Arrived into Morocco this afternoon... just as Madrid was getting some unseasonal rain... well a few showers. Enough though for us to flee! haha... well the flight to Marrakesh was only 1hour 40minutes. Customs went really well... tho everyone gets a gander at your passport it seems.
All was going well until we get to the luggage hall. I was a little suspicious of the luggage handler who peered out from behind the curtain of the luggage conveyor belt as I was the only one there at that time, and says to me, "Madrid", "yes" I replied, then calls me over and asked me what my luggage looked like?? WTF???
"Black" I say... "Is it this one" bringing out a ubiquitous black suitcase..."No miseur". Three attempts were made at this exchange... how bizzare. Paul is snickering at this point!
I suspect he was genuinely trying to be helpful.. and looking for a tip! Luckily his mates called him to do some work. Too funny. Thank god he didn't find it, not sure if I was going to have to pay extra to actually get it.
Next adventure... getting a taxi to the hotel. Oh boy. No problem. We are skilled. Just get in and make sure they put the meter on. Written the address on a piece of paper. Should be fine.
I look in the taxi, "Meter please"... the guy directing the punters says, "No meter!", tried again... "NO METER!!", and they tell you how much your going to pay after they know which hotel your staying at..hmmm. So being good negotiators we agree on an exorbitant price, well they tell us what we are going to pay. 100MAD's (Moroccan Dhirams) for a 10minutes journey, the cab driver agrees, our anxiety levels settle... negotiated well... huh! not. Oh well... lets just get to the hotel. Then as he gets in the taxi... he says ahhh yes, and 50 MAD's for your luggage extra. LOL these guys are skilled. Your in the taxi, already moving and what are you meant to say... no... leave the luggage behind! It can make its own way there.
Anyways we arrived at the hotel in one piece, even through the taxi driver was yelling on his phone and gesticulating whilst talking with his other hand... yup, you guessed it, no hands driving... bikes going every which way, trucks almost hitting us. oh what an adventure, and we haven't been in the coutry 20mins.
But fortunately the hotel is very nice. We have retreated to it for a welcomed break from running around Madrid for 5 days looking at all the art, museums, ruins etc. More on that and pics when I get a chance. So this afternoon a bit of sitting by the pool in the warm sun, to regain our strength and prepare for tomorrows adventures...out wandering around the city.
The room? Its nice. We are indeed very fortunate.
All was going well until we get to the luggage hall. I was a little suspicious of the luggage handler who peered out from behind the curtain of the luggage conveyor belt as I was the only one there at that time, and says to me, "Madrid", "yes" I replied, then calls me over and asked me what my luggage looked like?? WTF???
"Black" I say... "Is it this one" bringing out a ubiquitous black suitcase..."No miseur". Three attempts were made at this exchange... how bizzare. Paul is snickering at this point!
I suspect he was genuinely trying to be helpful.. and looking for a tip! Luckily his mates called him to do some work. Too funny. Thank god he didn't find it, not sure if I was going to have to pay extra to actually get it.
Next adventure... getting a taxi to the hotel. Oh boy. No problem. We are skilled. Just get in and make sure they put the meter on. Written the address on a piece of paper. Should be fine.
I look in the taxi, "Meter please"... the guy directing the punters says, "No meter!", tried again... "NO METER!!", and they tell you how much your going to pay after they know which hotel your staying at..hmmm. So being good negotiators we agree on an exorbitant price, well they tell us what we are going to pay. 100MAD's (Moroccan Dhirams) for a 10minutes journey, the cab driver agrees, our anxiety levels settle... negotiated well... huh! not. Oh well... lets just get to the hotel. Then as he gets in the taxi... he says ahhh yes, and 50 MAD's for your luggage extra. LOL these guys are skilled. Your in the taxi, already moving and what are you meant to say... no... leave the luggage behind! It can make its own way there.
Anyways we arrived at the hotel in one piece, even through the taxi driver was yelling on his phone and gesticulating whilst talking with his other hand... yup, you guessed it, no hands driving... bikes going every which way, trucks almost hitting us. oh what an adventure, and we haven't been in the coutry 20mins.
But fortunately the hotel is very nice. We have retreated to it for a welcomed break from running around Madrid for 5 days looking at all the art, museums, ruins etc. More on that and pics when I get a chance. So this afternoon a bit of sitting by the pool in the warm sun, to regain our strength and prepare for tomorrows adventures...out wandering around the city.
The room? Its nice. We are indeed very fortunate.