Marrakech to Casablanca

We were told by the tour company to be ready at eleven to make our way to Casablanca. We've been pretty good in being punctual(no guys you DID NOT misread this!, but if we did slip up and run a bit late, guess who was the culprit..in fact let's run a poll and you can nominate by commenting: on the blog :) )

However this particular morning we were waiting in the foyer of the Riad...our luggage had grown somewhat due to the spree in the souks; we had bought two more cases ( one cabin size for Tony, so not so big ! and a slightly bigger one for me!) and we had the original ones we traveled with, and Andrew and Cathy had the most humungous cases which were now bulging at the seams...so all in all 6 cases and 3 backpacks..hardly a challenge!!!

We were expecting the van we had been using...however the driver turned up in a 4WD.....pretty cozy but more than manageable for 5 people, though a bit of a challenge for the 6 suitcases!

Negotiation is second nature to both Andrew and Tony...so let the fun begin...the poor driver didn't have chance, it didn't help that no matter what configuration he came up with, those cases weren't going to fit. A short phone call later to the boss we were promised an eight seater van, and assured it would only be 20 minutes.

One hour later ( it is now 12.30! and we have been sitting on a ledge alongside a wall in the semi-shade!) a 5 seater leisurely pulls up alongside the 4WD....there is absolutely no way that everything will fit...and by now Tony is building up a head of steam!!! Nevertheless it is Andrew who confers with the driver and the boss himself is on his way!!

Thirty minutes later sees Tony and the Boss counting out the FIVE seats( not the eight the boss declares!) and the space in the rear for maybe 2 of the cases...Tony swings his arms at us and towards the 4WD and tells us to get in...always an obedient wife..I led the way. Now, to me all 4WD look pretty much the same..so when we passed Tony, the Boss and driver (all in a heated debate), we walked to the 4WD close to them and sat in it, shut the doors and waited! Minutes later I turned to get the pack from the back and .......all our luggage was gone. Oh Great! the three of us look at each other and think the worse...then actually see the vehicle we were in, is a 4WD roughly the same as ours...but not :). Man we got out of there quickly, Tony hurrying us along like a mother hen!! Luckily enough it proved to be the Bosses!!! and it most likely added value to our side of the "negotiation" process with the Boss spotting squatters in his car!!

In the end an agreement was reached..a car for each couple and the cases (bar one ) to travel in the original vehicle...also a peaceable arrangement to drive straight to Casablanca, without stopping at any points of interest.

Now you would think that all would end well..unfortunately not. When the convoy pulled in at a gas station soon after taking off, only ONE of the cars filled...not ours !!! so 40km out of Casablanca we ran out of petrol UNBELEIVABLE!!....we piled into the other vehicle with all but one case and on we go...stopping at the next petrol station to send a container back.

So in the end it was almost how it should have been in the beginning.. One 4WD, 4 passengers plus driver, and 5 cases and 3 back packs...the offending suitcase which caused the trouble in the first place( by not fitting into the car)got to be driven in it's own 4WD, to Casablanca !!!

Things we did

Mosque -the largest outside of Mecca

Ricks Cafe from "Casablanca"

Mosque