Robyn and Gareth's (mis?)adventures...

Along with millions of other ex-pat kiwis and aussies we headed to Morocco for Christmas and New Year. Although it was never a country high on our 'to-do' list, it completely surprised us and we had a truly wicked time. Would go back tomorrow...

Fes
There are cheap flights from Luton to Fes (point to note) and although Gareth managed to pick up the wrong pack off the conveyer belt, the unfortunate chap who ended up with Gareth's boxers left it at the airport. So we made a quick trip back out to Fes airport and in our non-existent Arabic and French we managed to get it back. Will he ever learn?!?!?!

This is the first Riad (B&B) we stayed at and it was gorgeous.

We went wandering through the maze of streets in Fes' old town and came accros some weird and wonderful stuff.

This souq makes large metal things - not quite sure what but I think it's stuff used for weddings.

Fes' tanneries stink but you stand on a rooftop and look down over them.

The second riad we stayed at (Dar El Hana) gave us a Moroccan/Western Christmas dinner. This is a chicken pastilla - chicken with almonds and spices wrapped in filo pastry. Quite strange but very tasty.

Casablanca
Caught the train to Casa. Morocco's train services are pretty damn good. We were told to travel first class because it was New Year and the locals were travelling all over the place. Casablanca for us wasn't so cool. The only interesting thing we found was King Hassan II's mosque which holds about 25,000 worshipers (inside alone) and has a retracting roof. And as a non-muslim you are actually allowed into this mosque (rare treat in the arab world).

Hassan II Mosque Haman - which has never been used.

Rabat
This city is really different to the rest of Morocco, not too westernised but still has all things Moroccan about it. We spent an afternoon here and saw loads...

Gareth made friends with this guy?!?!

Marrakech
So another long train journey on a jam packed train to Marrakech. What we didn't take photos of were the sheep on mopeds. Given it was year of the sheep, the year ended in a huge feast at the sake of a few million sheep. So sheep were being transported around the city in any way possible.

No trip to Morocco would be complete without a photo of Djemma el Fnaa at night, so here you go...

One thing I love about Morocco is the freshly squeezed OJ and mandarins.

And just to test the strength of Gareth's iron stomach he decided to eat dodgy stall food. I saw sense...

One of the freakiest things was walking around Marrakech's souqs on New Years Eve, it was deserted and quite eerie.

Ouarzazate and High Atlas Mountains
We did a day trip out to Ouarzazate. Mountains were wicked but that's about all.

But we did stop off at a kasbah just outside of Ouarzazate which was interesting, apart from people trying to sell us stuff, including their services for assisting us across the river on stones.

Ait Benhaddou Kasbah

We thought it would be a good idea to visit Germany before Christmas to see how it's really celebrated. And Dusseldorf didn't dissapoint...talk about eating, drinking and walking!!!

It's madness!!!! Hundred and hundreds of stalls selling food, drink, toys, food, drink, christmas stuff, food, drink...

Just to prove we were there.

Gluwein = mulled wine (very strong). I hated it, Gareth loved it. It's like swallowing warm petrol with a hint of cinnamon.

The Rhine runs through the city and this is an area with loads of beautiful buildings looking over the river.

Another christmas market, but with a cool carousel in the middle (where you can drink gluwein).