 4:13 PM
☀️ 38 °C
Altitude: 490 m
Morocco El Caïd Omar 31.59367, -7.9896631°35’37” N 7°59’23” W
Day by the pool
May 9, 2022 in Morocco ⋅ ☀️ 38 °C
Well it's 36° at the moment, spent the morning strolling around the local mall and coffee bars, now chillin by the pool with mohijtos 😜
Strange mix though instead of lime they use lemon, and when there's only mint and ice left in the glass the barman tops up the glass with more soda....and a good glug of white rum free of charge, it's like an everlasting long cool drink ha haRead more
Travelersounds like a good drink on hot day enjoy
5/10/22Reply
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Morrocco bound Steve Catterall
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Day 10
Monday, May 9, 2022 at 8:16 PM
🌙 33 °C
Altitude: 494 m
Morocco El Caïd Omar 31.59, -7.98531°35’24” N 7°59’6” W
Al fassia
May 9, 2022 in Morocco ⋅ 🌙 33 °C
Well this restaurant was on TV as one of the best Andi Oliver had been to , she took Fred Sirieix to sample the food, and my god she wasn't kidding.

The staff were really friendly, took time to explain what each item was on the menu and boy did they deliver,

I started with a mixed seafood cake for want of a description - it had vermicelli noodles mixed with squid, prawns,salmon,a white fish and some spices,it was really tasty

For main course it was lamb shoulder with vegetables and the lamb was melt in the mouth and could be taken from the bone with a spoon. The veg were saffron potatoes,carrots and courgette and they have nearly converted me to veg lol

Desert was vanilla ice cream and a Moroccan pastry, again melt in the mouth stuff, and the vanilla ice cream was heavenly.

The gardens were stunning both in daylight and when it got dark,

All in all a really memorable experienceRead more
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Day 11
Tuesday, May 10, 2022 at 6:43 AM
☀️ 18 °C
Altitude: 490 m
Morocco El Caïd Omar 31.59371, -7.9896731°35’37” N 7°59’23” W
Homeward bound
May 10, 2022 in Morocco ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
Well 8.00 start from hotel to airport then flight back to UK. Sad to be going met some nice people, seen some amazing sights and eaten some interesting foods, all in all it's been a really good trip, first time I've been 'touring'e with other people rather than my solo trips

For some reason I'm booked into a hotel in Gatwick for tonight and then my chauffeur will pick me up and take me home tomorrow 😜

I'm now looking forward to my next one which is a cruise in 41 days (and counting down) 😄Read more
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