Morocco Bound

A country of northwest Africa on the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Inhabited from ancient times by Berbers, the region became a Roman province in the 1st century A.D. and was conquered by Arabs in the 7th century. The country was later united (11th-13th century) under Berber-Muslim dynasties. The French established a protectorate over most of the region in 1912, and in 1956 Morocco achieved independence as a kingdom. Rabat is the capital and Casablanca the largest city. Population: 26,590,000

A mystical journey into Morocco via Spain by boat cruising past the Rock of Gibralter on a beautiful September day. The sea was smooth and the day sunny, what could be a better start to our trip. On arriving we travelled through mountain terrain as it was getting dark. We had a pit stop and arrived just as the electricity went out, so the place was lit by flickering candlelight casting soft shadows so even the loo looked pretty!!

Fes We arrived in Fes and booked into our hotel. I think Fes is the real Morocco, a most intriguing city, with it's old city market. You need a guide because it is huge and full of little alleys to get lost in. A young boy took charge of us, and "mind your step"," mind your head" and "watch out for the donkey" were the catch phrases of the day. That night we went out for a Moroccan feast including the inevitable mint tea, the meal included beef and cous cous and delicious pastries. The show included a couple of belly dancers and traditional band and who would show up again to remind us to watch our step, in fact he was never far from our side!

The architecture and mosaic tiles are something to behold. All in all we visited Casablanca, a very western city, so a little disapointing in that regard, Meknes, Rabat, Tangier and of course Fez.

I fell in love with Morocco and would have like to have spent so much more time there but as usual time is limited and I am happy to at least have a taste of this incredible journey of spicy aromas, wonderful atmosphere and unforgetable hospitality. We were wished "'Appy Travelin'" everywhere we went, a sentiment I would like to pass on!

.Send this Karaouyine Mosque photo as a postcard