Another old/late post that won't let me add pictures. Blah. I'm behind on my blog posts. Again. Blah. You can tell that this really upsets me.
In the second of my catch-up posts we cover Friday afternoon to now, Tuesday night. Wow, I am getting behind.
Anywho.
Friday afternoon heralded the weekend, and what more relaxed way to spend it than with friends at the beach? We tried to organise a big group picnic for Lina as she left yesterday (Monday) however, it ended up being just John, Lina, Lexy and myself, so we sat at the beach and ate pastries and pancakes with nutella whilst watching life pass by without a care in the world. That sounds very hippy-ish, but it was incredibly relaxing to just sit and chat and laugh. Refreshing, even. We returned home in the evening to eat dinner, only to leave again to have drinks with other volunteers and work out our plans for the next day which at that point only included the early train to Fes. The cheap bar is growing on me, and I have a feeling that much beer will be drunk there before I leave. We eventually planned to meet at 5:40am at Bab Bouiba to catch the 6:12 train to Fes for the day, and then catch the 7pm train home.
Saturday morning was an early one and was interesting from the start after the atm managed to eat Cameron's card before we were even out of the city. The train ride, whilst being ridiculously early, passed rather quickly due to John's stroke of genius in bringing a pack of playing cards. We have learnt from other long train rides and many laughs were had over S***head and El Presidente. Mostly at me, because I didn't actually get the rules at all. I claim I was disfunctional because it was early; turns out it didn't matter as I still didn't know them in the evening. However, I can proudly say I remember how to play (and not lose) both games now.
We arrived in Fez at 9:30. Most places were still only opening and the medina which we were expecting to be crazy and hasseling was quiet and subdued. There were minimal shops open, so we managed to walk from one side of the medina to the other without knowing it. Normally, this would be a good thing, however we were in the local part meaning they sold matching adidas tracksuits and polar fleece blankets rather than the more typical touristy jalabas and scarves, which was what we had really come to Fez for. We stopped for mint tea and "nous-nous" (a Moroccan drink of half milk, half coffee), biding our time until the rest of the medina opened and then set off once again.
Whilst being a lovely city, there is not much part from the medina to explore in Fez. The medina itself is huge, although try as we might we couldn't quite get lost as Lonely Planet suggested. We did have to suck up our pride and take a taxi at one stage though, as apparently it was too far a distance (3-6kms-depending on who we spoke to) to walk from the gate we had managed to get ourselves to, to the tourist-y part of the medina. However, as we found out, that taxi took us back to the same gate we had started at. Turns out that we actually started in the touristy part of the medina and not known it.
We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering in roughly the same part of the medina until dinner. Lonely Planet had guided us to a restaurant called "The Clock Tower", and it was an absolute gem. To get there you followed little blue and orange signs that pointed you down a tiny, dark alleyway, then you turned right into a warm and welcoming foyer, where the staff all spoke really good english and ushered you onto the extremely comfortable terrace upstairs. We lounged around on couches and played cards whilst listening to the guitar from a few tables over and the chatter of happy people around us. I'd like to say the food there was excellent, however John and I think that it is what gave us the food poisoning, so if you do ever end up at The Clock Tower restaurant, don't get the grilled chicken burger with preserved lemon maynnaise. Get the Tapas or falafels instead (neither Lexy or Cameron are sick so I'll take it as bad luck for myself and John). Honestly, I would go there again even after being sick now; the service was excellent, the atmosphere laid back, the view was pretty good and we had a very good time.
The ride home was essentially the same as the ride to fes, with the small exception of hoodlum activity on the train tracks. One window was almost shattered after a small rock was thrown at it, and another window came very close after the rock hit metal panelling on the side instead. You cannot escape idiocy no matter how far you travel!
The following day was spent doing all manner of fun things. We had a bit of a sleep-in (same old me, still getting up late!) and then myself and the boys went to the beach for a whie, where we ended up playing a random game of beach soccer. Random because we didn't know the opposition and the rules were different. Appparently though, you dive every time you are touched without fail. My legs are remembering this soccer game all too well many days later.
My afternoon was spent meandering through the packed medina with Fatima Zahra, before I caught up for coffee with the boys again and then played pool after dinner as well. So keen! I have never seen a more dramatic shift from relaxation to concentration as when it was suggested that we play British versus Australian in teams. We lost by one ball but we played valiantly, much more so than our counterparts-even making up a handshake. Yeah, we're so cool.
As we walked home, we formulated plans for "John's last night", which was going to take place on Friday (24th). A certina member of our gropu decided that we should play a game of Capture the Flag in the Medina. Now normally, when you pplay capture the flag, you use a red and blue (or two different coloured) flags or pieces of material, such as shirts. Not in Morocco. The flags of choice were umbrellas, and not just small umbreallas; large, cafe style umbrellas that the boys...acquired. Well played.
I ended the night on cloud nine, however it was shortlived as food poisoing took hold during the night and I was layed low for the next two days.
Id like to say that this brings me up to date, but alas I find myself another 4 days behind, and a lot has happened in those past four days. As such another blog post is necessary and I will endeavour to include photos in that one, as for this post and the prior blogspot has decided to play silly and not upload, which is a shame because I have some ripper photos. Hopefully in the next couple of days I can get a post going with pictures, or maybe do the 'hipster' thing and start a tumblr for all my photos. Or not... I struggle keeping one blog up to date.
Until next time!
Love Love,
Clem xx
In the second of my catch-up posts we cover Friday afternoon to now, Tuesday night. Wow, I am getting behind.
Anywho.
Friday afternoon heralded the weekend, and what more relaxed way to spend it than with friends at the beach? We tried to organise a big group picnic for Lina as she left yesterday (Monday) however, it ended up being just John, Lina, Lexy and myself, so we sat at the beach and ate pastries and pancakes with nutella whilst watching life pass by without a care in the world. That sounds very hippy-ish, but it was incredibly relaxing to just sit and chat and laugh. Refreshing, even. We returned home in the evening to eat dinner, only to leave again to have drinks with other volunteers and work out our plans for the next day which at that point only included the early train to Fes. The cheap bar is growing on me, and I have a feeling that much beer will be drunk there before I leave. We eventually planned to meet at 5:40am at Bab Bouiba to catch the 6:12 train to Fes for the day, and then catch the 7pm train home.
Saturday morning was an early one and was interesting from the start after the atm managed to eat Cameron's card before we were even out of the city. The train ride, whilst being ridiculously early, passed rather quickly due to John's stroke of genius in bringing a pack of playing cards. We have learnt from other long train rides and many laughs were had over S***head and El Presidente. Mostly at me, because I didn't actually get the rules at all. I claim I was disfunctional because it was early; turns out it didn't matter as I still didn't know them in the evening. However, I can proudly say I remember how to play (and not lose) both games now.
We arrived in Fez at 9:30. Most places were still only opening and the medina which we were expecting to be crazy and hasseling was quiet and subdued. There were minimal shops open, so we managed to walk from one side of the medina to the other without knowing it. Normally, this would be a good thing, however we were in the local part meaning they sold matching adidas tracksuits and polar fleece blankets rather than the more typical touristy jalabas and scarves, which was what we had really come to Fez for. We stopped for mint tea and "nous-nous" (a Moroccan drink of half milk, half coffee), biding our time until the rest of the medina opened and then set off once again.
Whilst being a lovely city, there is not much part from the medina to explore in Fez. The medina itself is huge, although try as we might we couldn't quite get lost as Lonely Planet suggested. We did have to suck up our pride and take a taxi at one stage though, as apparently it was too far a distance (3-6kms-depending on who we spoke to) to walk from the gate we had managed to get ourselves to, to the tourist-y part of the medina. However, as we found out, that taxi took us back to the same gate we had started at. Turns out that we actually started in the touristy part of the medina and not known it.
We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering in roughly the same part of the medina until dinner. Lonely Planet had guided us to a restaurant called "The Clock Tower", and it was an absolute gem. To get there you followed little blue and orange signs that pointed you down a tiny, dark alleyway, then you turned right into a warm and welcoming foyer, where the staff all spoke really good english and ushered you onto the extremely comfortable terrace upstairs. We lounged around on couches and played cards whilst listening to the guitar from a few tables over and the chatter of happy people around us. I'd like to say the food there was excellent, however John and I think that it is what gave us the food poisoning, so if you do ever end up at The Clock Tower restaurant, don't get the grilled chicken burger with preserved lemon maynnaise. Get the Tapas or falafels instead (neither Lexy or Cameron are sick so I'll take it as bad luck for myself and John). Honestly, I would go there again even after being sick now; the service was excellent, the atmosphere laid back, the view was pretty good and we had a very good time.
The ride home was essentially the same as the ride to fes, with the small exception of hoodlum activity on the train tracks. One window was almost shattered after a small rock was thrown at it, and another window came very close after the rock hit metal panelling on the side instead. You cannot escape idiocy no matter how far you travel!
The following day was spent doing all manner of fun things. We had a bit of a sleep-in (same old me, still getting up late!) and then myself and the boys went to the beach for a whie, where we ended up playing a random game of beach soccer. Random because we didn't know the opposition and the rules were different. Appparently though, you dive every time you are touched without fail. My legs are remembering this soccer game all too well many days later.
My afternoon was spent meandering through the packed medina with Fatima Zahra, before I caught up for coffee with the boys again and then played pool after dinner as well. So keen! I have never seen a more dramatic shift from relaxation to concentration as when it was suggested that we play British versus Australian in teams. We lost by one ball but we played valiantly, much more so than our counterparts-even making up a handshake. Yeah, we're so cool.
As we walked home, we formulated plans for "John's last night", which was going to take place on Friday (24th). A certina member of our gropu decided that we should play a game of Capture the Flag in the Medina. Now normally, when you pplay capture the flag, you use a red and blue (or two different coloured) flags or pieces of material, such as shirts. Not in Morocco. The flags of choice were umbrellas, and not just small umbreallas; large, cafe style umbrellas that the boys...acquired. Well played.
I ended the night on cloud nine, however it was shortlived as food poisoing took hold during the night and I was layed low for the next two days.
Id like to say that this brings me up to date, but alas I find myself another 4 days behind, and a lot has happened in those past four days. As such another blog post is necessary and I will endeavour to include photos in that one, as for this post and the prior blogspot has decided to play silly and not upload, which is a shame because I have some ripper photos. Hopefully in the next couple of days I can get a post going with pictures, or maybe do the 'hipster' thing and start a tumblr for all my photos. Or not... I struggle keeping one blog up to date.
Until next time!
Love Love,
Clem xx
No comments:
Post a Comment