Holiday in Morocco - Day 7

The 27th of May was our last full day in Morocco. It was also my mum's birthday but I had got permission to be away on her birthday so it was alright. We wanted to get down on the beach in good time to make sure we got sun loungers, so we were all awake quite early. I was really sore and achey though, so I laid in bed for an extra half an hour when Sam and Jac went down to the beach, and that meant I could just take my time to get ready. I was down on the beach by about 10.15. 

It was warm but not boiling, which was perfect. We got talking to a family next to us so asked them to look after our phones and bags etc so that we could all go in the water together. We didn't go too deep because the lifeguards kept whistling, but we managed to swim which was lovely. There were a few clouds but it was fine. And there were people walking their camels along the beach which was cute to see. 

We eventually went back into the hotel and had a drink or two in the bar that was nearest the beach. I can't remember if we had lunch although I'm pretty sure we did as we hadn't had any breakfast. We tried to sit somewhere else in the hotel but it turned out to be for higher up quests than we were. No matter! We sat round the big pool and all went in again, for the last time. Waah!

When we headed back to the room we found a black cat that someone had fed, so I spoke to it of course. Then on our patio a cute grey and white cat had made itself at home on one of our chairs! We got showered and mostly packed to leave before tea, and then headed to the restaurant and the bar. The food still hadn't been great for me but it was fine, I managed. We wandered down to the beach to watch the sunset which was gorgeous - I'm glad we managed to catch it eventually. 

We had a couple of drinks in the bar before bed! 

A man walking his came down the beach

Looking out at the sea. Because it was the Atlantic it was quite rough but not too bad to swim in

Looking towards the casbah on the top of the hill

The little black cat that was busy eating some biscuits

And then the one that had made itself at home on our drying laundry!

Sam took this of me in the big pool last thing and I love it - in one of my most natural habitats in a pool

The big pool as we walked through after tea, it looked so pretty

Watching the sunset

It looked so good

I'm pretty sure we did get a picture of the three of us together, but I only have this one of me. It's cute though

The hill and its writing once again

And another sun picture just before it went below the horizon

Holiday in Morocco - Day 6

The Tuesday of our holiday was the best one weather wise I think. We did nothing except sunbathe and sit around the pool. I took precisely two photos, haha. We probably had breakfast and probably just sat about until lunchtime so that we weren't in wet swimming costumes to go into the dining room for lunch. Sam sat by the bar reading her book and Jac and I sat by the big pool. I went and got us ice creams and drinks about 3pm or something. Sam came and joined us and we all went in the big pool. 

We showered, got changed, had tea, had some drinks, etc. The weather moved in about 8pm while we were sitting outside eating - the mist rolled in and I think it might have even had some spots of rain, but then it came out quite nice again. 

A very chill day! 

The big pool when Jac and I were sitting there in the afternoon

And the view from the restaurant when the mist rolled in

Holiday in Morocco - Day 5

On the Monday of our trip we went on our final trip, to see some goats! Jac had happened upon this trip and had booked it, which Sam and I didn't mind, of course. We got up super early and went for some breakfast and were down in front of the hotel waiting to be picked up by 9am. We were picked up by a lad in a little van. There were two other people already there, so there were just five of us on the trip.

The drive out to the goats was out of the city and it took about thirty minutes. We went past a lot of desert scenery which was interesting to see. It was hot out there, too! We pulled up at the side of a road where there was a bunch of goats sitting under an argan tree. We had previously learnt about how goats help the argan tree nuts come off the tree so they can be harvested. We could get right up to the goats and the goatherd gave us some argan fruit to feed them. There were some standing in trees too which I've always wanted to see, so that was cool. 

There was also a baby goat that the goatherd gave to some people to hold. Jac was very brave and held it, I stroked its little ears and it was so cute! When it got fed up the person holding it put it down and the goatherd picked up another baby one, so I was glad to see that the babies didn't have to be held if they didn't want to be! 

Then we had our THIRD AND FINAL TRIP to the argan oil factory. It was just hilarious at this point! Jac and I both picked up some other bits including presents. Our guide asked us if we would like to see the mosque and we were like ....we've been. So before long we were back in the van heading back to the hotel. We got back about 11am and had a drink in the bar, in the sunshine! 

I think we probably had some lunch but I'm not sure. By 1pm I was sitting under an umbrella by the rectangular pool sunbathing a bit. We swam too of course. Sam went to shop and came back with ice creams and cold drinks, which makes me think we didn't have any lunch actually, dunno. Not sure! It's a long time ago now. I had started a new book. I'm quite certain that we went to the big pool again as well for a swim. 

We went and got showered as usual and watched some weird telly while we relaxed. Then we headed to one of the restaurants on the hotel complex. There were three that we were allowed to eat in as we were all inclusive, but two of them didn't have any vegetarian options (they were very small set menus). The third restaurant was totally fish, and as I will eat fish, and often do on holiday if there isn't other choices, we decided to go there.

It was right near the beach so it had a nice view of the setting sun. I had fish cakes and then a salmon fillet with sauce and rice. The salmon was gorgeous but the rice was a bit odd. Never mind! Then I had chocolate fondant with ice cream which was lovely. We had plenty of local rose wine. When we had finished we walked out on to the prom to look at the sea. There were tons of people walking around which was nice to see. It was warm and so beautiful! 

We most likely had another drink in the bar before bed!

On the drive on the way to the goats

Look at all the goats including the ones in the tree! It was so cool to see them

Here we are standing under the goats!

These two wanted to be our friends

I liked these two little ones sitting together too

And here is the BABY GOAT that Jac held, it was so cute

Drink in the bar back at the hotel

Here I am sunbathing 

The view from my sun lounger

Me and Jac

All three of us, trying to stay out of the sun

Afternoon snacks

The book I was reading

Food in the restaraunt in the evening

The three of us again

And finally a bunch of pictures of the beach and sea about 10pm

Holiday in Morocco - Day 4

On the Sunday of our holiday it was OVERCAST! I did not order that weather! How dare it! We got up and had breakfast and had already decided to spend the day on the beach so we headed there. Our hotel was right on the prom so we just had to cross the prom and step down on to the beach which was ideal! There were sunbeds there and parasols, not that we needed parasols because it was very overcast. We couldn't even see the casbah on the top of the hill!

We sat for a bit reading and we all paddled in the sea, at different times, but it was a bit miserable. There were also lifeguards who were being way too liberal with their whistles so it wasn't the most relaxing. We walked along the prom for lunch at a cafe called The Pirate Club or something. I had a tuna sandwich as there weren't any vegetarian choices. Then I had a banana split which was nice. It was fine, but a bit lacking in general. 

The sun did come out in bits in the afternoon. We stayed on the beach for a bit after lunch and then went back to the big pool. I'm pretty sure we all got in and sat in the shallow part for a while chatting. I think I caught the sun because I wasn't expecting it to come through the clouds so much.

We got out of the pool quite early and got snacks from the bar and went back to the room for showers. We had a tour booked - Agadir By Night - so we had to be outside at 6pm to be picked up. This was a Jet2 organised trip and I'm not sure it was worth the money so in future I would do other ones outside of the package. Oh well!

There were four other people on the tour so we were in a minibus, then there was the guide and a driver. The guide was really good - he told us a lot about Morocco's history and the powers that colonised it and what they brought to the country. It was really interesting. 

Our first stop was of course up at the casbah. It was SO hot up there, and SO dry (it's desert heat after all). Looking down on the beach you could see the clouds slash sea fret that we had been sitting in all day. It was weird! We then went to the mosque and the argan oil factory where we had been the day before. The lady in the factory was like ....oh, hi. We just sat while everyone else looked around. We got some different pictures of the mosque so that was nice.

Next we were dropped off at the marina and had to walk quite a way to where we got in horse drawn carriages. I was fine but it was quite a walk. We didn't have chance to look around the marina area which would have been nice. The carriages were lovely though. We had a nice look all along the sea front back into the minibus. The problem was that it was still bright sunshine so it wasn't exactly 'by night', but it was nice to see. 

We got back in the bus and went to the medina - but not inside this time but to a different bit nearby. We had a b it of a wander around there and an explanation of Moroccan carpet making, and then we went upstairs for food. We were given salad which was delicious, and then tagine. I was really glad I had managed to order a vegetarian tagine because there was nothing else to eat. There was some Moroccan biscuits and watermelon for pudding. Another massive group turned up and they seemed to get more of the attention of the staff, plus it was really hot in the room, so we were a bit fed up. But it had been nice to do the carriage ride at least!

We got back to the hotel and probably had a few drinks in the bar before bed! 

Look how overcast it was, you could barely see the hotels next to you!

And looking the other way. The water wasn't too cold, though, so I enjoyed paddling

Banana split at lunchtime - I swear there is banana under there somewhere

Outside our hotel at 6pm waiting for the bus - you can see the sun had come out a bit. The hotel was the Dunes D'or and I would recommend it, it was nice 

Look at the very low lying cloud that was all over the beach! I've never seen anything like it

Looking towards the Atlas mountains which was very cool to see

Another feral cat

And the camels, they must have been hot

Back at the mosque

This mural was at the argan oil factory 

And so was this one

This was our horse and carriage and it was very cute

Sitting in a carriage like I'm in Bridgerton or something

Food in the medina - salads to start with

My tagine

And finally a picture of my hair because it was going so curly in the heat!