Morocco 101

Spain on left, Africa on the right

The first few days in Morocco have flowns by and it's been a great experience with lots of learning about a different way of life. Leaving the ferry terminal was really the end of Europe and since then we've (myself and the two other Australian motorcyclists, Craig and Jenni, I met on the ferry) have quickly been learning things are done differently in Arabian Africa.

First stop was the town of Tetouan about 30k south which is where we got our "Morocco 101". We only pulled into get fuel for the bikes but within minutes are taken in hand by a local tourist hustler (starting with the obligatory where are you from? to establish which language to use - but then following the reply somewhat bizarrely with "lubbly jubbly" a phrase I haven't heard since watching Alexi Sasyle in the Young Ones in the eighties). After helping us get fuel he passed us on to his friend who offered us secure parking and then the next one who offered to guide us round the lanes of the Medina (traditional walled market and housing area with labyrinth lanes only a few feet wide - enter without a guide and you will be quickly lost), followed by someone else to try and sell us the obligatory carpet and souvenirs, someone else to sell a meal and so on. We quickly learned that in Morocco there is always someone immediately available to help you with your every need. Of course everyone wants paying  - but it's very little; that first few hours in Tetouan cost us each less than $15, well over what we probably should have paid, but still a bargain to have the bikes guarded, to be fed and guided and well informed about the history and working of the Medina over several hours.

From there we continued about another 100km south to Chefchouan to stop for the night. The experience above repeated itself for finding a hotel and parking for the bikes, though after the first experience we now (probably falsely) felt a little more in control. Chefchouan is famous for the picturesque nature of its Medina where for some historical reason I never understood, is painted predominantly in blue.

From there it was on to Meknes to enable a visit to the Roman ruins at Volubilus - an amazing 40 hectare site where it is still write possible to see the overall structure of the city which functioned for five hundred years from 200 BC onwards. What was amazing about it was not only the state of preservation but also the unfettered access you have just to wander around with only minimal barriers and restrictions