Tanger to Marrakech 8th - 10th October

How sad I was to leave Chefchaouen.  It really was a beautiful town.  To be honest, I was ready to wrap up my tour by this stage.  I had seen the three places that were on my bucket list: Volubilis, Fès and Chefchaouen.  I think once you've seen one souk, you've pretty much seen them all.

We hopped on a local bus and headed for the coastal city of Tanger.  From this city you can see Spain and the Spanish influence is visible in the buildings.  We wandered around for a couple of hours (more souks), went to a little museum and then headed back to our meeting point where our lovely guide, Saïd had bought us some delicious Moroccan pastries to share.

From Tanger, we took the overnight train to Marrakech.  It was actually quite comfortable - two bunk beds in each couchette which we shared with other members of our group.  And to my surprise, the toilet situation was quite satisfactory.  However, I ask myself why, when I normally only get up to go to the toilet once during the night, I had to get up four times on the train.  And while the toilet situation started off satisfactorily, it didn't end so.  On my fourth visit, I asked myself if I really wanted to go.  Anyway, it was quite pleasant sleeping with the clunkity clunk of the train on the tracks.

We arrived at our hotel in Marrakech quite early and stored our luggage.  Ilona and I got a taxi and our first stop was the palace of Hassan I.  It was quite beautiful.  When we left, we headed into the Jewish quarter (Ilona being Jewish, she was interested in this aspect).  We were shown the way by a young man to the synagogue.  Ilona was shocked when they showed us the Torah behind the alter.  Apparently this is quite a privelige.

After leaving, we headed for the main square.  Well, what a cacophany of noise.  I can't say I really enjoyed it.  There were people in your face the whole time trying to sell you stuff, put snakes around your neck (which I did and they then demanded 300 dirhams, I gave them 20 (about $2.50).  This is one place I felt out of my comfort zone.  We stopped for a break at a little restaurant and had a lovely green tea served in the traditional way by a waiter wearing a fez.

I decided to head back to the hotel and have a nap before going out for our farewell dinner.  With our trusty guide, Saïd, we headed back to the main square where all the food stalls were set up.  We enjoyed a lovely meal of different barbecued kebabs and sausages.  It really was delicious.

Yesterday I rose early and boarded my plane bound for Lyon.  After the steaming heat in Morocco, it was quite a shock to get out of the plane in France.  I think it's time to put away the summer clothes and get out the winter woolies!