West Africa Odyssey 2012 - Morocco

Morocco: Agadir, Marrakech, Casablanca, Home

April 27 - 29, 2012

Aboard National Geographic Explorer

Captain Kruess waves goodbye

Friday, April 27 found us docked in Agadir, Morocco, our final ship based destination. As with all ship trips, that final morning was hectic with early rising, bags out, breakfast and then waiting for the right disembarkation time. By 8:30 we were all loaded into the big buses for the three-hour drive to Marrakech. On the way we made one short rest stop.

The first destination in Marrakech was a beautiful 12-acre garden designed by Jardin Majorelle and built in the 1920s. We took some time to walk through the lush garden with a wide variety of plants. It was restored by Yves St Laurent after 1950 and has been open to the public. The special blue color used in the garden was named after Majorelle.

By 1:00 it was past time to arrive at the Sofitel Marrakech Hotel where we would spend the night. Lunch was a buffet with a variety of local dishes. Since it was so early, many in our group did not get their room assignments until later.

We went to some very interesting places during the afternoon tour. As we drove through the city we passed the Koutoubia Mosque. Its minaret towered prominently over the landscape but we did not go inside.

The next stop was the Bahai Palace. Si Moussa, grand vizier to the sultan, built it in the late 19th century for his private use and to house his harem. There are two acres of gardens and rooms that open onto courtyards. The walls, doors and ceilings are detailed carvings and paintings.

We made the obligatory stop at a higher-end shop that carried a wide variety of handcrafts form throughout the country. The selection also included carpets. I resisted everything but a number in our group found things they liked and wanted.

To continue the shopping opportunities, the next stop was at the huge market place, called “Souks.” This is a labyrinth of narrow streets lined with small individually owned shops. There was about anything available that a person would want to buy. It was a good thing our guide led us through because getting lost would have been easy. The area was both colorful and interesting.

We exited the Souks onto the Djenaa El Fna Square, a large open area occupied by locals and tourists. A variety of storytellers, musicians and performers changes throughout the day and evening. The square is so important to the history of the area. UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity has preserved the area, which was threatened by economic development.

At this point there were plans to enjoy some refreshments at a restaurant but our entire group voted to skip it and go directly back to the hotel. It was late, and we would not have very much time to spruce up for the dinner.

The Farewell Dinner was held at the Stylia Palace, which dates back to the 1400s. After a short bus ride we walked what seemed like a long way back through the Souks. Along the way there were men holding torches and groups of singers and dancers. This was a very impressive walk but we were kept moving or we would again have become lost.

The dinning room in the palace was very ornate. It was large with a high ceiling and beautifully decorated walls and chandeliers. The floor was covered with carpets and the tables were elaborately set. Dinner consisted of a number of typical local courses and included wine and desert.

Paul, Grace, Richard, Mary Ann, Judy, Frank

For entertainment there was a small group of musicians and a belly dancer. We sat with our friends with whom we had spent most of our dinners throughout the cruise. It was sad to realize that our time together was ending. Since it had been a long day we walked back through the Souks where all the stalls were now closed, and caught the first bus back to the hotel.

Saturday, April 28 we rose early for breakfast and departure to the airport for the short flight to Casablanca. We regretted not being able to see the city, but were confined to the airport to catch our Royal Air Moroc flight to New York, where we arrived in the early evening. The flight was uneventful but eight hours is long, no matter how you look at it. We spent the night in a hotel near JFK.

Sunday, April 29 we caught a reasonably timed series of flights from NY to DC to Denver on finally arrived in Tucson, Arizona where we spent the next month.

The whole trip was a great adventure and allowed us to visit many exotic places that had not been on our wish list. We are still working on absorbing all the history and cultures that we had an opportunity to experience.

Who knows where we will head next. Stay tuned, and thanks for reading.

That's it for now. Grace and Paul