And hello Morocco...

I am back in London after a longer than expected time in Morocco. I arrived in Casablanca two weeks ago and I have to say that my first impression was not what I thought it would be. I was expecting to be blown away from the beginning but instead it was an evolving process. I will write more later but as each day passed I liked it more and more. We travelled from Casablanca to Rabat and then on to Meknes and Fes. We spent a whole day in the Medina in Fes and it was such an experience - the colours, sights and smells were nothing that I have experienced before and I loved it.

And then we arrived in Marrakech and I loved it. Marrakech is the Morocco I was looking forward to. Imagine a city teeming with people where it is not unusual to have an expensive mercedes negotiating for road space with a donkey and cart, where the new and the very old are mixed in a colour combination and where the noise of crowds and street sellers are harmonised with the sound of snake charmers and the calls to prayer. I had left my comfort zone long ago and loved soaking up the atmosphere. I wasn't ready to leave so when some people on the tour invited me on the second last night to join them after the tour to go to Assouria (a costal town) and the Sahara I thought why not!

I am so pleased I ended the trip with the Sahara. We rode camels across the dunes and camped under the stars. To lie on warm sand gazing up at a dark sky full of stars (and shooting stars) until 4.30 am was definitely worth it.

The extra time at the end of this leg was perfect and I was ready to leave. England is thankfully warmer than when I left it and I will have a final day catching up with English and Australian friends bfore heading off to the US of A! More photos to come but below are a taste...