Hotel Dar Manara Asilah

So we basically just turned up at the ferry port and tried to find out how we get tickets. Fortunately some helpful sketchy looking Morocans tried to help us by selling us tickets. Not too sure about the situation I cycled off leaving the guys to find someone more official looking. The morrocans started shouting for me to come back only further reinforcing my doubts about their intentions. Anyway, I found out where the actual ticket office was and ...

What a great introduction to the country. Wandering down the beach, we came across two camels and local youngsters in barefoot football match. The goalkeeper rushed over ¨you want try my camel?¨. We declined, and he rushed back into goal, with the arabic equivalent of ¨fair enough, i`d rather be in goal¨....<br>

... delicious food and hookah and fresh fruit. and surprisingly beer and wine. I have QUICKLY found out that here everyone is an entrepreneur and talking about prices and bargaining is everyday life. For instance on my ride to Larache, where i am now, this old woman was almost yelling at the taxi driver to lower his price before she got in. This woman had her things with her, a big cooking plate in a sack, and was headed home for the ...

... up in a shoe store after we spotted some fantastic jester clown shoes with large curled up toes hanging from strings out the front of the store. More delights were found inside including the perfect pair of leather sandals for mum. Well made shoes in coloured leathers. Finally mum scores something. We spent nearly two hours on the store and had two guys running up and down a ladder leading to the roof in order to bring us different ...

... A tal de musica sempre parecida, algumas bem groovy durando todo o lado A ou B da tape (juro, as canções são autênticas peças de teatro, interminaveis), mas o sistema sonoro é um horror, os choffeurs marroquinos precisam de passar uns meses em estagio em Angola para aprender o que é som ara porras, ficarem a magoar assim os timpanos das pessoas com sons que arranham o espirito, não é certo.

... for your enjoyment! After leaving Claire at Jerez airport earlier this morning (please insert hugs, kisses, and some tears in the order you prefer), I made my way back to Tarifa, sorted for the nth time Monty's roofrack, had coffee and a couple of cigarettes and then patiently waited to board my ferry to Tangier. The crossing itself was very fast (only about 35 mins), so nevermind the departure was an hour late, but ...

... a trip to a carpet shop, a trip to an herb shop and then fending for our life in the market. Our first stop on the bus was a little area with camels and vendors. One of the vendors threw a Fez on Joe's head, brought over a camel and took our photo--and, then we had to pay him one euro. We didn't see that coming, but we really should have! Joe also hopped on a camel, I ate a macaroon and then we were on our way! Later ...

Leaving Sevilla, we took a ferry to Tangiers. the last time we were in Morocco, in 1998, we had forgotten our original copy of the title, but had a certified copy of it, which was good enough to get us in and out. this time however, the copy caused a lot of furrowed brows and waiting before mike was finally sent upstairs to see the Police. (all they did was type his name and passport number into their computer). While we waited we were offered ...

... going on? But the guy&#8217;s wearing a uniform and nobody&#8217;s shooing him off, so I do it, cross back 'into Morocco&#8217; and give this guy some money to go buy my ticket. He of course goes right back down to the agencies I had passed by before and finally comes back up, at which point I simply walk back through the passport control point as if I owned the place. Now I&#8217;ve seen some screwy things in the ...

... for Larache. The security guard was very attentive, helping me to fix my panniers onto my bike, without being asked. I paid him 20 Dirhams - just over a pound - and then left. When I put my bike away the night before, it was made clear to me by the guard on duty, that I would have to pay something for this service - he asked what time I would be leaving. In fact it was a different guard on duty when I left. Maybe they share the money ...