Azur Casablanca

... pharmacy," where they showed us a lot of natural oils, herbs, lotions, etc. and told us what they believed they helped with. That was cool. Then we had about an hour of free time to roam around these shops and barter and buy things. That was fun but very overwhelming, everyone there is so aggressive and in your face and it’s much different than shopping in America. Most of it is junk anyways, and Tommy and I got some ridiculous fake watches ...

I arrived in Morroco not really knowing the first thing about the country. What I did know, had a bit of Sahara in it and was mostly arabic led me to believe it would be a lot like Egypt. I was right in lots of ways ut also really wrong. But we shall ...

Alarm went off at 4am and we got up, showered, dressed, packed and were picked up in the bus and dropped at the airport. We had to show our passports and tickets so many times it was crazy! Finally checked in and headed upstairs to the food court for a cappuccino at Starbucks for me. Another bus to get out to the plane on the tarmac, then we had to wait in the bus about 15 mins as they were still cleaning the plane. We were about 30 mins late taking off. As ...

... describe my experience, but I cannot. I have some pretty amazing photos though. After that, we headed to Rick's Café for lunch... you know, the one based off of the movie, "Casablanca". I love, love, love that movie so I was stoked to go there. After lunch, we spent the remainder of our time in the market in Casablanca. The line to get back on the ship was so long because they were hand searching everyone for all of the alcohol people were attempting to bring back on the ...

... to finish the report that was due. Due to the elections the city started to get a bit tense, as for many there is not much to get excited about in a normal year - which gave the 15-30 year-olds a chance to get rowdy. That said, I was looking forward at that point to seeing my dad and heading to Morocco, and simply getting out of the country. The last round of votes happened the day before I got back from Christmas holidays, and the opposition was declared the winner ...

... shock when we arrived in Marrakesh, having wrangled my way through the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, but it probably wasn't as bad as it could have been. Though this is their peak travel season, the square where the street performers are wasn't as crowded as it normally is. It would fill up in the evening. There are fortune tellers, women who will do henna tattoos on your hands, and of course the snake charmers. Jane and Helen stopped to pose with the snakes, and ...

... Morocco that non-muslims can enter.  We made it in time for the last tour of the day and were astounded, not only at the sheer scale of everything, but at the ornate detail with which everything was constructed.  From the inlaid marble floors to the intricate wooden screens, and elaborately carved and painted ceilings, no detail was overlooked, and obviously no expense spared. After the mosque we wandered back through the streets, past the slums and ...

... ever. We are heading into north winds and swell again and it's a day of having to hold on. The weather is overcast so inside is the place to be. I think because we are at the end of what has been a tedious journey we are all just a little anxious to be there. There are only so many movies you can watch in one day..... Day 4 After an all night stint by Pete at the helm dodging ships, fishing boats and hundreds of the flaming fishing nest littered along the coast we ...

... country open to non-muslims, was on our second day schedule in Casa. The third largest mosque in the world -- in line behind Mecca and Medina ...

... an engaging discussion with Mohammed, a local from Casa working as an insurance broker which has led him to travel much of the world through his work (of which we received another invitation for any of our friends and family welcome to call him and stay with him and his family!) over a coffee or three, we said goodbye to Casablanca with a nice glass of... Panache...doh! Oh well, not complaining - Meknes still holds the trophy!