THEY'RE TAKING ME TO MARRAKESH

Hi everyone,

So this Spring, The Travel Group (Ella, Wolfgang and I) headed to Morocco for a one week bus tour and a week at a FABULOUS hotel in Agadir.  We had a great time.  Smelled some really great and REALLY awful things but it was worth it.  I had no idea what to expect.  I just wanted to be able to say that I had been to Casablanca and of course to Marrakesh (I grew up with the Beatles and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young).  We also visited Fes, Meknes, Rabat and Essaouira.  We took lots of pictures and I have done my best to widdle them down but there are still a lot to go through.  Hope you have a little time.  I have done them by Cities that we visited.

So "would you know you're riding on the Marrakesh Express".......

Arriving in Agadir.  We began and ended our trip in Agadir.  The airport was a kick.  No gangway, just get off the plane and walk over to the building.  It was great!

Everything was written in three languages, French, Arabic and often English.  Sorry Germany.

When we arrived, no one was there to help except 2 guys.  They waited until there was a line from our plane and one other before they started adding people.  We had to exchange money at the Airport.  You must exchange all your money back before heading home.

Our first night in Agadir was spent here.  The hotel where we stayed for the second week was next door.  The two hotels were like night and day.  This was fine for one night but it was also a 5 star.  We were a little worried about our second week.

I believe this began at about 10am.  We had been up since 2am so it seemed right that it was time for a beer.

This is in honor of my cousin, Dion.  She started us on the covers of sewers.  Amazingly, everywhere you go, they will often  have something on them.  Even in LA.

First bird on our trip.

 So we spent one night in Agadir and then the tour began.  There were 18 of us in a bus for 30.  It was a very comfortable tour.  Our group was a lot of fun.  I could understand most of them but the one woman that came from the Bavarian area was a total loss.

Our first stop was at an Argon Oil factory.  

Argon is a nut that is only grown on trees in Morocco.  They use these nuts for oil that is then used for cooking and for cosmetics.  We visited the little place and of course bought the oil for cosmetics.  Our friend Rosi had told us about it so we gave it a try.  It is a fabulous oil for your skin.  Little did we know that they sold it everywhere but we learned.

Funniest thing about Argon nuts is that the husks are a favorite for the goats.  We could not believe that these animals climb up into the trees and eat the nuts.  It was great.

Just like everywhere else in Africa, there are lots of dogs and cats running everywhere although in Marocco they seemed to be fed and healthier then other places we have visited.  This dog lived at the factory and I guess his place was up on the top of the building.

These are the ladies that crack the nuts.  I am sure it is for show because with the amount of Argon Oil everywhere, I don't believe that they are doing it all by hand.

A couple of my favorite people in the world, the Travel Group.

I felt that I too had to help with the work.

Here they are, the goats.  Truly a highlight of the trip.  I would never have believed it without seeing it.  A friend of mine that visited Morocco in the early 70's told me that the first time she saw the goats, she thought someone slipped her drugs and she was seeing things.

I mean they get way up there!

The guy asked if we wanted to hold a baby.  How could I say no and of course Ella was having a wonderful conversation with the little guy.

On to Essaouira

Our first visit to a town.  They always seem so crazy in the beginning but after a week, it starts to feel normal.

Wolfgang's Harem!

Isn't he adorable!

This was our guide Hassan.  We really enjoyed him but what do you think, Denzel Washington!

Well after all that excitement, what do you expect and of course we had to try all the brands of local beer along the way.

 Casablanca - "Here's looking at you kid"

 For us, Casablanca was a disappointment because we really spent no time there, just drove through.  We did stop for the world's third largest Mosque but only an outside view.  We were never allowed into too many buildings.  This is not true in Turkey or Egypt but Morocco is very strick about what they show you.  You are not allowed to take pictures of any military or police structures or of the police or military personnel.  We never argued the point.

OK, am I the only one that did not realize that this city sits directly on the Atlantic ocean.  I thought it was like Marrakesh and sat inland in the middle of the desert!

There it is.  It was BIG and the colors were beautiful.  All mosques have green accents in Morocco.  A nice color scheme don't you think?

Get out, take a picture, back on the bus!

Now I am sure and I hope I am right that you all know that the movie was never filmed in Casablanca.  It was filmed completely in Hollywood but here it is Rick's Cafe.  It has been made to looked exactly like the movie location and it is a real restaurant.

Rabat

So we spent the night in Casablanca and then headed out for our next stop, Rabat.  Rabat the the capitol of Morocco.  It is where the King's Palace is located.  Morocco is ruled by the King but he seems to pretty well liked.  Not too much anti-government but then again, who knows what happens when you are anti-government, right.

It was a nice city and we enjoyed it quite a bit.  We all agreed that we never felt unsafe in Morocco.  There are military and police everywhere and it seems to be OK for everyone.  

So here we are at the Palace.  Best line of the trip, Ella turns to me and says with a straight face "I could live here".  She really is our Queen!

Stop in the name of Love!  Arabic really is a beautiful looking language isn't it.  Of course I have already said that if you can read this, you can say that you can read Arabic.

He wanted the picture taken.  I tried to tell him but.....

This is the only picture we were ever allowed to take of the Military and Police.  Depending on where you work, you get a uniform.  The guys in the light gray have the most say but if there is someone in a regular dark suit, just like everywhere else, they are the power players.  Personally, I love the Red outfit.

This is the Mausoleum for Mohamed the Fifth. 

We agreed that this would fit in at Ella's house but the polishing would be a little too much.

Before you go in, there are two guards on horseback that sit perfectly still.  I don't know how they trained the horses to do the same.  They are changed out every half hour.  Again, the red outfits with a cape!

There are four doors for the mausoleum.  Each door has a guard.  We thought this guy was the best.

Now this is not as big as Napoleon's tomb in Paris but it was very impressive.

Why there were rows of these pillars is the question.  We thought we looked great.

This is in the old town of Rabat within the walled area.  It was lovely.  The half blue walls are significant but I just can't remember why.  My ram was getting full!

Isn't he great and just so you know, while he played, he swung the tassel on his head around and around.

I told you they were everywhere.

So on this day, we had lunch where they did not serve alcohol but thought we still needed to share our drinks with you.  Notice our fabulous straws and again, doesn't Coke Cola look cool in Arabic.

When you drive from Oklahoma to Texas there is a GIANT cross.  I felt that we needed to show the GIANT Quran.

Meknes/Fes


We spent 3 nights in Meknes because there was this huge fair going on in Fes so all the hotels were full.  We visited Fes and the surrounding area.  They sold the hats but I saw no one wearing it.  I guess there were not a lot of Shriners there.

Our hotel in Meknes.  It seem to be a very popular spot because there were lots of parties going on until early morning.  We really never heard anything (benefits of drinking beer) but others on the tour commented on  it.

This Gentleman served tea to all who arrived.  The outfit was memorable.  The Moroccans love their outfits!

Ella's room.  There was always a sitting area in all of our hotel rooms.  Ella is reposing on hers.

Our room.  It was located right next to Ella's.

OK, I have to share a story here about the hotel and our rooms.  Thank God they  were so close.  After dinner one evening, we were taking a "Biological Pause" (our tour guide called bathroom breaks) before we played Dominoes.  Anyway, while Wolfgang was Biologicaling, I told Ella that I would come over while she smoked a cigarette.  We made these plans while she was on her balcony and I was on ours.  So,  I went out of our room and knocked on Ella's door.  No answer, but I did here some strange sounds.   I went back into our room and then I heard Ella calling my name.  Again out I went but she did not answer the door.  Back into our room and then I heard my name again, so out I went onto our balcony.  Seems that Ella had shut her sliding door a little hard and was locked out on the balcony.  The strange noise was her banging.  Of course her room key was in the room.

I had to call maintenance and the guy shows up and asks me for the key.  I then explained the problem and off he went to get another key.  When he arrived again,  he tried to behave professionally but when we opened the door,  Ella was plastered to the outside of the siding door.  Needless to say, the laughing began.  "Oh what a night". 

Special beer for special people.

The infamous balconies.

The beginning our our touring for the day.  I will be honest, I cannot remember if this is Fes or Meknes.  If I know which is which, I will say.  Otherwise, it is what it is.

Our bird representation.

The guy in the blue/red shirt behind Ella was our security guy.  It was to insure that on one bothered us, they said.  I think it was to keep us all together as we went through the bazaar.

Wolfgang did well in Fes staying with the group.  We will discuss Marrakesh when we get to it.

Now, we have a group of girlfriends  that get together every Friday night.  Ella and I both thought that this would be appropriate dress from now on for Friday's.  I have already put dibs on the purple one.

This is the Door in Meknes.  It is famous for being big I believe.  I am sure there is a lot more to it but that is all I remember.  It was the end of the day and we needed a beer.

One evening we went to a Moroccan Show.  It was great.  Came with dinner and entertainment.  The bathrooms were upstairs and we decided that we looked like we were Wolfgang's Harem peering out.  OK, you have to really use your imagination here.

Part of our dinner table group.  Just a lot of fun.

The band!

The Percussion guys

The first dancer.  Hey, she wasn't young but this lady could shake it.  She was fantastic.

I will leave it to you regarding this young lady.

On our way home, we peeked into a wedding.  Our guide asked if it was OK and in we went.  Well, one thing lead to another and off Ella and I went dancing.  We thought that it would be for a moment.  They wouldn't let us leave.  It was great.

The next few pictures are definitely from Fes.

A look at the old town of Fes.

Our version of a selfie with a photobomber in the background.

This was the entrance to the hall of the big Fair.  People everywhere.  It was the last day and it was a Saturday!!!!

This was building that was wonderfully cool and echoed like crazy.  While we were there, some young man was in another room singing.  It was beautiful.

OK, so do you think that we look like a remake of the Monkees!

There was this huge tournament/competition for horses.  Everyone, including the horses, were dressed in the elaborate costumes.  They looked like something out of Lawrence of Arabia.  We didn't get to stop, just drove by.

This is the only Mosque we were allowed to visit in all of Morocco.  We have been in Mosques in Egypt and Turkey but they are definitely not for visiting in Morocco.

Back out and about wandering around the streets that "have no name".

Heading into the Bazaar.  A crazy maze of little "shops" selling all kinds of stuff.

Need your scissors or knives sharpened.  Here is this guy's shop.

Things made from wood?  Here is your guy.

Our where's Waldo always keeping track of us.

 OK,  Fes is famous for their leather goods.  The process of making leather goods is something I wish I had never seen or smelled!  As we approached this shop, we wondered what the AWFUL smell was and we found out.  I mean the smell is so bad, they give you sprigs of Mint to hold under your nose.  I needed an entire bush to get past the smell!

Leather store.

Need a new pair of slippers and in what color or size?

Ella purchased a beautiful leather jacket.

This is the famous dye pots in Fes.  I could not look.  Wolfgang took this picture.  I was dying from the smell!

Now, you can rent this whole thing for your wedding.  Only the bridal pair gets to sit on it for the evening.  Where was this when we got married in Vegas!

End if the day rest.  Lovely shaded tables and of course....

No not a beer, Coffee. 

Moulay Idriss

So on one of days in the area of Meknes and Fes, we visited a couple of little towns and some sites.  One little town was Moulay Idriss.  It is located in the hills and is a wonderful labyrinth of little alleys and steps.  The only form of delivery through the town is by donkey.  Now I must say that if there was ever an animal that works harder than any other for people, it is the donkey.  I don't know if I will ever be insulted again if I am called a donkey.  Now ass is a whole other story.

When a donkey delivery is heading through the alleyways, the yell "ballack" which means watchout!  Oh and the donkey has the right of way.

Whole new meaning to Arrowhead water delivery right.

When we were done wandering the streets, we all had time to look for somewhere to eat lunch.

Our lunch.  Tangine. It was delicious!

We sat and watched the world go by while enjoying our lunch.

Well, we realized that we looked like it so we might as well make the picture!

MARRAKESH!

Well we made it to Marrakesh.  Why is it so exciting to say that!  Before I show you the General pictures of Marrakesh, I just wanted to share one of the old Palaces that we shall there. 

Heavily influenced by all the hard working Donkeys.

Tile everywhere.  My kind of place.

Lovely little courtyard (and not be Marriott)

Hey, will you look at those bananas!

OK so now onto Morocco.  It is famous for the main square and for the Grand Bazaar.  It is wonderful city in the desert.  It seems to be a great mix of old world and metropolitan.

This is a sculpture outside the main train station.  It is made of cardboard boxes.  Obviously not a large problem with rain.

One of the many beautiful old towers around the city.

Here is where you can add some spice to your life.

OK, guy in the yellow shirt and sweater was our security guy for the day.  Now remember him because he played a major role in our day in the bazaar.

Of course like everywhere we have gone there is always a visit to a "real" rug place, argan oil place, jeweler, etc.  In Marrakesh it was a homopathic herbs place.  The guy who did the schickt was very good.  We all bought stuff that we will probably never use.

I know that there must be a reason that they pour the tea like this but have no idea why.

Wolfgang getting a massage.  Ella and I were fine with the men taking off their tops for the massages but when the one lady whipped her top off (did have a bra), I think Ella, the Host, His son and I were the only ones having a cow.

The beginning of the Bazaar

 Again, I must stop here and share a story.  The one rule we were told was "if you get separated from the group, stay where you are and we will come to you."  Easy enough rule to follow right.   So who do you think did not follow this rule, hmmmmmmm.   Yep, Mr. Wolfgang.  somehow he got separated from the group (not his fault) and then tried to find us.  Remember the guy in the yellow shirt.  He hunted for Wolfgang for a good 30 minutes until he was found.  So Wolfgang can now say that he was lost in Marrakesh.  If we ever go to another bazaar, we will be having him "chipped" for a GPS signal.

Man, you had better get along well with your co-workers.

SHOPPING!

Our Hero.

Our little security guy took us to the "best restaurant" in Marrakesh for lunch.  We are sure that he gets a kickback for who he brings but the game is always part of the fun.

A wonderful rooftop restaurant with a view of the square.

We thought we were ordering salad.  It was delicious.

Yes we know that we shouldn't encourage this but too bad.

He loved Ella and man these guys were heavy.

We went back to the square at night to look around.  We wished we could come here for dinner.  Our hotel in Marrakesh was one of the worst places we have ever stayed with regards to EVERYTHING.

Hmmmm, Goatshead.

Yes that is what they are.  In Marrakesh, the people seem to have a real problem keeping their teeth in their heads so there is now a thriving business of teeth or denture rental.  Really.  You can go to the dentist let's say if you are going to a wedding or it's a big birthday and you want to have teeth for the event and you can try on 10 different pairs of dentures or teeth to fill in the gaps and rent it for the night.  Yes, it is a OMG, you are kidding but it is true.

 Along the way

 There are always pictures along the way that we take but either I can't remember where they were or they were just stops.  Here are few of those.

Stopped for a "Biological Pauser" bathroom break and saw this shirt.  Horribly racist but very funny.

Wild Camels and their babies

What a little town looks like along the way.

Just like Homer Simpson says "Hmmmm Beer"!

Did we say something wrong?

Now I am not sure that this is what Toyota had planned when they built these trucks

But everyone is treated equally

Oh WOW, Vasquez Rocks

Some might think that Swallows are a problem but hey Storks building their nests all over your house......

This was some beautiful place we stopped at outside of Fes on our way to Marrakesh.  It was beautiful.

Didn't see too many tractors but lots of ploughs and donkeys.

A beautiful field of Wild Flowers.

A large dam.  Lots of agriculture in the mountains of Morocco.

Look a Tractor!!!

Cactus Flower.

What a great Sign.

Biological Pauser!

When you think Morocco, you think desert and sand but this is also Morocco

A couple of my FAVORITE people.

 Agadir

So our final week was spent once again in Agadir at the RIU hotel.  It was SPECTACULAR!  We also celebrated Wolfgang's 75th birthday so here are a few of the pictures from the hotel and Wolfgang's birthday.

The weather was great but not horrible.  This hotel was fantastic, clean, beautifully landscaped and the staff was incredible.  A great place to stay for a week.

Our rooms.  We were upstairs.  Big private balconies.

Beautiful rooms and bathrooms.

And bathing beauties everywhere.

How to spend your 75th birthday - Floating (face up) in a pool.

The beach area.  It is the atlantic ocean and not all that warm so we stayed by the pool.  As you can see, we were not alone in our decision.

Standing in the Atlantic Ocean

The Best Group ever!

Watch Out Jellyfish!

Beginning of the Birthday Celebration.  Champagne and rose petals on the table.

Happy Birthday in French.

Aren't we brown!

My Husband.  Happy Birthday.  I love You!

In the morning he opened all the cards  from his friends in America.

From Perry and Nancy.  You can see that it was a hit.

Home again and one more Birthday Card from Bob and Sue.  A nice big Beer!

So that was our tour of Morocco.  It was great.  We never felt uncomfortable.  We found the people to be very nice and the food wonderful.  The Beatles and Crosby, Stills and Nash were right.

OK, til the next adventure

THE TRAVEL GROUP

(one arm waving)