Casablanca, Morocco
The first thing I did when I woke up this morning was to go over and look out the window. We have a view over the Medina and to the Hassan II Mosque. I opened the window and the noise calling everyone to the Mosque filtered into the room emphasising that we really are in a foreign country. We really are in Moroco.
Breakfast was beautiful as one would expect here. With the food cooked right in front of you with everything from fruit, omelet’s, pancake and pastry’s.
The Concierge assured us that they would keep chasing the airport about our bags but there had not been any answer from them at that point. They also reminded us that it was a holiday so there were not too many working and most places were shut. We went for a walk to find an ATM to get some local money ant that went off without a hitch. The streets were quite bare with only a handful of people out and about mostly male. Most of them stared. Some of them just seemed mildly interested or curious others were down right hostile. At least they kept their hand to themselves.
One male started yelling as we went past we think he was yelling obscenities at us. Strangely enough it did not really worry us that much since it is really hard to get upset at insults when you do not speak the language.
It did not take long for us to realise the Concierge was absolutely 100% correct. Just about everything was shut including the restaurant’s and shops. For the most pârt we just relaxed the day away as there really wasn’t much to do with everything being shut.
We did go for a walk through the Medina. Well ok to be honest we went out looking for food. It was that whole ‘surely something is open. Not everything can still be shut’ mentality. Well it really still was so we wandered back through the Medina back in the general direction of our hotel. The Medina itself was quite interesting and within its wall finally the people were starting to come out of the woodwork. There were stalls selling everything from fabric to toys to sandals, food etc etc. Anything you could want you would probably find it here some where in these ancient winding streets.
Back at the hotel we got the news that our bags would be on the evening BA flight and would come in about 1830 hours. The Concierge assured that he would call the airport and first check that our bags had arrived then he would send someone to go and get them.
About 1700 hours we thought what the heck and went to the hotel bar and had a few relaxed beers, Casablanca Beer, some what overpriced but it is kind of expected here. After that we thought about dinner but checked with the concierge once more about our bags only to be told that they thought they had been sent to Marakesh. AAARRRRGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
I’m sure that would be very helpful when we finally got to Marakesh about the 20th of November. Certainly does not do us a lot of good now!!!
Our clothes were starting tro get to the point where they could just about get up and do a tour of the city all by themselves.
Dinner proved to be the first bit of amusement so far on our trip. We decided to dine in the hotel really not in the mood to go out anywhere. One of the restaurant’s in the hotel ‘Restraunt Maroccian’ looked good so we decided to go there.
Now the problem started when they, seeing that we are oh so obviously not locals gave us the non-arabic menu. tThat was very nice of them I though. Except it was in French. Which neither of us could read. First problem thqt was neatly solved by the waiter explaining the dishes to us. That proved to be the second problem, sort of.
We decided to get an entree and a main to share. I ordered the pidgeon Pastille and Lou ordered the Lamb with Prawns.
Or so she thought.
The Pigeon Pastille was yummy and proved to be meat with spices nuts and fruit wrapped up in pastry with icing sugar on top. It was huge so it was good we didn’t order two of them.
Then out came the main course. A Tanjine for those of you who do not know comes served on a ceramic dish with a ceramic lid. The waiter cam over bearing the dish and with a great flourish placed the dish in the center of the table and removed the lid.
I took one look and started biting my lip trying hard not to laugh out loud. I really did not want to offend our waiter.
Louise just looked at the dish with a slightly perplexed look on her face and said to the waiter who was serving the dish to her.
‘Is this the lamb with prawns?’
The waiter with all seriousness replied that yes this was the lamb with prawns.
I was reduced to sniggering at this point and tried unsuccessfully to kick Lou under the table.
After the waiter left I was laughing out right at this point Lou was looking hopefully but with a perplexed frown on her face cut into the PRUNE still looking for the prawns!!!
I think if I had not been wedged into that couch with cushions on either side I would have fallen off the chair I was laughing so hard.
Louise was just looking at me saying ‘what?’ She still did not get it and was still looking for the prawns.
After several spluttering attempts I managed to convey to her that the dish we’d ordered wasn’t lamb with prawns but Lamb with Prunes.
At that point we were bothy laughing and the waiter was giving us a very odd look.
I can safely report that the lamb with prunes was very nice even if it wasn’t what we thought we were ordering.
After dinner ze still had no news of our bas so we went back up to our rooms. Shortly after that we got a call from the Concierge to let us know that ou bags were at the airport and they were sending someone to pick them up for us.
Our bags finally got up to our room about 2330 hours. There had been a delay at the airport because apparently the Police were causing some problems. They wanted 50 MAD to let the bags through. Apparently the Concierge said NO and told them to search the bags if they really wanted to they would only find clothes that his guests were waiting for.
At that point I gather there was a bit of a waiting game. Police / Customs waiting obstinately for their bribe and the Concierge refusing to pay it. At the end of the day, our feisty little Concierge won and he got our bags delivered to us.
YAH! CLEAN CLOTHES AT LAST!!!!!!!!
