SIDE TRIP TO MOROCCO Part 1 - TANGIER - MARRAKECH - OUARZAZATE

We left Harry in Tarifa while we took an organised trip to Morocco. He was a bit sulky but a holiday by the Atlantic should buck him up instead of climbing all those hills. Tarifa is famous for kite and wind surfing and people here are from all over Europe.

Morocco

A land of different cultures modern and old and ancient.  A fantastic variation of scenery from the northern green belts through the central rocky Atlas Mountains to the southern sandy deserts. Every  kilometre and every town we pass through add another memory and experience.

  

 

We boarded the high speed ferry in Tarifa to Tangier a journey of 30 minutes.

It was quite exciting leaving the southern point of Europe and heading for Africa which we could see across the Straits.

Tangier was much bigger than I expected and more modern.

    

There were nine including us and our Morrocan guide and driver met us at the port. We toured in a 14 seat bus through Casablanca to Rabat the capital city of Morocco.

The countryside is very different to how we thought it would look as we passed through large cork tree plantations.

 A lot of cultivation under plastic.

At times we could have been in Australia as we drove through eucalypt trees.

Irrigated fields.

Hay baling the old and modern way.

A little oasis in the red dirt.

On the way we pass a great variety of dwellings,

the satellite dishes really stood out here. 

There were storks sitting on nests.

  

The ubiquitous plastic bags around this one.

A stark white Mosque.

A large town in the distance.

A town in the making

Rabat  the political capital of Morocco is situated on the Atlantic Ocean.

Driving through Rabat we were surprised to see a protest group.

We visited the Kings Palace

and the Mausoleum of Mohamed V on the rise above Rabat.

A magnificent white building with a green tile roof.

My fascination with doors  adds many to my collection.

Next stop Marrakech.   On the way there is always something interesting to see.

Lots of people looking after animals.

Marrakech

Marrakech comprises the famous Medina area and modern neighborhoods you can see them from a hop on-off bus.

The Jemaa el Fna Square is located at the entrance of the Medina and is surrounded by restaurants and is a meeting point for both the local population and tourists. Through the day everything from traditional medicine, fortune-telling, henna tattooing and traditional food can be found in the square. You can enjoy performances by storytellers, poets, snake-charmers, water carriers and musicians all at a ‘good price’

In the evening it is a meeting and eating place.

We spent many hours wandering through the Famous Medina with a guide and later in our free time. The streets are narrow and although free from cars, motorcycles race through and donkeys are used as delivery vans.

STROLLING ALONG

FANCY A PAIR OF SHOES

THE TAGINE FAST FOOD SHOP

TIME FOR A REST

MOVING ALONG DODGING THE MOTORBIKES

CHOOSING A STOLE

THE APOTHECARY. SAMPLING THE BACK RUB

BUYING A TEAPOT

While in Marrakech we went out for a concert and dinner and had great fun. The food is great. We really like the Tagine style of food.

I am not sure if we should have read anything in their expression !! But we didn't end up wearing the fruit.

We leave for Ouarzazate crossing the Atlas Mountains.

  As we drive through Atlas Mountains there are a lot of stalls and shops selling  fossils and time to check out the ones in the ground. The fossils found here are around 400 million years old.

Over the Atlas Mountains. The road is a heart stopping switchback.

We drive through fertile valleys and villages perched on rocky mountains.

It is a land of donkeys and hard working women and guys drinking coffee.

Wherever we drive we pass enterprising businesses, home industries, co operatives , fast food deliveries and sellers of a huge array of produce, a couple of bottles of olive oil or packets of dates

We visit the fortress Kasbah where the Gladiator and  Lawrence of Arabia were filmed.

We climbed from the river bed winding our way right through the village to the top.

On the way down we visited one of the houses still lived in with this wonderful carved tree of life on the door.

What would they do without donkeys.

Onto Ouarzazate a former garrison of French troops in the south of the country.

 Our hotel is very Moroccan with a welcome swimming pool.