Once you
make your decision to visit MOROCCO you will find that the pre-tour
organisation and planning is all part of the fun…….Along with deciding what to take
and what to leave!
MARCH
Tour is now FULL………
APRIL
was full and closed but ONE vehicle place has just become available……..
SEPTEMBER
has only ONE vehicle place left…….
OCTOBER
has just THREE vehicle places remaining…….
In last month’s
Blog posting I suggested that subject to demand we would consider a couple of
additional dates, in particular NOVEMBER. We now have a couple of interested
parties who are now on “Standby”, subject to one or two more client bookings……If
a late, but excellent weather, tour appeals get in touch ASAP.
2016 TOUR DATES………..ALL THAT’S LEFT
1st April ‘16
|
THE MOROCCAN
“CLASSIC” TOUR
Trans
Riff-Atlas-Forest-Sahara-Atlantic Coast
|
ONLY ONE PLACE
|
3rd SEPT ‘16
|
THE MOROCCAN “CLASSIC” TOUR
Trans Riff-Atlas-Forest-Sahara-Atlantic Coast
|
ONLY ONE PLACE
|
1st Oct ‘16
14th Nov ‘16
|
THE MOROCCAN “CLASSIC” TOUR
Trans Riff-Atlas-Forest-Sahara-Atlantic Coast
THE MOROCCAN “CLASSIC” TOUR
Trans Riff-Atlas-Forest-Sahara-Atlantic Coast
|
THREE PLACES
ONLY
STANDBY
|
BACK TO THE FUTURE………..
I
don’t have any real Idols or Hero’s; rather I regard and appreciate the unsung.
That’s not to say some celebrated individuals have played no small part in providing
inspiration, impulse and sway on my life. Bookshelves attest and creak under
the weight of Richardson, Rohlfs, Ritchie, Livingstone and of course Lawrence.
There’s a whole section by and on Wilfred Thesiger. They and a few others are
answerable and responsible for this restless and impatient life…………. But it’s
not about me…..I digress……
Gertrude
Bell was by any a standard an extraordinary woman and should you wish you can
research her life…… For a short and as good as any perhaps see.
Better
still read the remarkable biography of her life “Queen of the Desert” by Fergus
Mason [very cheap on Kindle]. It will take your breath away.
In
the brilliant film “Queen of the Desert” you have two hits for the price of
one. It is of course an adaptation on the life of Gertrude Bell but for obvious
political and convenience it was almost entirely filmed in Morocco.
Those
who have travelled to Morocco with us will not fail to recognise many of the
locations….. Erg Chebbie Dunes, Merzouga, Ait Ben Haddou, areas around
Ouarzazzate and a few more, as well as numerous byways, Kasbah’s and souks.
Not
just a great life, great film but a bit of spot-the-place fun for those who
have passed this way.
IT JUST GOT A
BIT STRANGER………
Last month I brought you the story of strange
sounds in the skies over Morocco……..now perhaps gets weirder in the Doukkala
region of Morocco…..
Just a few days ago large chunks of the mysterious substance were captured
on video rolling on the ground, pushed along by the breeze. Some said that it is a result of chem-trails, a long-running conspiracy
theory, claiming poisonous toxins are deliberately sprayed from planes onto the
public for sinister purposes. This theory has of course been dismissed by
the scientific community. Some others believed that they are real clouds that
fell into the ground…....
Whatever it is and whatever
the reason it has the locals well and truly spooked……….. Take a look for
yourself.
WORTH ANOTHER
CHANCE I THINK……….
I will be honest and admit that Tangier is not
my favourite Moroccan city. I will also admit that I have not been there for,
Mmmmm, let me think…….for 12 years.
My indifference is mostly based on the
horrendous traffic conditions I encountered [but I was driving a MASSIVE 6X6 truck]
and the hassle at the port, the rest is based on non-complementary day-tripper
accounts. I will make an effort to re-visit this year……........In the meantime
Local artisans in Tangier have embarked on an
ambitious series of projects to clean up and beautify their neighbourhoods with several competing
to create the most impressive decoration of their streets. The “Creation and Sustainability” prize went to the Al
Inaach and Al Majid neighbourhoods and the “Commitment and Participation” prize
was won by the Al Amal, Al Irfane and Ibn Battuta neighbourhoods.
The time-sequence video [link below] shows local Moroccans
designing, cleaning, building, decorating, and beautifying their street. The
engineers, architects, wrought-iron workers, designers, painters, artists,
handy-men and residents worked day and night to turn their street into a
dream-like, colourful, and spotless destination………
Well done and all credit to
them.
WHEN IN
ROME……….
Another of our visited
locations but those who have been with us will no doubt remember the overnight
wilderness, Berber village, campfire setting before we call into .…….
Originally a Berber
settlement before the Romans arrived, conquered, and renamed the area
Mauretania Tingitana, was a fertile triangle between Meknes, Fez and Rabat,
with direct connections to the ports of Tangier and, thus, the rest of the
Roman Empire.
Volubilis began its story in Neolithic times, with
remains found dating back some 5000 years. Settled between the Zerhoun mountain
and its river valleys, it was a fertile area for growing crops. Fast forward to
the Romans arrival in around 150 BC and its rule under a descendant of
Cleopatra. This site ticks all my boxes: prehistory, romance and famous folks.
By the 2nd
century, Volubilis had approximately 20,000 inhabitants. It was surely one of
the most majestic cities in North Africa.
In only another hundred years, the
Romans were defeated and control of the plain returned to the original tribes
of the area. History tells us it was here where Moulay Idriss (787) established
the Idrisid dynasty of Morocco. After the capital moved to Fez, archaeologists
tell us people lived here until the 14th century. Thereafter, it
seems to have been slowly deserted. By the 17th century, Moulay
Ismail demolished parts of the city to build his new palaces in the area, most
notably the city of Meknes.
This beautiful city was in the midst of destruction
from all sides, being demolished stone by stone and recycled into newer
palaces. Humans, however, were not the only things to cause destruction to
Volubilis; it’s tallest buildings were flattened by an earthquake in 1755.
It seems to have remained
dormant until the early 20th century, when archaeologists
rediscovered it and excavations began in earnest. In the 1960's, several of the
arches were restored and rebuilt, something that is frowned on today. But look
at the beautiful pictures of the Triumphant Arch of Caracalla!
Now we jump into modern
times. In 1997, UNESCO listed the area as a World Heritage Site. In 2000,
another area was discovered by INSAP and said to be the headquarters of Idriss
I. Many of the objects found have been taken to the Archeological Museum in
Rabat. There is also a small Museum on this site that you can visit.
I am fascinated by the rich history of this site,
inhabited for a 1,000 years, only to be cast aside for the new imperial cities
of Fez and Meknes. I really recommend a guided tour, which can explain the
complex history of North Africa’s conquest, the discipline of Roman
architecture, as well as its being one of the founding sites of Morocco’s
history as a nation. I can’t possibly cover its history in a few words and
pictures, but please take the time to look it up online or even in a book!
I FINALLY GOT
THE MESSAGE…………
Finally
an extremely rare moan………. And this DOES NOT apply to the many and valued
friends we have made over the years and who we are at times in contact with………
keep asking for our assistance and advise or whatever…….you are genuinely
welcome. But as for the others!
We
have just had a major clear-out of our yard and workshop and I was staggered at
the number of items found that we have sourced for distressed motorhome owners
over the years and that have not been collected or paid for. I know, I know,
but it creeps up on you and I genuinely didn’t realise the amount and full cost.
It
starts with a call to our office “I am desperate, broken down and can’t locate
a CPU unit for my Fiat [or whatever]. Can you get me one and I will collect and
pay” There is no need to go on and on other than to say that next Sundays “Boot
Sale” will have several motorhome tyres and awning parts, as well as a large
assortment of mechanical items, gas fittings and electronic gizmo’s. We even
found a Hymer window-screen that was “desperately needed” but never collected……Yes,
you know who you are……Desperate in Marrakech.
Then
there are the calls for help from stranded solo motorhome travellers in
Morocco. The call invariably starts with “I know it’s a cheek but………..” We have in the past delivered clutch parts
[and fitted] from Spain too as far as Merzouger [Erg Chebbie Dunes] as well as
sourcing various items they could not find themselves from all over Morocco. We
have opened our workshop in both Spain and Morocco. We have sent out our
mechanic on endless missions. Again I could go on and on and on……. Rarely for
more than a “thank you”, if that!
Nuts,
bolts and tools [“lost” a few of them], etc. etc. You name it and we have
loaned or given it.
Travel,
route and general advice requests are received almost daily in our office and
take a great deal of time, phone calls, email etc. etc…..it feels almost a
full-time job in itself.
The
straw that has “Broken the Camel’s back” as it were was the recent request for
Spain-Morocco ferry tickets…….Yes, YOU Mr Packham ....... Having booked his ferry
at around 50% discount, made more than a few emails and phone calls, gave
directions to the ticket pick-up location etc. etc. Yes you’ve guest it. Without
explanation, or contact, or answering our phone calls and emails Mr Packham
failed to collect the tickets, leaving us to pay for the unused tickets
ourselves as they were, as requested, time sensitive for a particular day .………
What an arsehole!
So
the few….and in this case Mr Packham [ex-client] has spoilt it for the many.
The
sick and injured is a difficult one to say no too. For non-clients we have in
the past dealt with just about everything from broken limbs to yes, even death.
In distress payment is the last thing to be considered or asked for, but
without our experienced office staff your no-insurance their bills would have
been astronomical. Even a thank you would go some way………It has over the years
cost Desert Detours a [I nearly said small] fortune……. But OK, call in this
case………..!
BUT………Desert
Detours are no longer an agent or information bureau for the Solo or Non-Client
traveller. We are no longer a motorhome parts department. Our workshops and
mechanics based in both Spain and Morocco will continue to be at the disposal of
our clients on tour ONLY. Our Veterinary service is only for our clients on tour with pets.
Campsite bookings are now undertaken for clients on tour only…………In fact if you are not
a client or one of our “valued friends”, DON’T CALL!
