1 post tagged “morocco”
Dear blog, forgive me for neglecting you... ;-) I have had so many things happen to me in the last few weeks, even months, too many impressions to even begin writing down. It's been quite a busy year. Work, work troubles, trips to see my special friend, expectations, travel, meetings... but here's an update.
Ok, to be honest, I started writing this last Sunday, when mr F was still in Tangiers. He's in Marrakech now. But for the sake of my story, I'll just rewind to last Sunday then ;-)
As I'm writing this my special friend is once again stuck in the port of Tangers, Morocco. Waiting for customs to clear him and his convoy, so they can drive on to Marrakech. This week should be the start of filming the new Walt Disney movie: the Prince of Persia in and around Marrakech.
The port of Tangers is a weird place. Dangerous. Crowded. Dirty. Smelly. Fascinating. Intruiging!
When we first drove off the ferry from Algeciras, the Atlantica, mr F told me to lock my doors, close my windows and don't let anyone intimidate you. Honestly, I did wonder if he was exaggerating or not. But umm, nope he wasn't. But hey, a few 'exchanges' of cigarettes and money later, and I was brave enough to wander off on my own, looking for some hot mint tea. And that at 3 am in the morning :-) But ok, admitted, I had my personal bodyguard, Ali. Yes his name really is Ali, not making it up. We were surrounded by security guards and not so cute looking dogs. Weird weird place...but I feel so lucky to have experienced it!
I should begin at the start. Wednesday morning, very early: taxi to the trainstation, train to Brussels, Thalys to Paris-Nord, subway to Paris-Montparnasse and hup on the TGV to Le Mans. A date under the Le-mans-tree :-)
That's where I met up with my special friend and jumped into the truck. Destination of this trip: Marrakech baby!
All the way through France, through Spain, stopping in Coslada, Madrid to pick up some props, to Algeciras. There, get on a ferry to Africa! Arrive at Tangers, drive all the way through Morocco, via Rabat, Casablanca and inland towards Marrakech. A small 2400 kilometers, in flight distance.
Ah, what to write about this trip. What not to write? So many things happened, it was one big adventure! I absolutely loved every second of it.
Some key elements: le broken Iveco: very sick truck had to be taken to the Iveco garage in Poitiers, nice Hotel de France, singing in the truck, the Mama Miracoli song, driving around forever in Irun and Durango to find a parking/sleeping place, parking on a curb, the little flashing light got stolen off the trailer there, a welcome hot shower, don't forget to twiddle your knob in time, discovering the amazing scenery driving through Spain, looking forever for the big DHL depot in Coslada, bumpy roads, hot sirocco winds, bocadillos con queso y lomo (yum!), discovering the Don Quijote trail (windmills inclusive!), the double rainbow in Somosierra, funky looking tapas and not funky in a good trendy kind of way no way José..., a neverending supply of Crackanut BBQ nuts and jellybeans, beer drinking trailer trash diva in Algeciras, the forever McFlurry line...
And this is still in Europe. I don't even know where to begin looking back at the ferry ride to Tangiers and travelling in Morocco.
Hey, and next week I'm flying back to Marrakech for more adventures.
Mr F, thanks for making this all possible.
