Thursday, 26 July 2012
Fez and Chefchaouen
The next day in fez we had a tour around, which took us to one of the tannerys (where they produce lots of leather products) and a 'pharmacy' where there was lots of spices and herbal remedys. Then off we went to chefchaouen, a lovely blue and white town which is definitely one of my favourite places we've been. Yesterday we went shopping and I bought a few bits and pieces. Then today we went to 'paradise' where we had to scramble over lots of rocks leading us to clear water pools. Was pretty hard trekking over the rocks in the heat but it was worth it when we reached the pools. Tomorrow we head to a beach town for 2 nights. Not long left of the trip now!
Monday, 23 July 2012
More of Morocco
After a nice relaxing day by the pool we cooked dinner.. more cous cous and vegetable stew, which we're all pretty bored of by now! Its fun cooking together though and is saving us money. The next day we got back on the bus and headed to the sahara desert! Stopping off for a pizza on the way which we all enjoyed. We got to ride on the top of the bus while riding through the sahara. We chilled at a hotel and cooked for a while and then waited for the camels... At about 11.30pm the camels arrived to take us right in to the heart of the desert. I lost my flip flops along the way.. Although it was definitely an experience I'm not sure I'll be getting on a camel again any time soon, was pretty terrified I was going to get thrown off the whole time! After about half an hour on the camels we got off and settled down for a night of sleeping in the sand dunes, complete with rain and wind which we didn't quite expect in the desert. The next morning we went on to the 'jurassic hotel' a hotel with a pool and a dinosaur out the front. We cooked vegetable stew again. Then last night we camped in monkey forest. Watching a monkey drink orange juice in the morning was a highlight. We were all pretty pleased it was our 6th and last night of cooking vegetable stew. Today we drove to fez where we had a slightly uncultural visit to macdonalds! We're off out now to walk around the medina! :)
Wednesday, 18 July 2012
Morocco so far...
Sorry haven't had much internet so haven't been blogging like I did in Asia. I'll do a quick summary of my trip so far, but just on wifi on my phone so won't be too long! We started off the trip with one night in marrakech, where we slept on thin matresses on a roof top! My group seemed nice but at that point I was struggling with the heat and hayfever, so wasn't having too much fun! Then we went on to a beach town called essoueuria (excuse me if the spelling is incorrect) for two nights. Here I started to get to know people a lot more and started having more fun. We stayed in a big apartment. It was very windy here! I liked the town though, it seemed very chilled. We attempted kayaking the morning before we left, but it was a bit too windy! Then we went back to marrakech for one night, this time it wasn't quite as hot so I enjoyed it more. I met up with my housemate jess who is volunteering there, was very nice to see a familiar face. Next we went to the cascades - waterfalls! We camped here but at this point I think I was starting to get a bit more used to 'roughing it' so I didn't mind and slept quite well. The waterfalls were beautiful, some people jumped off them but I was a bit of a chicken! Last night we wild camped, as in no tent just us and our sleeping bags! This was in the mountains and we cooked dinner on stoves and then sat around the campfire. We got woken up by a rather loud heard of goats.... Today we drove to a hotel with a swimming pool and I've managed to get a rather comfy looking mattress, not quite a proper bed but its an improvement on sleeping in the wild. Although I didn't actually sleep too badly last night! Looking forward to spending the day by the pool tomorrow. Feeling much happier now I've got to know my group!
Tuesday, 10 July 2012
Morocco tomorrow!!
Rosie is no longer able to come to Morocco ....... so I'm off by myself! Although it is a group trip so won't be completely by myself. Wish me luck! Should be interesting to say the least. Not sure how much I will be able to blog while away but I will try my best to seek out some internet and write a couple of blog entries at least.
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Thursday, 29 December 2011
I WANT TO GO TRAVELLING
Doing University work and all I want to do is fly away somewhere...................
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
Copy of Morocco Trip Itinerary
This summer I am going on a 3 week trip, called ' Moroc N Roll' with my friend Rosie, here is the ininerary:
Trip 2 - July 10th - 30th
Chefchaouen – Driving up into the Rif Mountains we hit Chefchaouen – an amazing little town that doesn’t really become visible until you are upon it, hidden in the mountains, westerners only first visited this place as recently as 1920 or so. An incredibly chilled out village with great views – a perfect way to unwind at the end of the trip or a great introduction if you’re doing the trip the other way round.
There is also a magical day trip to ‘Paradise’ – a series of waterfalls and plunge pools up in the mountains where we clamber over the rocks and through the water to find the natural Arch in the gorge at the top – ‘God’s Bridge’. Staying at the Hotel Ibn Batouta in the centre of the old town’s cobbled streets for 3 nights.
Here also lives the legend of ‘Ozman’……….
The ‘MONKEY FOREST’ – Heading down through the Rif Mountains ,and over the first of the Atlas range of mountains that divide Morocco we spend a niht camping with the wonderfully hospitable Nomads on the banks of a lake or the option of staying in the Forest with a campfire high up in the middle Atlas is also there – where Monkeys live and - if you’re lucky - will take food from your hands – and your hand itself if you’re very unlucky………..but that hasn’t happened yet !!!!
Erfoud and the Sahara. – A breathtaking drive through palm green Oasis valleys and desert landscapes sees us arriving at the desert kingdom of Erfoud on the other side of the mighty Atlas mountains in the afternoon. Here we stay at a small hotel in the centre of town.
After a relaxing night, the next morning and afternoon are spent either exploring the interesting market town of Erfoud, or, more likely, lounging by the swimming pool - as the weather may be a bit hot by now! We set off, with the bus going off-road, for the Sahara at around 4pm to spend an unforgettable night out on the sand dunes. A hotel is built right out on the edge of the dunes where we can cook and get refreshments (and sleep if you prefer it to the dunes!) before the caravan of camels appear late in the evening to take you on the final part of the journey into the desert itself!
Todra Gorge – a couple of hours further on is the magnificent Todra Gorge, with its ‘lost cities’ and huge palmeries this is a very different but nevertheless as beautiful an area as any seen so far. Staying at a beautiful hotel complex in the Gorge itself complete with swimming pool! Rock climbing is an option here with professional guides and all equipment and ropes supplied. 2 hours - £15.
Or there is also a stunning walk through the palmeries for free for those not wishing to scale the cliff faces!
Ait Benhaddou – ‘Gladiator’ Film Set. – Next stop is Ait Benhaddou – home of the oldest and most famous Kasbah in Morocco. The setting of numerous Hollywood films including: ‘Gladiator’, ‘The Mummy’, ‘Sahara’, ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ and many more. Staying at a hotel near the Kasbah itself – look out for the huge film studios and the ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ set still standing out in the desert on the way into Ourzazate the next day.
Marrakech and Toubkal. - This is Marrakech.....One of the most vibrant and exciting cities in the world. We stay at Hotel Ali with an amazing view from the roof top, where you’ll sleep, right over one of the most famous squares in the world The ‘Jemma el Fna’ full of snake charmers, acrobats, musicians, story tellers as well as a huge open air restaurant at night where you can sample as mush as you please of Morocco’s cuisine.
Get lost in the maze of markets shopping (or Haggling!!) for carpets, bags and jewellery or even the odd chameleon. Take a horse and carriage ride around the old city. Or take a trip to the new town full of bars, clubs and all the trappings of the west. After a night here the Mountaineers among us will head out of the mayhem to the serenity of the High Atlas Mountains to climb Toubkal (at 14,000 ft the highest mountain in the whole of North Africa) – Be warned - this is no picnic!!! It takes 2 days and a night to get to the top – the night spent at base camp will be bitterly cold, rising at 6am to summit and get back to Marrakech all in the same day!!! Worth it though. The views are awesome!!!!! (Toubkal Trek – £35 includes all food and mountain guides for 2 days as well as mules to carry your luggage)
Those of you not up for Toubkal can spend your time at Marrakech’s only Aqua park waiting lazily for us to return.
Cascades D’Ouzoud - 150 km North-East of Marrakech lie the majestic and stunningly beautiful 150ft waterfalls that are the Cascades d’Ouzoud. The highest and certainly most spectacular falls in the country they are well off the beaten track and far from any real ‘civilisation’. We’ll be staying in a campsite overlooking the falls but over 600 steps down from the top where the bus will be parked – so don’t forget anything….it’s a long walk up in the dark!
Essouaria –. a beautifully chilled surfing town on the beach known as ‘Windy city’. It’s big on Surfing and more particularly - ‘Wind-surfing’ and ‘Kite-Surfing’. Prices are a lot cheaper than in Europe if you want to try your luck at either of these or simply hire some gear and improve your already honed skills. Quad-biking or horse-riding on the beach are also both popular extra-curricular activities here.
Jimi Hendrix wrote ‘Castles in the sand’ whilst living here and you can see the ruin on the beach and go round to his old house if you’re that way inclined.
Staying in one huge apartment together in town.
Trip 2 - July 10th - 30th
Chefchaouen – Driving up into the Rif Mountains we hit Chefchaouen – an amazing little town that doesn’t really become visible until you are upon it, hidden in the mountains, westerners only first visited this place as recently as 1920 or so. An incredibly chilled out village with great views – a perfect way to unwind at the end of the trip or a great introduction if you’re doing the trip the other way round.
There is also a magical day trip to ‘Paradise’ – a series of waterfalls and plunge pools up in the mountains where we clamber over the rocks and through the water to find the natural Arch in the gorge at the top – ‘God’s Bridge’. Staying at the Hotel Ibn Batouta in the centre of the old town’s cobbled streets for 3 nights.
Here also lives the legend of ‘Ozman’……….
The ‘MONKEY FOREST’ – Heading down through the Rif Mountains ,and over the first of the Atlas range of mountains that divide Morocco we spend a niht camping with the wonderfully hospitable Nomads on the banks of a lake or the option of staying in the Forest with a campfire high up in the middle Atlas is also there – where Monkeys live and - if you’re lucky - will take food from your hands – and your hand itself if you’re very unlucky………..but that hasn’t happened yet !!!!
Erfoud and the Sahara. – A breathtaking drive through palm green Oasis valleys and desert landscapes sees us arriving at the desert kingdom of Erfoud on the other side of the mighty Atlas mountains in the afternoon. Here we stay at a small hotel in the centre of town.
After a relaxing night, the next morning and afternoon are spent either exploring the interesting market town of Erfoud, or, more likely, lounging by the swimming pool - as the weather may be a bit hot by now! We set off, with the bus going off-road, for the Sahara at around 4pm to spend an unforgettable night out on the sand dunes. A hotel is built right out on the edge of the dunes where we can cook and get refreshments (and sleep if you prefer it to the dunes!) before the caravan of camels appear late in the evening to take you on the final part of the journey into the desert itself!
Todra Gorge – a couple of hours further on is the magnificent Todra Gorge, with its ‘lost cities’ and huge palmeries this is a very different but nevertheless as beautiful an area as any seen so far. Staying at a beautiful hotel complex in the Gorge itself complete with swimming pool! Rock climbing is an option here with professional guides and all equipment and ropes supplied. 2 hours - £15.
Or there is also a stunning walk through the palmeries for free for those not wishing to scale the cliff faces!
Ait Benhaddou – ‘Gladiator’ Film Set. – Next stop is Ait Benhaddou – home of the oldest and most famous Kasbah in Morocco. The setting of numerous Hollywood films including: ‘Gladiator’, ‘The Mummy’, ‘Sahara’, ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ and many more. Staying at a hotel near the Kasbah itself – look out for the huge film studios and the ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ set still standing out in the desert on the way into Ourzazate the next day.
Marrakech and Toubkal. - This is Marrakech.....One of the most vibrant and exciting cities in the world. We stay at Hotel Ali with an amazing view from the roof top, where you’ll sleep, right over one of the most famous squares in the world The ‘Jemma el Fna’ full of snake charmers, acrobats, musicians, story tellers as well as a huge open air restaurant at night where you can sample as mush as you please of Morocco’s cuisine.
Get lost in the maze of markets shopping (or Haggling!!) for carpets, bags and jewellery or even the odd chameleon. Take a horse and carriage ride around the old city. Or take a trip to the new town full of bars, clubs and all the trappings of the west. After a night here the Mountaineers among us will head out of the mayhem to the serenity of the High Atlas Mountains to climb Toubkal (at 14,000 ft the highest mountain in the whole of North Africa) – Be warned - this is no picnic!!! It takes 2 days and a night to get to the top – the night spent at base camp will be bitterly cold, rising at 6am to summit and get back to Marrakech all in the same day!!! Worth it though. The views are awesome!!!!! (Toubkal Trek – £35 includes all food and mountain guides for 2 days as well as mules to carry your luggage)
Those of you not up for Toubkal can spend your time at Marrakech’s only Aqua park waiting lazily for us to return.
Cascades D’Ouzoud - 150 km North-East of Marrakech lie the majestic and stunningly beautiful 150ft waterfalls that are the Cascades d’Ouzoud. The highest and certainly most spectacular falls in the country they are well off the beaten track and far from any real ‘civilisation’. We’ll be staying in a campsite overlooking the falls but over 600 steps down from the top where the bus will be parked – so don’t forget anything….it’s a long walk up in the dark!
Essouaria –. a beautifully chilled surfing town on the beach known as ‘Windy city’. It’s big on Surfing and more particularly - ‘Wind-surfing’ and ‘Kite-Surfing’. Prices are a lot cheaper than in Europe if you want to try your luck at either of these or simply hire some gear and improve your already honed skills. Quad-biking or horse-riding on the beach are also both popular extra-curricular activities here.
Jimi Hendrix wrote ‘Castles in the sand’ whilst living here and you can see the ruin on the beach and go round to his old house if you’re that way inclined.
Staying in one huge apartment together in town.
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