Our last days in Marrakesh

I believe I can call myself an expert at getting around the Marrakesh Souks– markets – as I had plenty time to explore them while hubby was working through his 24 hr stomach bug – thank goodness Imoden is available everywhere!  Inexpensive here too.  We had to say goodbye to visiting many of the beautiful landmark buildings.  However I explored every nook and cranny of the markets discovering the long straight ‘Leather Alley’ with the dug up bricks all along the way, where the livestock is kept, where the locals shop, almost all the Vespa repair shops are, the Marrakech version of our café scene and upmarket accommodations. What’s this?  The Marrakech Museum?  Lovely tiled atrium, art rooms and toilets Morroccan style interesting contemporary artworks and pottery.   Having got my museum ‘fix’ I proceeded outside to find the alley I came along had disappeared so a young man said he would help me find my way back. Soon I was not so sure so said ‘thank you.’  ‘Might I have a little present?’ he asks. Having anticipated this, I had ready a small silver coin. ‘That’s only 1 cent!’ he says, horrified. So I gave him a coin with gold on it – 2 Dihrs I think. Next thing a guy interrupts – ‘you can’t do that’ or words to that effect. So I left them to it – and went off in the wrong direction – to a very busy intersection in the new part of town – then had to back track to get the correct directions.  Funny thing was, apparently I was very close to our accommodation and had walked a very roundabout way to get there!  Such are adventures. Fortunately hubby was much better and we repaired to a local and recommended restaurant for a light meal, joined by the local friendly cat and some very pleasant local live music.

Up early next morning to the Marrakech airport for our flight to Casablanca – we were told to be there at least 2 hours early for check in – only to find we now have over 2 hours to wait…….

Adventure to the Atlas Mountains of Marrakesh, Morocco– and that Camel Ride....

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After hearing that our camel ride was going to be around 3 hours in duration – so we understood – and were warned that a half hour was more than enough, we were delighted to find out that our ride was to be 30 minutes only – and on the flat too!! In fact it was the subject of our first stop. After partaking in some local tea - the Morocco tradition, we were dressed in the local garb - all blue  - and hoisted on to the back of our friendly camels.  It took a few minutes to work out how to balance and relax on the camels’ back then it was time to enjoy the sunshine, fresh air, and peacefulness of the balmy countryside.  Then it was off to the majestic Atlas Mountains – huge alps looming an hour away high in the sky. We detoured to a natural health and beauty products place where all was made from oil by a women’s collective, a quick stop to inspect the outside of Kasbah Tamadot -Sir Richard Branson’s place  - the base of his mother’s Eva Branson Charity – offering projects to enrich the lives of the local people of Morocco  - and at the movie location for a recent Tom Cruise Mission Impossible  – now to be the location for a war movie, then past a place that Meryl Streep set up to educate girls in the area.  More ‘names’ to come…  The scenery of the alps is dramatic –  reminding one of Central Otago Scenery – redder, more trees, precarious roads red river valleys with much greenery and higher mountains in the distance. Plus many small terra cotta neat villages everywhere. We trekked up through villages past the Kasbah du Toubkal  - a ‘premier’ mountain retreat – and National Geographic Unique Hotel. It was the film set for the Dalai Lama Movie and has hosted Martin Scorsese, Lady Gaga and others.  The local villages, unlike others nearby in the Alps, thrive on Tourism (The Kathmandu of Morocco)  - walking and skiing. – with mule deliverers – the local 4 x 4’s, Air BnB’s and tour guiding being the most popular jobs.  A typical Moroccan lunch accompanied by lots of laughs from our fellow travellers, topped up this highlight of our trip to the Atlas Mountains by Marrakesh, Morocco. Well worth the trip!

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A Glimpse of our Winter Adventure in Berlin

We knew it would be cold in Berlin. In the minuses, we knew, and in preparation had brought additional layers of clothing for our winter holiday there. However we had not expected the locals to complain as well!  ‘It is minus 7 degrees with a wind chill of minus 21! our shivering cab driver informed us as she hauled our luggage into her boot.    We travelled under a grey sky along grey streets and were met at a grey door behind which was our accommodation. Through a passageway and there they were – the beautiful, red brick, Berlin Lofts!  Once warehouses, today they are tastefully transformed into warm roomy hotel apartments – equipped with practically everything that visitors  to Berlin would want. I could quite happily live in this apartment with its open plan kitchen, dining and lounge area in which a party of 100 people would rattle about.  

Bundled into our many layers we  quickly strolled around the neighbourhood, purchased a few necessities   - oh look! over there looks to be a friendly local pub!  Such warmth – we sighed blissfully as we peeled off our layers of clothing and sat down to enjoy some local beer, wine and food  - and at very reasonable prices, too!  Our 20-month-old grandson was an instant hit with both the staff and regulars – our first realisation that the Berliners love babies!!  This pub became our ‘regular’ during our stay in Berlin  - no doubt the regulars missed our noisy repartee and baby’s antics after our departure.

Our London and Cambridge Adventure between Christmas and New Year 2015

Following our trip to Italy we spent several days in Roydon, Essex, enjoying the balmy winter weather, family, life in a small village, and the local pub fare.  However whenever we left this quiet sanctuary, it seemed as if all the London crowds travelled with us!  For example, we travelled by train to the Westfield Shopping Centre in Stratford but by lunchtime all of London was there too! On another day we secretly escaped to Cambridge – but that did not work either!  Crowds of locals and tourists were everywhere, resulting in queues to get into the famous Eagle Tavern with its world famous ceiling in the RAF bar, the room in which the 'secret of life' was announced and even its own ghost!

 There was a crowd at the Ronald Searle exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum which was not helpful when viewing his and the works of other caricaturists of the 20^th century.  A magnificent building that the Fitzwilliam Museum is housed in – we did not have time to view all the works – but the décor was quite something.  A day of wandering around, lunching at the famous Fitzwilliam Café  - luckily we did not have to queue here to enjoy their delicious food – was ample to get a feel of this renowned University City. Sadly, not one of the University buildings was open for us to inspect, nor was the Polar Museum, which was recommended to us.

Back in London we travelled several times into the central city, to Foyles Bookshop, Rays Jazz Shop – both in new, better designed buildings, shopping, and strolling along in the early evening, enjoying the beautiful Street Christmas decorations.

On our last full day in London, which happened to be the first rainy day of our holiday trip so far, we decided to visit the British Museum. However all the London crowds were there first…… We joined the quickly moving queue into the building and enjoyed a lovely lunch upstairs before enjoying the exhibits.

Most notable of the items we had time to see was the Rosetta Stone and the story of hieroglyphs and the Parthenon sculptures gallery. We would certainly return to the British Museum and view more of its exhibitions!

Last day in Pisa, and Italy, and the Ryanair Adventure

Up the leaning tower of Pisa to view the hazy city, a crazy pose in front of the Leaning Tower – a must, apparently after watching everyone else do so - visiting the cathedral, a walk around the Pisa's Cathedral Square and it is time to depart or the Galileo Galilei Airport.

 Uh oh, what a scene – why are the xray machines not working?  Why are there crowds standing around not moving? Delays?  Cancellations ?? Fog???  We never saw any clouds – just distant haze….  Old radar?  Over cautious pilots?  We spoke to many interesting people during our long wait – and heard about lives, families, work etc and the inconvenience.  Very late in the evening we were all informed that there would be no more flights and that there were stretchers upstairs. Really??? Sure enough, a large room was crammed with them, each stretcher accompanied with a thick orange plastic wrapped blanket.  This was not good enough!  Wait, our flight is being called – a bus to a hotel?  That’s better!   After travelling for an hour, at 2.30am we arrived at a Novotel Hotel at an airport north of Florence.  At this striking but very old hotel, we were quickly registered and departed to our warm room of 2 single beds with one small pillow each and a very stained, cigarette butted carpet, for 4 hours sleep before breakfast and an hour’s trip back to the Pisa Airport.  London, here we come 18 hours later – at last!!!!