Travelling
After landing at Marrakech, my team of 13 schoolboys jumped in a luxury minibus and headed to the Cascades D'Ouzoud. The journey was long and tiring, but the scenery was spectacular. I was surprised by the amount of lush crops growing. As we arrived at the waterfall it was the hottest part of the day - over 34 celcius.
We had lunch at the Cascades, which were tall and impressive. I had a chance to explore the souks and a local shopkeeper would stop at nothing to sell us a wooden gun!
At the falls there were a few monkeys and many beautiful birds.
We had lunch at the Cascades, which were tall and impressive. I had a chance to explore the souks and a local shopkeeper would stop at nothing to sell us a wooden gun!
At the falls there were a few monkeys and many beautiful birds.
Community Work
In this picture my team and I are labouring away at our Community Work Project. We are in the little village Iminwarg in the High Atlas Mountains. The village is about 1400m high, the houses are spread out and there is one small shop selling drinks and snacks. The area is arid, but there is a very effective irrigation system for the wheat and fruit that they grow. The apples that they grow are very squishy!
Our Community Work was at the village primary school. We built a gate to help protect the school. First of all we had to move about a ton of mud and level out the ground. We knocked a pillar out and built a dry stone wall. It was very hard work in the heat of the day, on the first day I got sunstroke and was quite sick.
When the gate was finished it looked great and I hope that it will stand for many years to come. The village locals were very happy with our efforts. Whilst at Iminwarg we took on the locals at football, they beat us 3-2!
Our Community Work was at the village primary school. We built a gate to help protect the school. First of all we had to move about a ton of mud and level out the ground. We knocked a pillar out and built a dry stone wall. It was very hard work in the heat of the day, on the first day I got sunstroke and was quite sick.
When the gate was finished it looked great and I hope that it will stand for many years to come. The village locals were very happy with our efforts. Whilst at Iminwarg we took on the locals at football, they beat us 3-2!
Trek
This amazing view was taken during our trek, from the top of the mighty Cathedral Rock. The trek was three days long with mules taking our packs and equipment. Every day we covered about 12 kilometres. The views were breathtaking, the Atlas Mountains are extremely isolated but the people that we did meet were very friendly.
We slept in tents each night after cooking dinner on gas stoves. One night we had lamb which was left out and the wild dogs got it! So each other night the washer-uppers made sure that all the food was put away correctly, we did not want our food stolen again.
We slept in tents each night after cooking dinner on gas stoves. One night we had lamb which was left out and the wild dogs got it! So each other night the washer-uppers made sure that all the food was put away correctly, we did not want our food stolen again.
Marrakech
I enjoyed the cultural experience of Marrakech. We walked around the night market which was very crowded and hot. In the morning we got lost in the souks, walking in circles like a maze! We practised our bartering skills, looking for the best buys. Part of our responsibility was buying our food for the expedition.
We stayed the first and last nights in a hotel in Marrakech. I had to organise our parties trip to Essaouira, a fishing town west of Marrakech, using only the Lonely Planet to help me. Fortunately everyone enjoyed it!
I would thoroughly recommend Morocco to anyone who wants to visit a new culture - the people are friendly, the food is different, bartering is fun and the scenery is spectacular. I had a great time!
We stayed the first and last nights in a hotel in Marrakech. I had to organise our parties trip to Essaouira, a fishing town west of Marrakech, using only the Lonely Planet to help me. Fortunately everyone enjoyed it!
I would thoroughly recommend Morocco to anyone who wants to visit a new culture - the people are friendly, the food is different, bartering is fun and the scenery is spectacular. I had a great time!
