...the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

We arrived in Morroco with some trepidation. We weren't really sure what to expect, since the only information that I had about Morocco came from the movie Casablanca. We were pleasantly surprised by our first hotel; and had the good fortune to meet another American couple. They had made arrangements to rent a car, and they kindly invited us to join them on a trip down the coast. Not looking forward to the 11 hour bus ride that were had planned, we scrapped our plans and decided to hit the road with Ken and May Beth. The scenic journey down the coast was more than we hoped for. I had no idea that Morocco had such q dramatic coastline. Wide sandy beaches gave way to sharp cliffs pummled with gigantic waves. The small towns that we stopped in along the way were so quaint. The people were friendly and welcoming, the local food was cheap and delicious. Ken and May Beth travelled the area 30 years ago, and offered great information about the local history and culture, and a perspective for how things have changed. We travelled with them for three days ending at the beach resort of Agadir. There we split ways, as Ken and May Beth headed south and we headed into the desert of Marrakesh.
Marrakesh is a unique experience and probably is the closest thing to the steroetypical Moroccan image. Our hotel was located in the Ancient Medina that is the heart of the old city. Narrow winding alleys zig zag within the medina walls creating a huge maze that you can wander through for hours. Shops selling everything from traditional Moroccan clothing to luggage and spices line the way, and vondors call out to you in French as you walk past trying to lure you into their store. The goods are cheap and many are made from hand. It is a shoppers paradise, and if I had more money and luggage space I could have purchased a new wardrobe. When you reach the main square of the medina the action really starts. Vendors selling fresh sqeezed orange juice fight for space with snake charmers, henna artists, and monkeys. The only thing to do is find q cafe with a rooftop patio and take it all in from a comfortable distance.
Now we are back to the relative calm of Casablanca, a bustling city in it's own right, but an industrial center rather than a tourist hub. We will take a day to relax and try to ship some of our purchases home (we have tried repeatedly but the poste office never seems to be open) before heading off to the warm shores of Cape Town.

Morocco