Morocco with JESSICA

We left no time for relaxation after the conference on Friday and Saturday.

On Sunday morning, Jess and I woke up to the alarm at 9am.

Too early. Re-set to 9:30.

Half and hour later I looked at Jess and asked if we were really going to run the women’s race in Rabat that morning.

“We can go running later today,” I said. With groggy look, she replied, “Do you really think we are going to go running later? I don’t think so. Come on, we can do it!”

So we rolled out of bed, threw on some clothes and hailed a taxi to take us to the start of the race. We registered when we arrived and asked how long it was. 3km was the response. No problem, we thought.

10km and 55 minutes later, we arrived over-heated and sore at the finish line. Great way to start the day.

After a relaxing day in Rabat on Sunday, we left Monday morning for Marrakesh. The train ride was hot. So hot. There was no moving air in the packed cars, eight people to each little room, squished together on bench seats trying not to fall asleep on each other. I stood in the hallway most of the way to catch what little breeze came through the few windows that had been cracked open.

When we arrived, we immediately went to the tourist info office, a lovely vaulted kiosk, inconveniently located next to nothing of interest. From there we made reservations and took an hour time-out to plan our trip. Some shopping and fresh pressed orange juice later, we were lost in the back streets of the medina, finding all the best boutiques and hidden corners away from the tourist path.

Dinner and to bed in our disgusting (but cheap) riad and then off to our 6:30am bus. Thank god we slept most of the way across the mountains; otherwise we would have both been sick (instead of just Jess being ill).

Once we met Shawn in Kella M’Gouna, our next two days we smooth sailing and full of local culture. We showered in the downstairs public SuperDouche, went to souq day just outside of town, walked amidst the wheat and wild roses in the valley and drank tea at the cliff-top riad along the river. It was the most amazing part of our trip.

Well, perhaps our relaxing stay in the far reaches of Kella M’Gouna could be rivaled by our beachside riad in Essaouria where we sunbathed on the roof all day long, ate more couscous than should be allowed and watched two glorious sunsets over the pounding ocean waves.

The night bus home on Friday could have been more comfortable but once we arrived home on Saturday morning, we were again energized to go shopping in the medina. Arms full of bags later, we dropped stuff off at the house and sped off to a friend’s beach house, where we ate, drank and swam in the cold pool all afternoon long. Our last night in Rabat was low key, spent packing and then stopping by an ex-pat party.

We are at the Agdal station at 7am for the train, and Jessica and I once again parted ways. It was an amazing week. I wonder where we will meet up again next time.