Went walking around Trastevere and found essentials…ATM, Post Office and small fresh food market. Had a cappuccino and was sorely disappointed…lukewarm and teeny tiny cup even though coffee flavour fine…Will have to switch to Macchiato…forget anything coming close to flat white. Wandered in the other direction from apartment and crossed the river Tiber stumbling upon the Campo De’ Fiori a hub of activity with markets and restaurants and people. No matter where you turn there is a statue, fountain or fabulously historic building or church. I’m quite taken by Rome. Got a taxi to Piazza del Popolo which has at its centre an Egyptian obelisk and the two churches Santa maria die Miracoli and Maria in Montesanto. After a fabulous hair cut and colour by Gianni at Noi Salon I walked down the long shopping street Via del Corso and didn’t buy a single thing!! Taxi back from Piazza Venezia which has the huge and impressive monument of “Il Vittoriano”. Big day actually..trying to get my bearings in a unfamiliar city…needed an Peroni to cap it all off!
First day in Rome…
09 May 2013 1 Comment
Buongiorno from Rome…
09 May 2013 1 Comment
in Culture, Environment, Society
Private transfer from the Riad to marrakech airport…short flight to Casablanca and transferred onto Alitalia flight to Fumincino airport, Rome. Long day…tight connection…long queues…waiting…finally touched down and private transfer was still waiting even though flight delayed. Drove into Rome and to my apartment “Trastevere Terrace” in the old quarter of Trastevere. Its a lovely, character filled italian place on the top floor of an old building with two little terraces overlooking the rooftops and ancient walls of local building including Santa Maria della Scala church which still rings its bells! Its a nice area with little bars and restaurants and interesting shops. Every corner turns up something old and amazing!
Dinner at Riad Al Moussika…
09 May 2013 1 Comment
Di and Mal from Team Intrepid 2 met me at Jama El Fna and I brought them back for a wonderful dinner at the restaurant..lovely food, nice bottle of Rose’ and we were hoping the Moroccan sweets piled on 3 plates were not all for us!!!
Riad Al Moussika, Marrakech, Morocco…My accommodation!
09 May 2013 2 Comments
in Culture, Environment
A Riad is an old mansion in the medina. A door of an alleyway leads to two storeys built around two courtyards. It is where rich and important men lived with their various wives whose rooms are upstairs. Beautiful tiling, painted patterns on all the woodwork and ceiling, moroccan lanterns. It is cool and peaceful and you would not know it was only five minutes from the busy square. Their is a restaurant with an Italian chef and the food has been just lovely. Of course I finally succumbed to some bug and felt ill and needed the toilet but thankfully it was here!
Around Marrakech…
06 May 2013 Leave a comment
in Culture, Environment, People, Society, Time
Joined an Urban Adventures tour to get an overview of Marrakech before taking it on on my own! Starting at Jemaa El Fna we visited the Koutoubia Mosque which I have since heard calling all Muslims to prayer at various times of the day. We walked through the old Medina and through the Jewish quarter to the Saadian tombs and Badii Palace. We took in a modern photographic exhibition on the people of Marrakech and finished passing through the markets and souks. Much more touristy than Fes and there are a lot of tourists recognisable. Marrakech is Morocco’s largest city and I have noticed the interpretation of Islam in varying degrees in regards to the womens’ style of dressing. Morocco is a moderate Islamic country where the majority are Sunni Muslim. Women wear the headscarf mainly although a few don’t and the other few still cover up with a face scarf style. The girls wear modern clothes although covered bodies 
and headscarves.
Marrakech..finally!
06 May 2013 Leave a comment
in Culture, Environment
Arrived late to our hotel and walked through an impressive, new and modern Marrakech to the central square, Place Jamaa El Fna passing MacDonalds on the way! True to form the square was a chaotic, noisy place filled with crowds and entertainers of all sorts…musicians, henna tattoo artists, snake charmers, a tooth puller, food stalls, a funny fishing game they play here, fortune tellers and loads of other things. We actually ate at a ‘restaurant’ in the thick of things for our last night as an Intrepid group.
Fes to Marrakech…Morocco
06 May 2013 Leave a comment
Left Fes traversing through the countryside on a “first class” train. The journey should have taken 7 hours but we were held up in the same spot for almost 4 hours! A train hit and killed a little boy and the locals of the poor shanty town just outside Casablanca blocked the lines and started protesting. We were in lockdown as police and riot squad and villagers all crowded past the train. Finally they let the body go and cleared the tracks…relief!
Fes, Morrocco…
05 May 2013 Leave a comment
After a morning of sipping mint tea, an attempt at haggling and a walk around a bright and sunny Chefchaouen we travelled for 4 hours by private mini van through fertile agricultural lands to the city of Fes. We passed through wheat growing areas and down into lower areas and wider river valleys. Fes is an old and important spiritual and learning centre with a new town and and ol town, the Medina. It is the largest in Morrocco, a labyrinth of alleyways, covered and uncovered with small stalls, repair places, herbalist, food places and people all living together. It covers over 7 acres and you would get seriously lost without a guide and you have no idea which direction is which…We visited a few places of note including the Palace gates, Jewish quarter and lookout before touring a ceramics factory. Then we entered the Medina and didn’t emerge for hours….amazing sights and also very sad and almost sickening sights e.g beggars, sick people and diseased cats, rubbish and rotten stench…but the fascinating prevails! Donkeys are used tor transport things,Camel and goats heads for sale at butchers who just hang the meat in the open, herbs, spices, junk, appliances, scarves, leather goods, sweets, breads, shoes, tourist tat, ceramics,carpets, woven good, jewellery , junk, clothes…an incredible array…lovely lunch in a beautiful restaurant that you would never imagine existed in the middle of it all. Dinner confirmed the morroccan menu is fairly standard..tagine,cous cous, kebabs, soup, salad. All good but not as flavoursome as I imagined. Had Casablanca beer which I
was suprised about being a Muslim country. However, certain places do sell alcohol and wine is also made and sold here..I guess at restaurants and hotels mainly. 
pinkbirdflies 