Vera Macdonald

Such a gorgeous day I went to the beach for a dip and some sunbathing. As you can see, it’s not overcrowded.

Yes, as I prepare for my extended stay in the southern hemisphere, I’m re-activating the blog so that I don’t use facebook so much but can keep you all posted about what I’m doing.

At last, my new Morroccan carpet is here, unwrapped and on the floor, waiting for a decision as to where to put it.  But it’s fab, just as I remember it.  Callum negotiated the price, then carried it back, all 13.5 kg of it (not cheap on the dreaded Ryanair) then on the train from London. Good lad, good man I have to say now that he’s 30!

Pink and green carpet

Went to visit Chellah today, the ancient Roman ruins here in Rabat.  Our last day before going to Fez, so did some quick shopping too. Didn’t haggle much as things are cheap anyway, and I can’t barter, but I was happy with what I paid for stuff, so that’s a good deal anyway I think.

The baths perhaps

Shopping in the medina

First the washing machine broke down, but was fixed first thing the next morning. Then I plugged in my computer to the wall socket in my room and the TV standby lights went out, so did the room and more importantly, the light in the toilet. So we had to tell the landlord. The electrician arrived at 7pm on Saturday night – and worded until 12.30 to get the problem fixed.  I wonder what that would have cost in the UK?  So I had to have a toilet visit (now remember the description of the tiny toilet/shower room) with a wind-up torch!

We think we’re all fixed up again now.  Callum went to Fez to collect Fergus, so we had a full house last night, as Yusuf also had some (about 20) friends round.  They all come to admire the view from the terrace, and they’re always impressed.   And now it’s warm at night too, then really hot during the day, so perhaps we’ve moved from winter to spring now.

Went up to Agdal, the posh part of town today to find a hairdresser.  The water is so hard, my hair was like straw and my skin is like leather.  Got a shampoo, conditioner and a head massage for under a fiver. Fabulous, I’d never have washed my own hair in the tiny shower here if I’d known. Looked into the shops, not outstandingly cheap, t-shirts at £12, wee jacket £35, trousers £20 – I can get those prices at TK Maxx, but I suppose they were brands which are known here.  I saw an Etam shop, don’t know if it’s the same as the UK shops, think they went out of business.  Also saw McDonlads and KFC so I was definitely in the young, trendy area. I had tea and sat outside so I could watch them passing from college or school.  Sprayed-on jeans for girls and falling-down jeans for boys seemed to be the thing.  And not many scarves in this age group. The future look of Morocco

By way of complete contrast, Callum, Yusuf and I had lunch in this crazy food place at the back of the market, totally local, you’d never find a tourist in there, but Yusuf’s been here for 8 months and speaks Arabic so we were treated to a unique experience.  It’s rough and ready, but the food is freshly made, very tasty and incredibly cheap.

Where the locals eat