Moroccan Mountains

Mark and Mel... A quick jaunt to Morocco was just what we needed to get over our disappointment of not seeing out motorcycles. That, and rain and snow in Switzerland made it a pretty easy decision to fly to Marrakech.

01 Marrakech - Food Stall

Marrakech has a huge square called Jemma El Fna which was the focus of all activity day or night. Not your everyday buskers back home with the likes of Snake Charmers, Story Tellers (in Arabic), Water Carriers, Acrobats, and even a game of fishing for Coca Cola (I won't explain). All wanting a few Dirham from all the tourists (little France might be a better name for Morocco); especially if you looked in their direction for too long. As the night fell the food stall holders would start cooking Calamari, Kefta, Goat Heads, Soup and Figs, Fish,Tajine (Baked vegetables with Beef or Chicken), and of course Cous-cous dishes. It was all very tasty and not too expensive (20AUD would feed us both). And if you could ignore the half eaten dishes added back to the large bowls on display... it stayed down pretty well. Behind the square were the Souqs. Literally hundreds and hundreds of fantastic craft shops selling shoes, jewelry, pottery, rugs, silverware, ... you name it, they had it. Definitely Mele's favourite place!

02 Marrakech - Nesting Stork

Spent five days hiking the Toubkal Circuit. Fantastic scenery and rustic villages that haven't changed for a long, long time. Got to the top of Jezbel Toubkal 4167m. Morocco's highest mountain. Tough climb up steep snow covered slopes. We seemed to be the only ones with no crampons or ice axes but it wasn't too scary if you didn't look down that steep snow covered slope for too long. Our last day of walking we had to cross two passes. Looking on the trusty map, once you got to the top of the first pass Tizi n'Terhaline (3427m), you turned left and walked to the second pass Tizi n'Tagharat (3456m). When we did get to the top of the first pass, turning left meant another 400m climb over the ridge separating the two passes! That didn't make it the easiest of days and then cloud soon prevented us descending (couldn't see the path anymore!) all the way down from the second pass. We love our tent, sleeping bags, and even those 10 minute pasta meals!

03 Marrakech - Mark

Eassaouira on the Atlantic Ocean allowed us to relax a little easier by the Atlantic Ocean. And we did. The sun shined all day and the food was as good as Marrakech if not better. Took a bit of getting to and from as the buses were some of the slowest we've ever been on... that and the big all out brawl when we caught up to the bus that had "pissed off" our driver meant a 160km trip took 4 hours. Still, the people were incredibly nice and it was a great place to spend two weeks in sunshine!

04 Marrakech - Mosaics

05 Marrakech - Deep in the Souqs

06 Marrakech - Carpets for sale

07 Marrakech - Local

08 Toubkal Circuit - Getting over those 3 passes

09 Toubkal Circuit - Lunchtime

10 Essaouira - Local Woman

11 Essaouira - Fishing Catch and Seagulls

12 Essaouira - Local Man

Essaouira - Playing Scrabble