For those of you just picking up now, back in December/January I took a lovely trip with Intrepid Travel called Morocco Uncovered. I have almost finished writing about it here, and today I will do the next to last day!
- Day 1: Travel and Casablanca
- Day 2: Casablanca and Rabat
- Day 3: Meknes and Volubilus
- Day 4: Chefchaouen
- Day 5: Fes
- Day 6: Midelt
- Day 7: To the Desert
- Day 8: I get to ride a camel!
- Day 9: Hiking and more oranges
- Day 10: Watch your step!
Day 11: I woke up and had breakfast at the hotel. It was less cold than the night before, haha! There was a nice cold buffet, and some sludgy coffee.
I took some pictures around the hotel.
We would usually be asked to leave our bags in the front of the hotel so that the driver could load them into the back of the bus. You can see my purple bag with backpack on top: I had my purse and a small tote bag with me in the bus on a daily basis.
We packed up and headed out to Marrakesh. Aman had warned us that a road we needed to take through the mountains had been closed the day before (due to weather I believe) but that it should be open again.
But, after about an hour we came to a stop in traffic, a big stop, and the driver turned us around and we headed back to a cafe we had recently passed to wait. It turns out that the road was closed at this point due to a big accident, so better to wait at a cafe than in the traffic.
The cafe had a large amount of seating, but lots of people were waiting, so we went into the back area which was a restaurant, but not open. I got a coffee and a few snacks (we would often get snacks but share amongst people as well as eating them ourselves) and we all settled in to wait. There was wi-fi in the place, and bathrooms, though they were a little questionable, not bad.
Anyway, after an hour and half or so, we were told the road was open again, so back on the bus we went!
The next part of the drive was simply gorgeous. I couldn’t resist taking pictures from the bus even though bus pictures aren’t the best. These were the highest mountains we saw during the trip.
Once we got down from the mountains, Aman (the guide) decided we should stop for lunch rather than wait to eat in Marrakesh. We stopped at a roadside cafe with the worst bathrooms we had seen during the trip. I had a minced meat panini that was okay–the way the lunches often worked while we were on the road was that Aman would choose a place, we visitors would all sit together and order whatever we wanted from the place and pay separately. We rarely got to choose the place as there were only so many places to go! This was probably the worst stop, and that was mostly because it was spur of the moment because of the accident. But we got to eat, we got to use the bathroom, and then back on the bus.
This picture looks like we were crossing a busy road of rock where the speed limit was 60. I’m not actually sure what the deal with that sign is.
By this point, we were all itching to get to Marrakesh, our last stop of the trip. We were tired of traveling and wanted to GET there and walk around and see all the craziness for ourselves!
And we finally did! We got dropped off a short walk from the Riad, since a minibus couldn’t fit to drive there. We all said a heartfelt goodbye and thanks to our driver Ibrahim (and tipped him, I did 300 mad) Somebody took many of our suitcases into a pull cart and we walked along with them to the Riad Luzia, about a five minute walk.
Notice I am still wearing a coat. January in Morocco is not hot.
I loved the Riad, it was everything I wanted–I booked the comfort level tour with Intrepid specifically because I wanted to stay at a Riad, and this one was so great. We did stay at a Riad in Chefchaouen, but we were only there one night, and it was bigger and somehow less Moroccan feeling.
The room small but mine was decorated in purple (with purple tile in the bathroom!) and since I had my own room I didn’t care about the size: it was big enough for me. I used one bed (single beds) to sleep in and one for my things. I was on what they call the first floor, but as an American I would call it the second floor.
After a little time to unpack and freshen up, we all met for an “orientation walk” which was Aman showing us the way to the main square and pointing out stuff and giving advice. And then we were free! We were on our own the rest of the day. Since it was later in the afternoon and going towards evening, Alicia, Steph, Sabine and I stuck together and walked through the souks (stores). So much for sale, so much you could buy!
It was amazing! A bit overwhelming, with people calling out to you all the time trying to get you to stop and buy stuff, but really amazing. After walking a bit, we stopped to get cash out of a yellow atm which has lower fees. We waited awhile for this–I guess everybody wanted lower fees. Depending on your budget it might not really be worth the wait…time in line/higher fee. But it was still fun to be there on the square, and we got to listen to a small child blow a vuvuzela for 10-15 minutes.
After getting more money we decided to get dinner overlooking the square (called Jemaa el-Fnaa) and went to a place called Zeitoun Cafe, which was highly recommended. We got a table on the third floor (they would call it the second) and enjoyed a nice meal. I had chicken tagine with olives and lemons: though I had been tired of chicken tagine I had also wanted to try it this way, so I was glad to do so!
The view from the restaurant was gorgeous.
After dinner we were exhausted and meandered back to the riad, stopping to look in various shops along the way.
Once I was back at my room, the electricity went out, but then back on. After the first time it happened, it happened again, over and over. Always back on again quickly, but very strange. Maybe something was making a breaker flip and then they would fix it? At one point I decided it was probably worth just going to sleep when the power didn’t matter anymore, haha!
