Tag: Taroudant

A Driving Holiday In Morocco, 7 to 21 November 1997, Placeholder & Links

Our sole navigation device – which might be described as a “map nav”

Janie and I had a superb action and fun packed driving holiday in Morocco in the autumn of 1997.

I have now written this up from my travel logs as part of my “25 years on” series. You can start by clicking here or below if you like reading forwards:

Driving Holiday In Morocco Day One: Fes (aka Fez), 8 November 1997

Alternatively, if you like reading stories backwards, you can start with the ending here or below:

Driving Holiday In Morocco Days Thirteen & Fourteen: Relaxing In Marrakesh, Including Premature False Start To Our Journey Home, 20 & 21 November 1997

For enthusiasts of highly summarised words and pictures, the itinerary is shown below, followed by links to the photo albums, which contain over 200 items of eye candy, such as this one:

Below is a scan of the itinerary, which we arranged through Steppes East:

Below are the two photo albums (just over 100 photos each) on Flickr:

001 8 November 1997 - Only mules and pedestrians allowed in these Fes streets M_J1_Photo (2)
048 Palace de la Bahia - we had to leave out lots of good shots too M_J6_Photo (33)

Driving Holiday In Morocco Day Eight: Taroudant To Ouirgane Via Tizi-n-Test Pass, 15 November 1997

Set out quite early for La Roseraie. Mostly stunning drive-through Tizi-n-Test pass – many stops to take photos etc – long drive.

Arrived [at La Roseraie] in time for late lunch and look around – arranged a serviced hamam. For late afternoon. And then dinner and early night.

All the photos from the second part of our journey are on this Flickr album – click here or below:

048 Palace de la Bahia - we had to leave out lots of good shots too M_J6_Photo (33)

A placeholder and links for information about this whole trip can be found here and below.

A Driving Holiday In Morocco, 7 to 21 November 1997, Placeholder & Links

Driving Holiday In Morocco Day Seven: A Day In Taroudant & An Evening At La Gazelle Dor, 14 November 1997

Went into town quite early – fended off countless touts to be alone – bought painting.

Got a bit lost, but then found souk – I bought sandals, Janie bought the baboushes [slippers], then got bored with touts. Found ourselves a horse and carriage lad who had kept looking out for us and got him to take us round the ramparts, and then back to the souk (Berber part, then Arab part) where Janie, bought raffia.

I haggle hard & one [merchant] offered 6000 camels for Janie (previous best offer – 4000 camels).

Then home for relaxing afternoon on fab terrace.

Realised we needed extra baggage for our purchases. The result was to return to souk quickly (with tout). Naturally no touts were to be found, but shunned souk shopkeeper from earlier grabbed us and sorted out great leather holdall and more sandals & baboushes dead cheap!

Home to change and dinner at oh so snooty La Gazelle Dor (méchoui). Adam (manager, so OTT, it’s untrue). Great meal at £50 plus tip all in better than I expected.

All the photos from the first part of our journey are on this Flickr album – click here or below:

001 8 November 1997 - Only mules and pedestrians allowed in these Fes streets M_J1_Photo (2)

A placeholder and links for information about this whole trip can be found here and below.

A Driving Holiday In Morocco, 7 to 21 November 1997, Placeholder & Links

Driving Holiday In Morocco Day Six: Ouarzazate To Taroudant, 13 November 1997

Taroudant as seen from our original Palais Salaam room

Left early. Drove from Ouarzazate To Taroudant – uneventful drive, 300 km.

Arrived at lunchtime Palais Salam – super place. Terrace in room. [See headline photo] Took light lunch of Moroccan delights, minced lamb samosa type and liver tajine – superb.

Relaxed on Terrace and afternoon – dined on pre-arranged pigeon tajine in evening – delicious.

Tucking in to tajine (above) and sweetmeats (below)

Went to bed early to relax, but earlier “have you farted?” sulphurous smell pervaded and after several comedy sketch attempts by plumber with no sense of smell, [we] got upgraded to a magnificent suite.

All the photos from the first part of our journey are on this Flickr album – click here or below:

001 8 November 1997 - Only mules and pedestrians allowed in these Fes streets M_J1_Photo (2)

A placeholder and links for information about this whole trip can be found here and below.

A Driving Holiday In Morocco, 7 to 21 November 1997, Placeholder & Links