25 May - 1 June 2017

Whoohoo! Daan was coming to Marrakesh!

On Thursday I was amazed about how fast I was able to pack my stuff on the camp site, so I went back one more time to the McDonald's on the beach for some wifi and the nice view. After that I went to the bus station, where I found out that I also needed a ticket for my luggage. Also, the man that was putting all the bags in the luggage area, told me that it was not possible to bring my bike and that I had to take the next bus, but I convinced him and found a space where my bike was lying on top of the other bags. The bus trip was fine and we arrived in time in Marrakesh. I even had enough time to cycle to the airport and pick Daan up. :D We gave each other a big hug before he took the bus and I rode a last part to the riad/hotel we were staying in. After we settled our stuff down we went to the big square, where we met a lot of sellers of sunglasses, henna, jus d'orange or a BBQ. In the end we ate tajine on a rooftop and for dessert we bought some Moroccan cookies, but when we tried to bargain, the guy became angry, so it seems better to not to bargain on the price of food.

The next day we slept a bit longer and after breakfast we went to the bicycle shop for a box to put my bike in when I go by plane to Geneva. We walked on to the Majorelle garden, but there was a long line and actually we didn't want to go in with the big cardboard box, so we walked back to our hotel through the medina. After we dropped the box, we walked again, but this time in the other direction, to an old swimming pool. There were a lot of Carp fishs and there was also a guy trying to catch them with his bare hands. Crazy! He succeeded a couple times before he throw them in the water again. When we walked the long distance back, we decided to go to on a three day trip to the Sahara, so we booked that for the next day. We went to a restaurant again for dinner and after that we wanted to get something for breakfast for tomorrow, so we went to the little streets that surround the big square. We couldn't find something like bread, maybe because it was already late, but we did find some pick pockets. We found out that our gut feeling is really good and I even hit one of them on his fingers, when he tried to grab something out of Daan's backpack (there was nothing important in though).

We had to get up early on Saturday and after we were picked up by the driver we went on the road. We had company of 2 Germans, 2 Belgians, 2 Mexicans, 2 Americans and 5 Chinese. We drove on a very beautiful road and also made some photostops. Around lunchtime we arrived at Aït Ben Haddou, the ancient city where parts of 81 movies and series like Gladiator and Game of Thrones were filmed. Really nice to see. After the expensive lunch we drove to Ouarzazate (the Hollywood of Morocco) with the luxury hotel where the actors stay during the filming. We drove on to our hotel for the night in the Dades Valley, where we ate tajine again. We also wanted to stretch our legs, so we walked through the little stream, what was fun.

The following day we also had to get up early and after a Moroccan breakfast with pancakes, bread, honey, jam and tea, we went in the 'Berber' airconditioned van again. So that means the airco had broken down and with 37 degrees, that's not funny in a van with 15 other people. We went to a small Berber/Amazir village, where one of the locals showed us how they make the carpets. After that village we went to the Grand Canyon of Morocco, which was nice to see. Later with the van, we also went to the Rose Valley, but there were no roses at all. Quite disappointing. From there it was not to long any more to the desert. Half of our group was brought to a good looking hotel, while the Chinese Toni, Soni and Zoë, the Belgians Lex and Lotte and us were brought to a definitely less nice looking hotel. And we had to wait for two more ours before we left with the camels, so we spent our time making pictures. When we left we just saw the sun go down and rode on the camels. That is a weird feeling and I was happy to arrive at the camp site. It was already dark and under the stars we ate a tajine together. After dinner we watched more stars and even saw some falling stars. Daan and I tried to sleep under the stars, but with the cats around that was pretty difficult, so around two o'clock we went to our tent and also saw the milky way. Amazing!

The last day of our desert trip we woke up even earlier, because when we were riding on the camels, we watched the sun rise. Really nice in a desert, when you only see sand, sky and the rising sun. We rode the camels back to the hotel where we had a Moroccan breakfast, but it was not that good. The rest of the day we drove all the way back. We had lunch with pizza on Ouarzazate, because I start to hate the tajines, and drove back after that to Marrakesh. There was a confrontation between Lex and the driver about something that broke down around the motor. I think it had something to to with the Ramadan and the burning sun, and the last part of the trip there was a grim mood. We took a shower when we came back at the hotel, to wash all the sand away and rested from the long trip in our room with a good movie.

The next day we relaxed a lot. We had a good Moroccan breakfast on the rooftop of our hotel an afterwards we walked to the doctor, because a wild cat had scratched Daan's leg. He got the tetanus shot, but there was a pile of 10 cm with sheets of people that were also waiting for a rabiës shot, so he will take them when he is back in the Netherlands. After that, we walked to the Majorelle garden, where was a shorter line this time and we took a lunch when we were inside. The garden was really nice and a sort of oasis in the busy city. When we walked back through the little streets, we met Lex again and had a nice conversation about our previous adventure. In the evening we went to a rooftop terrace again for dinner and afterwards we relaxed some more in our hotel. I also cycled to the Decathlon to buy a bag to put my bags in for the flight and some wrapping plastics.

The last day we also didn't hurry and started with a nice breakfast on the rooftop again. We fixed some small things on my bike and replaced the oil inside the Rohloff hub. We also went for a walk to get a tool and breakfast and lunch for tomorrow. Because it was our last day in Morocco, we lunched in a nice restaurant. I had a Club Sandwich and Daan a cheese toast, both with fries and a leaf of salad (for decoration). Later, for dinner, we went to the big square and enjoyed a BBQ. We also had a traditional Moroccan pie, with Filo dough, chicken, egg, sugar and something more, but we didn't like it, tough someone told it was really nice. Luckily we also had watermelon for dessert.

We went to bed early and woke up at 4 o'clock. Daan took a cab and I cycled to the airport. There we took apart my bike, what took a lot of time and the line for the luggage drop formed around us. And after my luggage was finally handed in, I rushed to the boarding area and gave a fast kiss to Daan before disappearing between all other people. I was in time in the plane, there were even people arriving after me, so I could have stressed a little bit less... The take off was exciting, because it was my first flight ever, but actually it was fine. The views were very nice. I could see a lot because I sat on the left side, next to the window and a bit behind the wing.AAnd strange to see the clouds from above! After landing I read my book in the long line for the douane and after that I found my bag with bags fast, but it took a really long time until my bike came out of the luggage area. In the arrival hall I put my bike together again and went to the supermarket for some food, because I hadn't eaten anything since we were in the luggage line and I had forgotten to take some sandwiches. So Daan could eat for two ;p. After that I cycled a little bit to Jörn in Geneva. We talked about a lot of different subjects and ate a salad with salmon.

And now up to Kandersteg!