Tichka Salam Ouarzazate

Sorry not to have updated the blog for a little while(really bad wifi !!!), We thought that we should go for a little trip inland as the boat is safe in Bouregreg marina, and of course it's very cheap. <br><br>So with our Swiss friends we took the train to Marakesh.The train takes about 4 hrs and was pretty comfortable as we went first class, which is fairly advisable if you would like to sit next to your ...

Just quick entry to set the map pin. Suffice I lucked out and nabbed a guide in Merzouga who just happened to be headed to Marrakech to pick up 3 Spanish clients to guide them on a 10 day tour of Morocco.<br><br> Thus, instead of struggling w/ mind-boggling taxi negotiations to navigate to Quarzazate (about 8 hrs. from Merzouga), I ...

... the family and get the tents up whilst Ahmed produces that Lamb Casserole with soup.<br>The goats live pretty much by daylight so it's an early night before the 5.30 dawn chorus.<br>The next 6 days then follow the pattern of early starts and trekking up to 6 hours and a lazy afternoon waiting for the goats to catch up. We climb to 3200 metres &amp; experience the temperature swings at that height as well as some residual winter snow.<br>Overnight ...

Ait Ben Haddou is one of the oldest Kasbahs in Morocco. Onthe way to the hotel we saw goats on the side of a maountain. And from the roof of the hotel I took pictures of the kasbah and the neighbors garden. We met 2 German girls the next morning and gave them a ride to Casablanca. They were lots of fun.

... rental agency, we met a woman whose husband ran an agency in the desert where we were heading and we spoke to him on her cell phone. Although the rain had stopped, we drove though a lot of big puddles and mini lakes on our way. We had heard that there were some blocked roads but didn't think they'd be big obstacles until we saw what everyone was talking about. About 3 hours into the trip, we came to a huge river of ...

... Tallulah named one of the camels we rode in the desert James Carlock, her boyfriend! Here are some Cool Camel Facts that I learned: COOL CAMEL FACTS 1. In Morocco, camels have one hump and are actually called dromedaries (but they still call them camels). 2. Camels have four stomachs where they store food to chew later. 3. Camels can survive 10 days without water and 40 days without food. 4. A camel's hump contains fat and water and other ...

Well I slept ok thanks to the best travelers tool on the market - most of the others who didn't have earplugs were kept awake by some really loud snoring - I woke up only once and it felt like the floor was vibrating! We were up around 7am and packed up the room then went outside had had some bread and jam. Just after 8 we put on our backpacks and set off down the dry river bed and walked for bloody ages. It was ...

... I should pay for not stopping at some place and rather stopping in front of them. Hmm. After telling them my nationality, they set the fine to 100dh. I use all my French and after saying something like "It's my first roadblock, pleeease" they finally let us go for free. About one hour of driving later, there comes another one. This time they have a radar (or a imitation of one;)) and say I went 80kmh and that's only for 400dh, since I'm from the poor eastern Europe ...

... 6:30pm, so I found a room at a simple and a bit shabby hotel there and decided I'd go and see the old citadel the next day. Just took it easy and had a traditional Moroccan dinner at the hotel's restaurant - some sort of yellow curry couscous with chicken and vegetables - and what a STACK of food! And was in deed yummie!! I had officially become a fan of Moroccan cuisine. The room with hot water shower, dinner and breakfast the morning after cost me 150 dirhams ($19 USD).<br>

Another long day of driving but the scenery was mind-blowing as the road wound through the Anti-Atlas mountains. Around 10:35 we drove over the highest pass in Morocco - named Tizi-n-Tichka - at 2260m above sea level. The drive came to an end in the village of Imlil (because we ran out of road - smiles) and most of us rode donkeys up the steep, gravelled path to our homestay. My music player ...