Day 1 - Saturday
Met with Sarah and Ron at Bristol Airport for flight to Marrakech. Luggage checked in with no probs. Got plenty of time time spare and decide to go for a cuppa. Keeping an eye on the board for boarding gates opening, seems ages before anything comes up on screen. Managed to get lost (missing signs that are right in front of us) and arrive at boarding gates to find ourselves last in line!!! We found seats near to each other and got nice and comfy. Arrived Marrakech on time and no probs getting through Moroccan customs. Changed some money and left the airport building. Good old Sarah and her fluent French soon bags us a grande taxi (200MAD/£16) to take us to the Hotel Ali .... job's a good 'un!!!!!
Ah, the Hotel Ali never lets us down!!!! Nice big dormitory room for the 3 of us (150 MAD/£12 B&B), so plenty of choice for beds. (Rue Moulay Ismail, Tel: 0524444979, Fax: 0524440522,
Sarah and I bobbed down to CTM bus offices to book seats for tomorrow's trip to Essaouira (Petite taxi 100MAD/£8 return). Phew, Marrakech ain't half stinky (car, motorbike fumes) and hot in rush-hour traffic. Lots of horns honking and it's hard to know who or why - do they know you, have you done something wrong, are they thanking you? The driver does a fair bit of cursing, but I've no idea who at or why - I've only a little French and no Arabic under my belt!!
With Sarah's support I was able to practice my French to buy our tickets. A lovely Moroccan man at the counter was very willing to help me with my French if we would also help him with his English. How could we refuse? Other members of staff also came by and conversations were flowing quick and fast. Moroccans are such lovely people. Anyway 3 tickets (70 MAD/£5.60 each) and best wishes for a good journey to Essaouria went back to the Hotel Ali with us.
Down to the restaurant and paid our 60 MAD/£5 for our "much as you want" buffet evening meal. Delicious as ever - the Hotel Ali always does me proud for it's vegetarian selection. I selected harira soup, tagine, spicy cauliflower, couscous (all veg) and plenty of different salad ingredients followed by little semolina cookies (ghoriba) and mint tea.....delicious!! Plenty for meat eaters too.
Hotel Ali Dining Area
As a frequent visitor to Hotel Ali, Sarah knows quite a few of the staff members and it's lovely to hear her chatting away in French. The staff are very attentive and make you feel very welcome.
Jeema el Fna at nighttime.
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