Saturday, February 25, 2006
Marrakech - Midnight
Today is hump day! Having lost our opportunity to ride camels in the Sahara due to inclement weather, we enjoy an hour camel ride in the palmary of Marrakech (a huge grove of palm trees). It isn't quite the same as a ride in the desert, but we have a blast anyway.
Several opt out of the ride, and one changes his mind just as the ride is starting. He walks along behind the camels for a few minutes, and then stops to talk with some children. He thinks the bus is waiting, and that the camel riders will return to the same spot. Neither is true. The guide believes he has decided to walk the entire way with the camels, so he and the driver take move the bus to the café where the ride will end. My client sees the bus drive away and realizes that he has made a wrong assumption, but it is too late. He is left on his own-a recurring theme of this tour it seems.
At least this client was paying attention when the guide instructed everyone after the last disappearance to stay in the place where you are, and that we will come back for you. More than one hour later, after we are finished with our ride and taken a restroom break and admired the 10-day old camel baby, we realize that this man is not with the driver on the bus, and is nowhere to be seen. We drive the bus back to where we mounted the camels, and sure enough the client is there just walking along the roadside. Whew!!!
The ride got off to a bumpy start in other ways too. One of the saddles isn't tight enough, and it slides around upside down and unceremoniously dumps a client underneath a very perturbed camel, who proceeds to buck and snort like a horse. Fortunately, my client wasn't at all injured, but he held on so tightly to the next camel he mounted that he ended up with blisters on his hands!
Soon into the ride I realize that I will never survive if I have to keep straddling the rather wide saddle on top of the hump for an entire hour, and I spread the word that it is much more comfortable to sit side-saddle-like a proper lady. Soon the guys are loosening up and trying different positions, including lotus and riding backwards or flat on their backs.
General hysteria reigns throughout the ride, especially when one male camel that seems to have the hots for some of the females commences blowing and snorting and foaming at the mouth. The Berber guides walk underneath him seemingly unconcerned that the gobs of saliva will fall on them. Meanwhile, we are terrified that he will come close and wipe his nose on any of us.
After collecting our dignity and our missing tour member, we proceed to a gorgeous Riad (old palace hotel) for some tea and cookies. The owner is gracious and hospitable, and we sit on the rooftop enjoying views over old Marrakech. Everyone but me wants to go shopping with the guide, so I hop off the bus near the hotel and take a taxi back for a short nap before I meet with a client to work on the awards for our Farewell Dinner.
This evening we hold a reception at Dar Donab, another absolutely fantastic Riad owned by a wealthy American. It is the ultimate in luxury and elegance, and we use the visit as an occasion to wish one of the tour members a happy birthday with a cake and a song and toasts.
Dinner is not included this evening, and lots of small groups have formed to go to the nicest restaurants in the country. Several of us take the birthday boy to a local restaurant that is modest, but extremely popular with the locals and with great food and service for an amazingly low price. I have fish prepared in foil wrap that was awesome for about $9.00 plus a salad for about $5.00 that is big enough to share with a client.
After coffee and a taxi ride to the hotel, it is lights out and ready for an early start tomorrow.
Very full and satisfied, and sleepy hugs to all,
Dan
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