My final sunset

That’s it! I’m packed and ready for my transfer to the airport which is picking me up in just under an hour. I slept sooo well last night - over 9 hours - and can only hope that this is a pattern set to continue once I’m back in England. 

What to say about Marrakech? After our early morning arrival, we ventured out and were surprised to see how quickly the city had come to life. What greeted us was the usual assault on the senses. 

The Jardin Marjorelle which in latter years was owned and cared for by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge might have afforded some respite had it not been so busy with tourists. It seems that Marrakech is very popular with the French and Brits at this time of year! Crowds aside, it was still nice to enjoy the shade of palm trees and see the Art Deco house nestled amongst the foliage and mirrored in the garden’s many pools.

The Bahia Palace after lunch provided more of an opportunity for quiet reflection with its many beautiful rooms and peaceful courtyards. The stained glass used throughout created some beautiful effects in the bright sunshine and I spent an enjoyable hour taking it all in.

The rest of the afternoon was spent exploring the different souks in Marrakech medina. I gave the snake charmers a wide berth and made for the spice market where I was treated to a riot of colours, smells and tastes. It is so easy to lose yourself both literally and metaphorically in amongst the different stalls with their friendly traders and I was surprised to eventually wander out into a square to find the sun setting behind the mosque.

Dinner was with the rest of the group for the last time and I said my goodbyes to those whose company I had enjoyed. Mika has been the model roommate - quiet, considerate, clean and tidy - but has also become a friend over the course of the last few days. 

I will look back on my week in Morocco fondly. I’m not sorry to be going home (I think my eyes, ears and nose need a rest!) but I’ve loved being somewhere so completely different and learning more about this exotic corner of North Africa. Life will in London this January will seem particularly grey in comparison! 

Where the waves meet

I was a little sad to say goodbye to our characterful room in Chefchaouen on New Year’s Day but our next stop, Tangier, beckoned. 

We arrived just in time for lunch which we enjoyed down by the ferry port with the faint outline of Spain in the distance. 

It was good to see the sea and after some sustenance most of us hopped back on the bus with Lahcen who had promised to take us to the point where the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea meet. Tangier already looked more like the French Riviera than anywhere else we had visited and the viewpoint we drove to high above the waves certainly had the same feel.

After breathing in some salty air we moved on to Hercules’ Cave where the Greek hero was rumoured to have rested before claiming the golden apple from the Hesperides in the Atlas Mountains. 

After a couple more hours wandering the medina, seven of us met up to go to a local family for our evening meal. Our host cooked us a delicious soup followed by chicken and vegetable couscous which set us up perfectly for the overnight train journey ahead.

A fault on the train meant that our four bed couchettes were not available. Lucky for us ladies who were reallocated to single berths in First Class. Not so lucky for the chaps who had to make do with sleeping on seats instead! 

I can’t say it was the best night’s sleep I’ve ever had but at least I was up and raring to go when we rolled into Marrakech on schedule just after 7am. I’m definitely ready to make the most of my final day in this colourful country. 

Happy New Year!

I woke up with a spring in my step on New Year’s Eve. Four of us from the group had decided to hire a guide to take us up into the Rif Mountains for a half-day hike and I couldn’t wait to leave the city behind and get up into the fresh air. 

My fellow hikers and our guide Mohammed set off at what I like to call Markspeed - it’s a bit like warp speed but quite possibly a little faster - so I definitely got a physical workout as well as the headspace I so desperately needed! 

We had the trail to ourselves and Mohammed did allow us the occasional pause to take in the view, which was also useful in my case for catching my breath! As with all the guides we’ve encountered on our trip, there was nothing he didn’t seem to know and it was nice to learn about the local flora and fauna for a change and to see him interact with the odd local we encountered in the small farmsteads that lined the route. He was a gentle soul and I felt very safe in his hands.

We reached the summit of our walk at around 10am with the sun still low in the sky and mist on the horizon. I made the most of being able to see for miles around me and felt the tension in my shoulders release.

On the way back into town around lunchtime, Mohammed also treated us to a short bonus tour of the medina and I spotted a couple of places that I was to make a beeline for later in the day.

After a tea and a snack in Casa Aladin overlooking the main square, I head back to the hotel to freshen up and then steeled myself for an afternoon of shopping. I’m so bad at it though, that it mostly turned into an afternoon of photo taking and getting lost.

We met back in the hotel lobby at 6pm to celebrate one of our group’s birthdays with cake and then played some fun games until it was time to head back out for one final wander and dinner at the little taverna up the road. 

We made it back to the hotel at around 11:30pm and decamped to Larry and Yoko’s room who had invited us to see in the New Year in with them. I started 2019 in the company of two Japanese, two South Africans, an American and a Scot, toasted their health with mineral water... and was in bed by ten past midnight. All-in-all, a great day!