Tahadart Camping & Holiday Homes ( Morocco 90000 )

Our time in the Rif mountains over, we set off, early, after looking at the clouds below the mountain tops, this inversion layer was quite a sight.

It was already very warm, and it being a Sunday we hoped the traffic on the road would be lighter, not that lighter traffic makes for more careful driving here.

The area seemed quite remote, and we were desperate for fruit, crisps and water. Drinking any water other than bottled, is an absolute no no here. We are consuming a minimum of six litres a day. So, seeing a shop open at a garage we purchased a pack of water, and drank coffee and Moroccan tea at the adjacent cafe before leaving. Then passing through a very small village, another stop at a small shop to buy fruit, pringles, which are extortionately priced here, and a large bottle of orangina, because drinking water all the time just doesn't quench your thirst. Since arriving at Tangier all purchases, except diesel have been in cash. Lately, Marge's diesel has to be paid in cash too. Angela was a little concerned, as we have only nine hundred Moroccan dirham, around seventy-two pounds. If we can book a ferry tomorrow, we will be leaving Morocco within a couple of days. The only place we ever see cash withdrawal machines are at supermarkets, and we haven't seen one of them for a while either. Hopefully, the nine hundreds dirhams will suffice until we leave. This afternoon we arrived back at the Atlantic coast. The temperature almost ten degrees cooler. Bliss.

The little camping area is behind a restaurant, opposite the beach.

A beautiful sandy beach, strewn with rubbish. No change there! We hoped to eat in the restaurant, but when we saw a member of the kitchen staff, identifiable by the apron he wore, assisting with a major drain blockage it was a no! Outside on the camping sign in large capital letters it specified that there is a drain available for campervans and and motorhomes to dump their waste. Well someone had dumped something, a very large something!

Camping Azilan, Chefchaouen, Morocco (day 2)

End of school for the summer here yesterday. Adjacent to the campsite the towns swimming Poole, where yesterday an end of school party was held, until half ten last night. There's something about bassy music and a DJ who really loves himself, that doesn't gel well with someone suffering with a migraine. Angela's words are unprintable! All quiet this morning, and with Angela feeling a little better we walked down to the town, passing goats stood in the argan trees who had climbed the trees to enjoy a nibble on the leathery foilage.

As you do. Despite being up amongst the Rif mountains it is hot, 34c. We know cool compared to some parts of the U.K. and Europe. Chefchaouen is a relaxed mountain city, often called the 'Blue Pearl'. Famous for its blue washed streets and Andalusian style architecture of blue washed buildings.

Pretty as it is, the shops seemed to all sell similar items, straight off a container ship from China. Angela would have liked to have seen something a little more artisan for sale. Being up in the mountains, there is no supermarket here, so we purchased courgettes, peppers, tomatoes and onions from the street sellers who sat along the pavement with a few crops they'd managed to cultivate on the dry barren soil here. This evening, the temperature has now dropped by 1c. We'd like to walk out for a meal, but the walk back is uphill, and after struggling back to Marge once already today in the intense heat, we are not so sure it's a good idea to venture out again. This evening our neighbours are a very nice Moroccan family, mum, dad, four children and as introduced to us, ' the in-law'. That'll be the mother in law to you and us!

Camping Azilan, Chefchaouen, Morocco

Angela is unwell again. For the last two days she's been suffering with headaches, and now has a really bad cold, so last night was yet another night of no sleep for her. There's something really miserable about being ill at the best of times, but being unwell away from home makes it doubly so. Despite feeling awful, she was happy to pack up Marge and set off into the Rif mountains to Chefchaouen. The drive was longer than John would have liked, but we will be leaving Morocco soon, and the mountainside town of Chefchaouen was on our list of places to visit, so we couldn't leave without stopping there, we'd feel we'd left Morocco with unfinished business.

It is much warmer here than on the coast, almost 30c, but at least there's a breeze coming down off the mountains which surround us. Hopefully tomorrow Angela will feel much better and we'll walk down to the town. We are in Berber country here, so there just might be a chance of Angela being able to buy the Berber straw hat she would like.

As for tonight's campsite, overpriced with terrible facilities, but it's the only one in the area so they can get away with it.

Just four of us here to enjoy the the stunning views of Morocco's northern landscape, which makes the extortionate price to stay here more bearable.

No stowaways please, I know someone who would love you, but honestly we've no room!

Asilah, Morocco (day 2)

At last, a peaceful night's sleep! Why couldn't every night be like this? Feeling relaxed, not having the stress of driving today, we did the washing, tidied Marge, and walked along the seafront to the town to buy fruit, stopping at a seafront cafe for refreshments. We felt chilled. 

Asilah is a very nice town. Fifteenth century ramparts, built by the Portuguese which have stood the test of time house the whitewashed walls of the Medina which was being given a coat of paint in readiness for the holiday season which begins here on July 1st.

During the summer artists come from all over the world to paint street art on these walls. Since our last visit here almost four weeks ago the town has undergone a transformation. Painting, rubbish removal, shrub and tree trimming, and watering is happening everywhere in readiness for the visitors.

There's no health and safety here. Wooden ladders and platforms do the same job as secure steel scaffolding back at home. We really like Asilah. It has a relaxed vibe and feels very safe. However, they do like a 'bit of bling' here. The land train looked very Christmassy, but obviously not, as this is a Muslim country. Food trucks adorned by rope lighting that lit the pavement showcased the fun side of Morocco. 

And on the subject of health and safety, doesn't everybody have a light switch at waist level in their shower? Common practice here. Please don't try this at home!