The rest of my Moroccan stay

  Chefchaouen, Morocco
Sunday, October 2, 2005

So much has happened over the last week or so that I don't know where to start...

I guess I should start by saying that I have left my heart in Morocco and that I intend to go back to collect it again after 5 months in East Africa with Kirsty!!

Anyways, on with my story. After Todra Gorge, Hassan and I decided to hire a car. We headed towards Marrakesh to a wee wildwest type town called Ouarzazete. Ouarzazete didn't appear to have much going for it except for a being the entry into the desert and Kasbah region, and having a cheap rental car hire place! We took the car out to visit Hassan's cousin in his military barracks, where I proceeded to drive the car straight into a ditch. Luckily the military were on hand to lift it out again!


We spent the night in the town where Lawrence of Arabia was filmed (which I didn't realise until AFTER we had left. DUH!) and sped down the road to Marrakesh. We were trying to catch up with Kirsty at this stage so decided to spend only half the day in Marrakesh. We spent most of the afternoon wandering the streets, overlooking the market set-up, and then once it was dark, doing the rounds listening to the music and comedian acts on show.


Later that night we drove the 5 hours or so to the seaside port city of Essaouria where we hoped to find Kirsty. No joy there - she had already moved on to Chaouen, so we spent the day there eating seafood, hanging out with Hassan's friends (who ran a carpet shop) and walking the city.


I also finally got around to getting my hands henna-ed - in an old traditional pattern.


We again headed off in the car bound for our final Moroccan stopover - the capital of Moroccon kif, Chefchaouen. It took us 12 hours of driving through the night, but we did make it in one piece! Hours were spent the next morning going from hotel to hotel trying to find Kirsty. Eventually, joy. We found a fantastic hotel for us, as well as Kirsty!


Chaouen is an absolutely beautiful town of only 43,000 people set in the rolling hills in the north of Morocco. The streets and houses are all painted different shades and the smell of kif in the air just added to the atmosphere.


With Kirsty in tow, we took the time to do our washing Moroccan style - down at the river with the local washing women and the built in washing boards! I swear my clothes have never been so clean before.


Two days were spent in Chaouen soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying the local hospitality. Hassan knew more friends here and we spent a fair amount of time in their carpet shop talking, smoking and drinking mint tea.


Finally yesterday, Kirsty and I said very tearful goodbyes to Morocco and to Hassan. Hassan drove us up to Tangiers where we boarded the ferry back to Spain and back to reality.

Morocco has been an amazing experience for me. I fell in love with variety of the land, the culture, the people, their hospitality, and one camel nomad in particular... I will come back!