Dear Friends,
We have arrived safe and well in Marrakesh. Nic and I were taken through the bustling streets and lanes of the Medina; the old walled part of the city, the wall being reputedly built around the 11th Century, and through tiny lanes, so narrow that our bags of kit have been taken by a chariot to the Riad. The Riad is charming the architecture a blend of Moor and North African themes. The Riad is a dwelling built around a central courtyard, four storeys high, with a sun terrace on the roof, the view over Marrakesh on towards the mountains. At the Riad we were met by the owner, a charming and well travelled lady, who gave us our first introduction to mint tea. A drink which to me is bitter and sugar required to make it mote palatable. Our room is delightful and looks our into the central courtyard area.
Marrakesh is real Arabian nights stuff, we went into the main square last night to eat, we tried eating from one of the many food stalls, which turned out to be really cheap about eight quid for both of us and the food was great, Tangine of vegetables and chicken, and kebabs, we also had olives and a spinach dish both were good. We made the mistake of ordering snails from another stall a large bowl costing 10 dirams. Nic didn`t eat hers and I struggled with mine, suffice to say I think they are an acquired taste. Around the food stalls are magicians, acrobats, snake charmers, fortune tellers, dentists, dancing Barbary apes and henna tattooists, you`d think this was just for the tourists, but the crowds around seem to be made up of almost entirely locals.
Several times a day there`s the call to prayer from many mosques, reminding us that this is a muslim country. It didn`t wake me this morning becqause I think I was too tired from the travelling from yesterday morning. Oh, and we can`t find anywhere to get a beer yet, another reminder.
The mountains look good, there is a good coating of snow on the higher peaks, which seems out of place in such a desert country as Morrocco. Though it is significant, the amount of snow means that we`ll have good conditions underfoot for our winter ascent. I hope the weather stays the same, warm and dry. We have organised transportation with the taxi driver who picked us up from the airport. He will take us to Imlil tomorrow, this will cost 600 dirams or about thirty five quid for a 65 km journey. This seems OK as the internet information I looked at said 500 dirams and that was written about four years ago.
Today we packed our rucksacks, my sleeping bag seems to fill mine up, I think I`m packing around 20 kilos which is fine. We have also walked around Marrakesh, of course we got lost, but we were helped by a local dustbin man, who took us the long way round to where we wanted to go, of course for a good tip, or baksheesh as it is called in these parts. Speaking French really helps and we can make ourselves easily understood. Morocco was a French colony (remember the film Cassablanca).
Tonight, if we can find our way around we hope to go to a good restaurant with a belly dancing and dervish show. Tomorrow an early start to get to Imlil and start walking in the Mizane Valley, up to the French Alpine Club Hut of Toubkal. This should take anywhere between five and seven hours, going through the village of Aroumd and up through the valley, the club hut being our base to attempt Toubkal and some surrounding peaks over three days.
Next time I blog will bring news of our summit attempt, upon our return to Marrakesh. Lee