Marrakesh

Thursday Feb 15,2024

Getting good at getting up at 4am. This time not helped by the phone flattening it's battery around midnight and needing to be put on the powerbank. Thanks Teilo, no thanks to the whatsapp from the transfer company.

At least it wasn't raining and I had headphones on and could listen to sounds on the bus going into Cardiff. I even managed to use a code on the McD order machine as they weren't officially open. Flixbus was on late time and then late, we had to change busses at Newport. Must remember to get off at Gatwick North Terminal in future - taking the train between terminals will be quicker. Only about a half hour to wait and security was not a problem apart from getting rid of the water.

Marraketch Airport was busy - nowhere to park the plane, and passport control took a long time.
WhatsApped the driver but he still took about 20 mins to arrive - but I got to the hotel and checked in in time for the evening meal. 

Big problem getting the travel adaptor to work. It is jammed in position with the dustbin and I daren't touch it!

Friday Feb 16

I didn't get to breakfast until about 9am, and it was difficult to find bowls and cheese, so had things in a strange order. Pain au chocolate were not crisp. Anyway got back to room and relaxed reading papers and then got started on the bank records, but I am not sure what I am expecting to find. Intrigued at a message that the lease requires Directors to be Leaseholders. I wonder which lease, will I get a reply?

About 2pm I went out for a walk, visited the shopping Mall - checked exchange rate. Wandered generally with little idea of what I was looking at. Garden of Palm trees was nice except that mot of the signs were in French. Discovered a McD and had an ice cream, nice cone!.Cost 63p

Also discovered I am staying only a couple of hundred yards from the railway station, so a train trip is a possibility.

Early dinner and Facebook video call into Sea Cadet meeting. What a waste of time - they want to do stuff I have ben telling them about for years, and get rid of the paint in storage. Easily moved, and they can pay for getting the boats antifouled in future.

Saturday Feb 17

Into a routine of breakfast, back to room, relax for  a while reading/playing with papers. Then a period of work, translating bank statements into a spreadsheet, before going out into the midday sun.

This was an attempt to do the self guided tour, but I failed. I did get into the old town and discovered all the small stalls, shops and traffic. Lots of bikes zooming down narrow alleys. 

I did find the main square and possibly the souk alongside it. Lots of leather, should have bought a pair of leather slippers, and possibly a belt but baulked at it. Instead went to the railway station and bought tickets for a return journey to Cassablanca.

Sunday Feb 18th

I thought 9.50 was a sensible departure time, but still had to get up early in order to be ready. Noticed the sculpture garden for the first time despite having walked past it several times.

Train carriage was corridor and pretty crowded. Pretty red desert with a surprising number of villages/towns. Cassablanca has a developing tram network. Walked to the seaside mosque, beating the train to Casa Port. Interesting dating system for the notices, moorish calendar v christian. 

Hassan Mosque was impressive, but the museum was closed. Walked back to station, via Casa Port and a McD ice cream and getting blister, (only 9.4miles - need a new insole maybe). Hour to kill so Hot Choc at McD seemed in order, only you got some hot milk and chocolate powder for 15Dh - should have had the 8dh ice cream. Train crowded again on way back, listening to Cautionary Tales. Light at Marrakesh Station was amazing. 

Monday 19th Feb

Last full day. Didn't want to get up, but did. Morning doing the usual computer stuff, it should pay for the holiday, as I appear to be owed some £800 by Beaconsfield. 

Got out about midday and made my way to the square. Thought I had an idea of the mosque mentioned in the tour but quickly got lost. Plenty of traffic. I did eventually, get back to the square and managed to find the stall that had offered some leather slippers for 300Dn, only now they were 500dm. Eventually he took 25 Euro, all I had. Back via McD and a melting ice cream.  7 miles walked.

Quick panic as the plug was not charging but the dustbin is doing a sterling job.

Tuesday 20th Feb

Time to fly home. The breakfast was not open as advertised but I snuck in about 6.45. Forgot the bit of whipping twine on the coat hanger. The lift was late but same as before and airport was a series of queues. Time to kill once inside. 

Flight was really good, clear visibility all the way up through Spain. Got in on time and 3hrs to kill before the bus to Cardiff. McD was a nice walk outside but app being a pain - again! Got into Cardiff only 10mins late, my trusty water container escaped and is still on the bus (only a 1litre plastic bottle but a bit thicker plastic than most - have to buy some orange juice. Rushed to bus stop in Cardiff and came across the conflict between what the stand said would be the next bus and what the app said. The app was correct and it was only a 10min wait for the bus so was back in flat by 23.30. Weather was miserable!

Woke up the next morning to find the roof was leaking, a large puddle on the kitchen floor

See all the photos at https://photos.app.goo.gl/HopfEbLgGPRst3jD9