Mother's Moroccan Experience

Ollie, Mummy Vann and Musthapa

So after months of getting some money out of my dad and convincing my mum she would be safe, she arrived in Marrakesh to visit the "REAL MOROCCO" you can if you want book yourself on numerous tours around marrakesh or the country itself!!
I prefer to do it the cheaper way and see the real life people! we spent the rest of the day walking around the souk's of Marrakesh, seeing all the beautiful hand made leather and metal work goods. In the morning we visited the Veggie and meat markets. The colours and how fresh all the fruit and veg is still amazes me, something that western supermarket bosses should be ashamed off!! You can buy fresh meat here as well! and when i mean fresh i mean, killed infront of you! anything from chickens,rabbits and even pigeon's!!!


Cascade D'ouzoud

We then drove out of the hustle and bustle of marrakesh, which to anyone that hasn't been there is hard to explain: cars, buses, mopeds, horse and carts all driven by idiots fighting for the same peice of road! we drove up into the foot hills of the middle atlas mountains and stop for a Tagine over looking Cascade D'ouzoud. Spending 2 nights staying at our apartment on the shore of Bin el Ouidane. Eating fine morrocean food and drinking fine red wine!! What a holiday.


Veiw of Bin el Ouidane


Ollie, Mummy Vann and old beber women

The third day we drove high up into the middle Atlas mountains with beautiful sunshine and veiws back onto Bin el Ouidane. We arrived to a warm welcome from a berber family, who are not only our employees but our friends. Mustapha and his brothers are our camp sercurity for the rafting trips! We got lead up a track through the village of Tillogiutte to there house were we sat for a day and drank tea, ate home made fresh bread. We danced to moroccean music, not my taste but hey "when in Rome" Mummy Vann soon adopted a little lamb, saving it from being put into that nights Tagine!! The women of the family prepared and cooked all day, giving the men a chance to go and cut a tree down that was blocking the river!! The men returned to Feast of couscous and tagine! What a real life experience!!


Mummy Vann with dinner


Beber women serving more tea


Berber women high up in the mountains

On the return to marrakesh we had enough time to be hassled in the souk's again! Mummy Vann having her last chance to spend her holiday money on Tagines, Carpets and jewellery. We manage to also find the "Dyers Souk" getting a tour round by a guy who reminded me of Fagin from Oliver!! of course he wanted money at the end!! (don't they all)
As the sun was setting it was time to fill up the bottle's of lemonae we had with a bottle of pimms and head out on the horse drawn carts! we visited the King's palace and tour new and old parts of the city of Marrakesh!!


Djammaa El Fna, Marrakesh



Djammaa El Fna at night

The main Mosque in Marraksseh, The Koutoubia

I Must say being on holiday with your mum doesn't sound exciting but i really enjoyed myself! letting my mum experience things she wouldn't normaly do! also for me having the excuse to visit places in the souk that i wouldn't normally go! like the dyers souk! But the greatest part was deffiently seeing my mum relaxing holiday and enjoying part of my lifestyle!!



Some of the local "Tye Dye" in Marrakesh


More "Tye Dye" in the souk's of Marrakesh