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#21
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Trip report: Casablanca and Marrakech
"tim....." wrote in message ... "Martin" wrote in message ... On Sun, 06 Jan 2008 12:25:50 GMT, "a.spencer3" wrote: Agree totally re Casa. Just miss it. Marra is Marra - helps if you speak French? I love the place. Must admit I never got drunk on any of countless mint teas! I saw a snippet on Dutch TV of a program about Dutch royal tours of 2007. In the bazaar in Istanbul a carpet seller offered the queen, her son and his Argentinean born wife Maxima, tea. Maxima said to the Turk in Dutch "We are a typical Dutch family, we take the free offers, but never buy anything" I tried to turn down the offer (as I don't like tea) and the response was "are you refusing my hospitality". This kind of puts one in a position where you have to accept. I took the tea and discovered that it doesn't taste anything like the stuff sold in England. As to (not) buying something, if you really don't want it, it is easy (if time consuming) to avoid. The opening prices are staggeringly high - they may be good value for hand made quality items (assuming that they are hand made quality items), but I have no desire to buy such items in this environment and would only be interested in cheap (but functional) tat, which it is not. I once spent two days negotiating for a genuine ceremonial knife. It's a ritual and a way of life, intended to incorporate hospitality and conversation. Surreyman |
#22
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Trip report: Casablanca and Marrakech
"tim....." wrote in message ... "Gerald Oliver Swift" wrote in message ... "tim....." wrote in message ... "SuperDung" wrote in message ... Whatever, the room was reasonable, with a shower inside, but oddly no toilet. In fact a number of the hotels we stayed in were like this. My question to you is: What do you do if you wake in the night needing a pee? Brave the dark hallways for the communal bog? Hmmm... er.....pay more for the hotel....;-) I kind of thought that. I don't think I paid more than 40 Euro per night and never had a room without full facilities, though some of the rooms were tatty. Last year, in March, I paid MAD 515 (Euro 47) for a double room with full buffet breakfast at the Ibis, next door to the train station. It was full when I tried to book a few days before. It had a very nice outdoor pool and a bus to Djemaa el Fnaa (MAD 3) stopped right outside the front door. You used the bus! Or more pertinently, you actually managed to find out about the bus! All I ever got when enquiring was "use a Taxi it's cheap", which it is if they don't try to rup you off, which they usually the do. I hated this aspect of Morocco, so much so that I'm loath to go back: too much walking because trying to avoid getting ripped by the taxi driver is too stressful. You give 'em a price you're willing to pay or say you'll go to the next cab. Few want to lose the business. Surreyman |
#23
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Trip report: Casablanca and Marrakech
"Gerald Oliver Swift" wrote in message ... It had a very nice outdoor pool and a bus to Djemaa el Fnaa (MAD 3) stopped right outside the front door. You used the bus! Or more pertinently, you actually managed to find out about the bus! All I ever got when enquiring was "use a Taxi it's cheap", which it is if they don't try to rup you off, which they usually the do. I hated this aspect of Morocco, so much so that I'm loath to go back: too much walking because trying to avoid getting ripped by the taxi driver is too stressful. Rather surprisingly (for Morocco) the bus stop had a timetable, a route map and a fare indicator. Moroccan taxis.........the stories I could tell you........ Another useful tip for travel in Morocco:- Spend one day MAX in Marrakech and then get the hell out. Get on a bus down to Essaouira and chill out there. Half the price of Marrakesh, sea breeze, wonderful colonial (Portuguese) architecture, walk the city walls, fresh sea-food, absolutely no hassle whatsoever in the souks. Morocco truly at its best. Essaouira is certainly very pleasant but loses a lot of 'Morocco' feel because it is so popular amongst visitors. The best of 'real' Morocco is south of the High Atlas - although there are places there, too, to avoid. The major 'avoid' is Tangier, of course! Surreyman |
#24
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Trip report: Casablanca and Marrakech
"Martin" wrote in message ... On Mon, 07 Jan 2008 10:23:53 GMT, "a.spencer3" wrote: "tim....." wrote in message ... "Martin" wrote in message ... On Sun, 06 Jan 2008 12:25:50 GMT, "a.spencer3" wrote: Agree totally re Casa. Just miss it. Marra is Marra - helps if you speak French? I love the place. Must admit I never got drunk on any of countless mint teas! I saw a snippet on Dutch TV of a program about Dutch royal tours of 2007. In the bazaar in Istanbul a carpet seller offered the queen, her son and his Argentinean born wife Maxima, tea. Maxima said to the Turk in Dutch "We are a typical Dutch family, we take the free offers, but never buy anything" I tried to turn down the offer (as I don't like tea) and the response was "are you refusing my hospitality". This kind of puts one in a position where you have to accept. I took the tea and discovered that it doesn't taste anything like the stuff sold in England. As to (not) buying something, if you really don't want it, it is easy (if time consuming) to avoid. The opening prices are staggeringly high - they may be good value for hand made quality items (assuming that they are hand made quality items), but I have no desire to buy such items in this environment and would only be interested in cheap (but functional) tat, which it is not. I once spent two days negotiating for a genuine ceremonial knife. It's a ritual and a way of life, intended to incorporate hospitality and conversation. Isn't it time you used it? ) -- Well, I should be in the Netherlands (de Lier) shortly ............. Surreyman |
#25
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Trip report: Casablanca and Marrakech
Following up to Dusty Furtile Morrocan
wrote: its not is it, but we do the Canaries... [insert top-posted comment about Africa not being in Europe here] After a long and delay trip involving two EasyJet flights, i'll say "typical" so David can say it isnt The first night we had McDonalds, and the second Chinese. heehee Immediate impressions of Casablanca. Well, in the film there was little reason to be there, and that's pretty much the case now. There's a reasonable medina, and an utterly mammoth mosque which beggars belief, and that's about it. The mosque is definitely worth touring. The architect did an awesome and very stylish job, right down to hiding the loud speakers out of sight. After seeing that, you can tick off Casablanca. i'm not into mosques so perhaps i can tick it off now? The vendors are all too often over aggressive, which gets tiring fast. I got really ****ed off...... ......Sadly that type of thing happened all too often in Marrakech, and left us with a sour taste in our mouths. Fortunately it wasn't so bad in the rest of Morocco. youre not selling it to me. thanks for what sounds like an honest description! -- Mike Remove clothing to email |
#26
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Trip report: Casablanca and Marrakech
Following up to Dusty Furtile Morrocan
wrote: Sadly, you talk the truth. I hated telling locals to **** off, but it did become necessary at times. i think i might tick off africa by going to one of the spanish enclaves, or maybe i wont bother :-) -- Mike Remove clothing to email |
#27
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Trip report: Casablanca and Marrakech
Mike.... wrote:
[] i'll say "typical" so David can say it isnt You can say whatever you want. -- (*) of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate -www.davidhorne.net (email address on website) "If people think God is interesting, the onus is on them to show that there is anything there to talk about. Otherwise they should just shut up about it." -Richard Dawkins |
#28
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Trip report: Casablanca and Marrakech
"Mike...." wrote in message ... Following up to Dusty Furtile Morrocan wrote: Sadly, you talk the truth. I hated telling locals to **** off, but it did become necessary at times. i think i might tick off africa by going to one of the spanish enclaves, or maybe i wont bother :-) -- Don't be put off. That's just N. Africa. Morocco, especially, remains one of my favourite desitinations after some 40 years. The hassle is easily managed, and can be turned round into fascinating conversations, given more than a 2-hour package tour of experience. The Spanish enclaves are the pits indeed. Don't even think about them. But depends why you're going. If you just want to 'tick off Africa' then OK ........... Surreyman |
#29
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Trip report: Casablanca and Marrakech
Following up to Dusty Furtile Morrocan
wrote: Next up: Rabat and Fez have you been near the high atlas? Thats probably where i would want to go, which brings me to kilimanjaro (OK that was totally contrived) But i'm impressed by this chap I met the other day, hes climbing it, but with an extra challenge "http://www.stumbling.co.uk" -- Mike Remove clothing to email |
#30
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Trip report: Casablanca and Marrakech
Following up to "a.spencer3" wrote:
The Spanish enclaves are the pits indeed. Don't even think about them. oh right! My wife keeps suggesting going to the paradors, you wouldnt recommend it i assume! -- Mike Remove clothing to email |
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