Lucy makes it to Africa

Greetings from Chefchaouen on the edge of the Rif Mountains in Morocco. Today could not have gone smoother - not quite - I did drive onto a toll road with no local currency and have to trade some euros for dirhims from another motorist before being let through the barrier .......... oops

Otherwise it was great. I got lots of hassle from touts at the border, but that is expected. I have also been offered enough cannabis to comatose a whale, but no one has been pushy when I have declined. The more perceptive reader will note the lack of abbreviations. This is because this arabic keyboard is quite a challenge .........

It is over twenty years since I have had the sensation of being so isolated from the people around me. I took a walk into town and went the wrong way. Away from the vaguely touristy parts and into the new town. Some aspects are very modern, but this is a relatively poor mountain area. I have seen people dressed as if they have stepped out of a bible story. There is a real mix of skin tone and facial appearance and dress. Some men and women are dressed in large coats with pointy hoods, some women in berkhas others in more western dress.

Chefchaeouen was built by arabs and jews and for a long time christians were barred from the city. It has a wonderful medina, a weaving maze of tiny stalls and crafts peoples workshops.

I am staying on a campsite above the village. It is an enclave of european travellers, I am the only Brit, but Lucy has found another VW camper to keep her company. I did a check on her mileage today. She has already put over 2500 miles behind her and was magnificent overtaking trucks on the mountain roads today.

I head south tomorrow and plan to join some couchsurfers for a weekend of walking in the Atlas Mountains on Friday. Until next time. The van man.

Comments

  1. Anonymous5 November 2009 at 16:45

    Hi, Andy Babe,
    Many congrats. on getting so far so well. Very impressive. Fleur and I did a bit of the Granada, Seville, Cordoba and Ronda parts, and loved it, but I have never been to Africa. Hope you're going to bore us all with lots of photos when you return.

    Don't know how to send this to you, but will have a try. Just spoken to Barbara, and Bill is going back into Preston in the next couple of weeks.

    Love to you. Look after yourself and Lucy.

    Brabags xxxx

    ReplyDelete

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