Day 1
I went off on the trip to Morocco by myself leaving Scott behind. I set off with Ross and Caroline at the cold early hours of the morning and arrived in Marrakesh to a temperature of over 40oC. I was so happy to feel the heat!!!!
Marrakesh was a busy, smelly and dusty and after being dropped off by our taxi in the centre of town we headed off down the narrow passage ways to try and find the hostel. After about 5 minutes walking we were asked by a local if we were lost; we answered 'no' but still found ourselves with a guide that we didn’t really want. Eventually we came to our our hostel where we sat around for a while before deciding to go out and explore the city. Along the way we were again accosted by people trying to show us around.
We found som
Day 2
The next day we packed up and walked to the train station to Casablan
ca. We had a 1st class air conditioned train which was great because it was about 45 degrees outside. It was a bit difficult to work out where to get off though as the train stations did not have any signs stating the station name. However, we managed to make it and after checking into the hotel we walked around the medina for the rest of the afternoon. That night we sat on the roof of the hotel and watched the sun set which was really beautiful.
ca. We had a 1st class air conditioned train which was great because it was about 45 degrees outside. It was a bit difficult to work out where to get off though as the train stations did not have any signs stating the station name. However, we managed to make it and after checking into the hotel we walked around the medina for the rest of the afternoon. That night we sat on the roof of the hotel and watched the sun set which was really beautiful. 
The tour started today however we didn’t have to be at the appointed hotel until much later on so we walked down past the harbour and into the newer section of the town. We tried to reach the beach however it was a little too far to walk. The new town was very different to the old area and as it was built by the French it looked a lot like Paris in areas. After transferring to our new hostel I had a rest and then went for a walk around the local area. It was really nice and I got myself an ice cream. When I got back we all went for another walk around and when I came back I met my room mate who was very nice and we bunked together for the rest of the trip. That night the whole tour group went to dinner together.Day 4
We went bac
k to the Mosque today and walked around inside it is the only one in the world where non Muslims can enter. It was pretty amazing as it is also the 2nd largest mosque in the world and it is just huge. We then got on a train to Meknes which was a really fun trip. When we got to Meknes we dropped out luggage off at the hotel and went to explore a little bit of the city. We went into another temple where the King who built the city is buried which was interesting and then down in
to a series of caverns which are underneath the city. There were fascinating as apparently they are where they kept the slaves and prisoners during the reign of the King that we just saw. He was into piracy and there is meant to be a tunnel from the coast to Meknes where they brought people and goods up from the ships they had captured to Meknes (about 195km away). They don’t know how big the caverns are as people keep getting lost in them so they are all sealed up these days.
k to the Mosque today and walked around inside it is the only one in the world where non Muslims can enter. It was pretty amazing as it is also the 2nd largest mosque in the world and it is just huge. We then got on a train to Meknes which was a really fun trip. When we got to Meknes we dropped out luggage off at the hotel and went to explore a little bit of the city. We went into another temple where the King who built the city is buried which was interesting and then down in
to a series of caverns which are underneath the city. There were fascinating as apparently they are where they kept the slaves and prisoners during the reign of the King that we just saw. He was into piracy and there is meant to be a tunnel from the coast to Meknes where they brought people and goods up from the ships they had captured to Meknes (about 195km away). They don’t know how big the caverns are as people keep getting lost in them so they are all sealed up these days.We then went to see traditional metalwork before going back to the hotel to freshen up before dinner. Dinner was not so great that night. We walked through the town to dinner but that is where I first got sick. The rest of the night did not pass well.
Day 5
I hate being sick!!!!!
We were on our way to Fes I managed the train trip and thought I was getting better how wrong I was. After a 10min walk up a slight hill in 45 degree heat my body decided it was time for bed.
We were on our way to Fes I managed the train trip and thought I was getting better how wrong I was. After a 10min walk up a slight hill in 45 degree heat my body decided it was time for bed.
Day 6
YAY not so sick!!!!! It is also a free day and we have about 3 options to do for the day. One thing I really wanted to see in Morocco was the dye pits which I had missed out on the previous day for obvious reasons. So today I hired my own guide for the afternoon and spent the morning relaxing. The guide took me on a tour of the Medina (old q
uarter) and to the dye pits, carpet seller, vegetable and meat areas where camel and shark were on the menu and a special trip to the potter
y shop which was fantastic. I had a lot of fun, got 1 marriage proposal, learnt a lot particularly since I was the only one there to ask questions.
uarter) and to the dye pits, carpet seller, vegetable and meat areas where camel and shark were on the menu and a special trip to the potter
y shop which was fantastic. I had a lot of fun, got 1 marriage proposal, learnt a lot particularly since I was the only one there to ask questions. That night we went out to dinner which was nice I was able to eat the soup. The main problem for the night was that the waiter ripped us off and another girl got sick as well.
Day 7
This morning we started our trek into the desert we travelled from Fes to Rich. On our way we stopped at a town that could only be described as the French Alps in Morocco. When the French had control over Morocco they built this town so they could come up into the mountains during summer to get away from the heat. Our next stop was in an area which is famous for monkeys. They come and sit by the roadside and get fed and watered while people ride ponies and sit under the shade of the trees. We then stopped for lunch by a stream and joine
d by a herd of goats under the trees. When we arrived at Rich we left our belongings at the hotel and went to a local village for a tour. We had a local guide who took us to their casper which is a earth fortification built to protect them against invaders. We got to look around the casper 
which they still use for storing grains, animals and cooking food in and the view from the top was fantastic. After walking through the fields for awhile they took us to another casper which use to be the seat of power for the Berber (tribal people who live in the desert) fight against the French. We headed back to the restaurant for dinner the restaurant had a roof terrace and after dinner the group spent the rest of the night sitting on the roof looking at the stars.
d by a herd of goats under the trees. When we arrived at Rich we left our belongings at the hotel and went to a local village for a tour. We had a local guide who took us to their casper which is a earth fortification built to protect them against invaders. We got to look around the casper 
which they still use for storing grains, animals and cooking food in and the view from the top was fantastic. After walking through the fields for awhile they took us to another casper which use to be the seat of power for the Berber (tribal people who live in the desert) fight against the French. We headed back to the restaurant for dinner the restaurant had a roof terrace and after dinner the group spent the rest of the night sitting on the roof looking at the stars. Day 8
Today we headed towards our camp in the Sahara. It was a long drive so we headed out early and stopped for lunch in a farmer’s field beside the road. After lunch we stopped at a fossil workshop where they take stone with hundreds of fossils in and turn it into furniture and scultpures which
was really interesting. We then continued the drive to the desert and arrived a little bit early. When we got there it was about 50 de
grees and everyone was just sitting down in the shade trying not to move too much. Once the sand had cooled off a bit we hopped on our camels and headed about an hours ride away into the desert. The camel ride was not the most comfortable thing I have ever done and I was sure my butt was going to be killing for days afterward. Knowing that I had to get on the camel the next morning did not help.When we got to camp it was unanimously decided that sleeping in the tents was not an option. Mainly due to the plethora of insects that decided to call them home!! There was a huge sand dune next to us which myself and another member of the group decided it would be a good idea to climb. It was so hard but worth it from the view from the top where we watched the sunset. Coming down was fantastic as we ran down the side of the dune which was at a 45 degree angle. That night we slept under the stars on the sand which was fantastic.
Day 9
The next morning we were up early to watch the sun rise before we hoped back on the camels to head back to where we left the bus. As we rode out of the desert it was amazing to feel the increase in heat coming off the sand as the sun rose. We got back to the bus and had breakfast then headed out to Todra Gorge we got
their quite early and at lunch my roommate Sharon and I went for a walk around the shops and found they had a fantastic way to keep drinks cool. It was also really nice to walk around in the water and cool off a bit. The gorge was fantastic its really steep it was about 50-100m across and ..m high there is a river which runs along the base it was so cool the main problem is that women are not allowed to swim. After checking in at the hotel we headed out for a walk through the gorge. Getting t
o the starting place was very interesting. The gorge as a road about the width of 3 cars however it had cars parked on both sides and 2 lines of traffic trying to get through. Add large tour buses and it makes for a very interesting traffic jam after several scrapes and a slight nudge we got through. The walk through the gorge was nice but very uneventful compared to the trip there.Day 10
Today we headed to Ait Benhaddou which is the largest casper in Morocco. On the way there we stopped at another casper that is on the 50 dirum note which 
was not that fantastic but a nice building. We arrived at Ait Benhaddou and after settling in Sharon and I went for a walk to look around the shops. As we looked around one store the owner tried to con us into buy things from his store which is always fun to get out of. That afternoon we went for a walk to the main casper. It has been used as a movie set for movies such as Gladiator and the set for the Prince of Persia was being built while we were there. We got to look at a traditional house inside the casper which was really interesting and walked around the streets for awhile heading to the top of the casper where they use to keep their food stores. As this was the easiest place to defend attackers trying to steal their food. The view was great and although it was really windy on the way down a few of us stayed behind to look around the local shops before dinner.
Day 11
was not that fantastic but a nice building. We arrived at Ait Benhaddou and after settling in Sharon and I went for a walk to look around the shops. As we looked around one store the owner tried to con us into buy things from his store which is always fun to get out of. That afternoon we went for a walk to the main casper. It has been used as a movie set for movies such as Gladiator and the set for the Prince of Persia was being built while we were there. We got to look at a traditional house inside the casper which was really interesting and walked around the streets for awhile heading to the top of the casper where they use to keep their food stores. As this was the easiest place to defend attackers trying to steal their food. The view was great and although it was really windy on the way down a few of us stayed behind to look around the local shops before dinner.Day 11
Today we headed back to Marrakesh to get there we had to go over the Atlas Mountains so 150km was going to take us 5hrs. It was an interesting trip with narrow roads steep cliffs and way too many cars and trucks trying to pass each other. It was nice to get to the hotel and relax before Sharon and I went out for the afternoon to the Jardin Majorelle gardens. The gardens were fantastic and I was really happy that I g
ot to see them. It was a nice place to be in the afternoon sun as the water features and shade of the trees made walking around the gardens nice and cool and we spent quite a bit of time relaxing under the shade.
ot to see them. It was a nice place to be in the afternoon sun as the water features and shade of the trees made walking around the gardens nice and cool and we spent quite a bit of time relaxing under the shade.Day 12
We did a walking tour of Marrakesh today which took us to places that I
had not seen before. We went into the old palace which was really nice and the mosaic work and paintings were fantastic. Apparently Gladiator and other movies were made here as well which was fun. The king who built the palace had 40 wives and each year he would get a new one. We also went to a traditional pharmacy which was really interesting to see what they use to treat different aliments. 
After the tour we spent the rest of the afternoon finalising our souvenir shopping and walking around the souks. That night we had dinner in the main square which was an interesting experience and got to walk around looking at the performers in the square.
Day 13
Today Ross, Caroline and I flew back to London it was both sad and happy to be going back. It was going to be nice to see Scott again however I didn’t think it would be as nice weather in London. I was right. When we got back it was cold and rainy...
