Showing posts with label Morocco. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Morocco. Show all posts
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Essaouria, Morocco
After coming back to Marrakech after the Sahara desert I caught the bus to Essaouria and took in the beach life. (Granted the bus broke down en route so the 3 hour trip took about 5). The town has a great beach although it is quite windy but given the heat in the rest of the country the breeze was welcome.
The wind does create some epic kiteboarding conditions... a sport currently out of my price range.
Africa is the land where the sun sets.
The atmosphere is laid back and even the lifeguards know it.
It was great fun and a nice change of pace from the streets of Marrakech.
The wind does create some epic kiteboarding conditions... a sport currently out of my price range.
Africa is the land where the sun sets.
The atmosphere is laid back and even the lifeguards know it.
It was great fun and a nice change of pace from the streets of Marrakech.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
The trip into Marrakech
I caught the 10:50 train
Typical second class seating in small rooms off of a hallway
Note the little Marrakech sign
Despite the epic heat there is some vegetation here.
The city does get dark as well.
More to say in the coming days.
Typical second class seating in small rooms off of a hallway
Note the little Marrakech sign
Despite the epic heat there is some vegetation here.
The city does get dark as well.
More to say in the coming days.
Pics from the trip to Africa
Birmingham 5am
London Underground 10:30
Landing in Tangier Africa - 3:20pm
My room in Casablanca 6:30pm
A fist full of Dihram
London Underground 10:30
Landing in Tangier Africa - 3:20pm
My room in Casablanca 6:30pm
A fist full of Dihram
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
UPDATE MOROCCO
Since typing on the computers here is so arduous I have decided to try and beat the system. This message has been typed on my own laptop and uploaded to my camera so that it can be posted on the computer. Here is my synopsis of Morocco thus far:
I woke in Birmingham at 4:30 in the morning and got ready to catch my bus. I first had to catch a bus across town to make my Megabus connection to London. The trip to London cost 4 pounds. Once in London I had to get 8 stops on the Underground away another 4 pounds and a short train to the airport 14 pounds (note that 3 hours on a bus from Birmingham was only 4). I then stood in line to get my boarding pass for over an hour before having to run to my flight. I really hoped that eating in the airport was going to be an option.
My flight came first to Tangier and I got to see the Southern coast of Spain as I flew in. This was a great part of the trip already (granted I was on about 2 hours of sleep and no food so it was easy to get emotional over anything.
Once landing in Casablanca I had to make it into town from the airport and luckily I had read up that the train was cheap. A little wait and 4 dollars later I was in town but still not at my hostel so I hopped a short cab and made it here. Somehow I booked a room with two twin beds to myself but it is cheaper than the hostels in Europe and I like the privacy so I kept it.
I made it here around 6:30 so I had been traveling since about 5 in the morning. Needless to say my first night was not too big. I bought some local breads and food and walked around the block before committing to a night of ipod movies and staggered hot sleep. I did figure out that it is easier to sleep during the days here because the heat keeps the bugs at bay until night…. Sadly I am not here for the nightlife.
Today I walked all around the city and through the market. I also visited the Mosque here that is the largest in Africa. It was an amazing building and I only wish it was open to tourists. The call to prayer here is frequent and very loud (it sound like someone on an exaggerated megaphone yelling at all hours of the day).
I also booked my next place to stay in Marrakech for tomorrow so I am planning on waking early and catching a train. I will be staying there for the next 3 nights before moving on either to the mountains or back toward the beach and up the coast.
I have not eaten a lot since I got here but luckily I did think ahead enough to pack on a few pounds before making the trip. I was trying to slim down in England then I realized that it could be a mistake for this trip. The facilities are mostly squat toilets although there is the occasional western style (normal) one to be found and hotels use them as a selling point. At the Bellagio in Las Vegas you can request a room with a gold toilet and in Morocco you have to research to find a room with a normal one.
Well I guess that is about enough from me for now. The computer at this hostel will not let me post to the blog but it will allow for some facebook messages so if you want to see any of them just add me with the name Jonathan Walker Collins. OK I have to get back to dodging the heat.
I woke in Birmingham at 4:30 in the morning and got ready to catch my bus. I first had to catch a bus across town to make my Megabus connection to London. The trip to London cost 4 pounds. Once in London I had to get 8 stops on the Underground away another 4 pounds and a short train to the airport 14 pounds (note that 3 hours on a bus from Birmingham was only 4). I then stood in line to get my boarding pass for over an hour before having to run to my flight. I really hoped that eating in the airport was going to be an option.
My flight came first to Tangier and I got to see the Southern coast of Spain as I flew in. This was a great part of the trip already (granted I was on about 2 hours of sleep and no food so it was easy to get emotional over anything.
Once landing in Casablanca I had to make it into town from the airport and luckily I had read up that the train was cheap. A little wait and 4 dollars later I was in town but still not at my hostel so I hopped a short cab and made it here. Somehow I booked a room with two twin beds to myself but it is cheaper than the hostels in Europe and I like the privacy so I kept it.
I made it here around 6:30 so I had been traveling since about 5 in the morning. Needless to say my first night was not too big. I bought some local breads and food and walked around the block before committing to a night of ipod movies and staggered hot sleep. I did figure out that it is easier to sleep during the days here because the heat keeps the bugs at bay until night…. Sadly I am not here for the nightlife.
Today I walked all around the city and through the market. I also visited the Mosque here that is the largest in Africa. It was an amazing building and I only wish it was open to tourists. The call to prayer here is frequent and very loud (it sound like someone on an exaggerated megaphone yelling at all hours of the day).
I also booked my next place to stay in Marrakech for tomorrow so I am planning on waking early and catching a train. I will be staying there for the next 3 nights before moving on either to the mountains or back toward the beach and up the coast.
I have not eaten a lot since I got here but luckily I did think ahead enough to pack on a few pounds before making the trip. I was trying to slim down in England then I realized that it could be a mistake for this trip. The facilities are mostly squat toilets although there is the occasional western style (normal) one to be found and hotels use them as a selling point. At the Bellagio in Las Vegas you can request a room with a gold toilet and in Morocco you have to research to find a room with a normal one.
Well I guess that is about enough from me for now. The computer at this hostel will not let me post to the blog but it will allow for some facebook messages so if you want to see any of them just add me with the name Jonathan Walker Collins. OK I have to get back to dodging the heat.
Morocco...
I am now in Morocco and hhave taken some great pics but the internet here is awful so if they dont post forgive me.... plus the keyboards here are rearranged so it takes forever to type. I am currently in the city of Casablanca. I arrived yesterday after 13 hours of travel so I slept the first day away and have spent today exploring. The plan is to head to Marrakesh tomorrow to spend about 3 nights before venturing into the mountains or back toward a beach.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Packin my bags... flight tomorrow
It is now just a few hours before I have to wake up to go to London so that I can fly down to Morocco. OK so this is not my bag but I was too lazy to take a picture of it.
I am excited and plan to try and sleep after some tomato soup. I am not sure where all I will make it in Morocco but I am hoping it is as fun as I think it is going to be. Wish me luck.
I am excited and plan to try and sleep after some tomato soup. I am not sure where all I will make it in Morocco but I am hoping it is as fun as I think it is going to be. Wish me luck.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Escaping Swine Flu
A recent report here in England has put out this warning for the future.
"Swine flu: 100,000 UK cases a day by August
Health secretary Andy Burnham announces that the disease can no longer be contained
Thursday, 02 July 2009
More than 100,000 people could be diagnosed with swine flu every day by the end of August, the government said, announcing that the disease can no longer be contained in the UK."
(This could be how it is spreading)
It is nice to know that to escape this rapidly spreading illness I will be retreating to the continent of Africa... wow.... that just doesn't seem right. By the end of July I move out of England and hopefully escape the more than 1 million cases every 2 weeks. It was also noted that Birmingham is a hotbed for the activity.(Time to get my vitamins in Morocco)
I fly to Morocco on the 6th of July.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Africa Plans
With Morocco looming in the near future I am trying to make my plans a little more solid before the trip takes off on the 6th of July. The plan as of now is as follows:
I catch a bus from Birmingham to London early on the morning of the 6th.
Then I catch a flight to Casablanca, Morocco where i will spend a couple of nights at a hostel in town.
After 2 nights in Casablanca I am off to Marrakesh for an undetermined amount of time and then I have the options of:
The Atlas Mountains
The Sahara Desert
Back to beaches of Morocco
Under all normal circumstances I would go with desert, but given the time of year that could prove to be a very hot mistake. The Atlas mountains seem likely to be the best choice due to the cooler climate and I am guessing beaches are the same just about anywhere.
I catch a bus from Birmingham to London early on the morning of the 6th.
Then I catch a flight to Casablanca, Morocco where i will spend a couple of nights at a hostel in town.
After 2 nights in Casablanca I am off to Marrakesh for an undetermined amount of time and then I have the options of:The Atlas Mountains
The Sahara Desert
Back to beaches of Morocco
Under all normal circumstances I would go with desert, but given the time of year that could prove to be a very hot mistake. The Atlas mountains seem likely to be the best choice due to the cooler climate and I am guessing beaches are the same just about anywhere.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
The Travels are Set to Continue
It has been a long time since I actually traveled (because I no longer count living in England as traveling), so I am ready to pack up and go again. The next group of trips will take me eventually back to the USA but not before stopping in a few more locales.
My first stop will be this weekend in Derry located in Northern Ireland. I have been all over Great Britain but have yet to see anything in Northern Ireland so a good weekend trip should give me a taste of it.
After this short trip I come back to England for a week or so before heading to Africa. I fly into Casablanca, Morocco on the 6th for about 2 weeks of exploration. I am not sure what parts of the country I will see quite yet but I know that Marrakesh is a definite.
At the end of July my tenure and my lease here in England are over so I am heading off to Eastern Europe to hopefully hit a few good beaches in Croatia and maybe track down Dracula in Transylvania.
To wrap up the trip I am hoping to hit Spain if timing and money permits before heading back home in September or so to start a whole new adventure.
My first stop will be this weekend in Derry located in Northern Ireland. I have been all over Great Britain but have yet to see anything in Northern Ireland so a good weekend trip should give me a taste of it.
After this short trip I come back to England for a week or so before heading to Africa. I fly into Casablanca, Morocco on the 6th for about 2 weeks of exploration. I am not sure what parts of the country I will see quite yet but I know that Marrakesh is a definite.
At the end of July my tenure and my lease here in England are over so I am heading off to Eastern Europe to hopefully hit a few good beaches in Croatia and maybe track down Dracula in Transylvania.
To wrap up the trip I am hoping to hit Spain if timing and money permits before heading back home in September or so to start a whole new adventure.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Flyin to Africa
MOROCCO
Coming into my final 2 months here in England I am planning on making a few more conquests. It is official as of seconds ago that I will be flying down to Africa on the 6th of July for 11 days or so. I fly into Casablanca, Morocco and will be trekking around the country (plans once there still uncertain).
It will be my 4th continent to have visited. I am hoping to do some camping while there but if I choose to stay in the cities this could be complicated. Wish me luck.
Coming into my final 2 months here in England I am planning on making a few more conquests. It is official as of seconds ago that I will be flying down to Africa on the 6th of July for 11 days or so. I fly into Casablanca, Morocco and will be trekking around the country (plans once there still uncertain).
It will be my 4th continent to have visited. I am hoping to do some camping while there but if I choose to stay in the cities this could be complicated. Wish me luck.
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