Destination: Morocco

Coping with the Unpredictable

Wed, 15 Jan 2014 | By elcastleberry | Views [503]

Gray clouds hovered ominously overhead, fat with potential rain and threatening to split open at any moment. My 40 pound pack was cutting into my shoulders as I trudged down the Marrakech sidewalk, dodging persistent touts and speeding cyclists. "Did ... Read more >

Tags: coping, mishaps, travel

Stand No. 1

Tue, 7 Jan 2014 | By elcastleberry | Views [469]

At Stand No. 1 in the Jemaa el Fna food market, there is an old chef who is missing most of his front top teeth. I know this because I've been to Stand No. 1 almost every night for the past week, slipping discretely onto one of the black vinyl benches.... Read more >

Tags: food, food markets, hospitality, morocco

Goodbye to the Far West

Mon, 23 Dec 2013 | By katescarlett | Views [2026]

After crossing the Middle Atlas, we end our cycling in Marrakesh. It has been a long week of riding, crossing some high passes and travelling through a landscape of stones and cedars, punctuated by nights in small towns that are not tourist attractions, ... Read more >

Photos: Tangier

Sat, 21 Dec 2013 | By macedonboy | Photo Gallery

Photos: Fes

Thu, 19 Dec 2013 | By macedonboy | Photo Gallery

An Essay on Fez Touts

Thu, 19 Dec 2013 | By macedonboy | Views [521]

Scams, spams, cons and other frauds. The dictionary defines these as a swindle involving money, goods etc in which the victim’s trust is won by another. Since the dawn of the internet, spam has existed with varying degrees of sophistication. Send ... Read more >

Tags: fez, touts

Photos: Meknes

Tue, 17 Dec 2013 | By macedonboy | Photo Gallery

Meknes

Tue, 17 Dec 2013 | By macedonboy | Views [1583]

I have to get up early today for the 0812 train to Meknes. It’s barely breaking dawn and the only thing worse than the tiredness is the realisation that I forgot to packed away as much as possible from the night before. Since Rabat Ville station ... Read more >

Photos: Rabat

Mon, 16 Dec 2013 | By macedonboy | Photo Gallery

Loitering around Rabat

Mon, 16 Dec 2013 | By macedonboy | Views [1563]

I’m heading up to Rabat on the train today. The trains to Rabat are quite regular at two hours apart. So I figured I’d sleep early the night before aiming for 0855 morning train. I do get up early enough to both get some breakfast at the ... Read more >

Tags: backpacking, morocco, rabat

Photos: Marrakech

Sun, 15 Dec 2013 | By macedonboy | Photo Gallery

Marrakech - Day 2

Sat, 14 Dec 2013 | By macedonboy | Views [1915]

It's my first full day in Marrakesh and I'm fully organised to go through my itinerary. Armed with Google Maps and 3g, I feel ready to tackle all the sights of interest without a hint of a tourist map. The first stop is Palais El Badii. A palace commisioned ... Read more >

Tags: marrakech, museums

A Den of Villainous Deeds - Marrakech Part 1

Fri, 13 Dec 2013 | By macedonboy | Views [1905]

"Mos Eisley spaceport. You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villianly." The word of Obi Wan Kenobi as he made his fateful trip to hire a transport that would take to his fate. Events begin to move at the speed of plot. Within a matter ... Read more >

Tags: marrakech, touts

The bicycle in art

Sun, 8 Dec 2013 | By katescarlett | Views [1948]

There are three types of road marked on our Carte de Touristique Moroc map. The autovia, or A1 freeway, which mere cyclists are not allowed to use. Major secondary roads, of the type we rode along on our first day riding from Tangier to Larache. These ... Read more >

The step where Strummer sat

Thu, 5 Dec 2013 | By katescarlett | Views [2032]

One argument with a customs official and a 35 minute ferry ride, and we are weaving our way through the crowds of Tangiers, where we are repeatedly offered cheap hotels and hashish. 'Welcome to Africa', one would-be guide shrugs when he realises we won't ... Read more >