75 days in

Chefchaouen, Fez, Meknes, Rabat, Marrakech

We’ve been in Morocco about 10 days now and it feels like 10 weeks. But I think that’s largely due to the frenzied travel itinerary we have placed upon ourselves.

In that time we have made it to the largest southern city in Morocco, Marrakech. Along the way we have stopped at all the major tourist places and’ve been hounded most of the way by touts trying to squeeze money from us. I’m sick of feeling like a bank to these people, but the place is so touristic you can hardly expect anything else. Regardless it’s tiring and irritating to think the majority of people you speak to just want your cash.

Fez was the worst for this, followed closely by Marrakech, then Chefchaouen. Meknes and Rabat are off the tourist trail somewhat, so we had some breathing space there, before again being set upon by marauding Moroccans.

That’s not to say we haven’t seen some nice stuff. Chef is beautiful as ever, and Rabat is chilled: had an interesting experience in a local hammam there too.
Tomorrow we head for a hopefully less touristic time in the Draa valley. I’ve heard of a deserted town that might be interesting, and some trekking into the Sahara might alleviate the tout infestation.

The problem is the tourists make it almost impossible to have an authentic time. As usual, everything’s designed to lure the tourist dollars, so I haven’t really felt like I’ve experienced anything unique or untainted by the stink of profiteering.
I think though that by the time we get to the Western Sahara we will have left most of the tourists in our tracks. Let’s hope anyway.

Following the Western Sahara we’re heading for the Canary Islands in the hopes of finding someone sailing to Senegal.

From there we’re heading to Mali and probably Bekina Faso after that.

More soon...