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Monday 21st May

Weather even worse than before but our last chance to visit Monet’s Garden at Giverny.

Train from St Lazare station at 10.30 and the gloomy Paris suburbs are at their very worst in the increasingly heavy rain.
After arriving at the small town of Vernon we take shuttle bus along with hordes of other very hardy tourists. The garden and house live up to expectations and the weather takes little away from the 4 hour stay.
Back at the B and B two very wet Aussies are greeted by a highly amused M and Mme Pierrot who had obviously been watching the leaden skies from the comfort of their cosy lounge.
Mona Pierrot’s Belgian mother who is almost 94 is a real object lesson in how to make the most of life, still driving around London and traveling to Paris to see her daughter. All of this after 7 children and 2 husbands !

Dine at a new restaurant called Le Zimmer so the owner is obviously a poor linguist or just confused.
Gail’s initial fears that we had come to a sort of slightly upmarket Macca’s allayed when a high quality meal arrives very quickly, although the restaurant is packed. Another one to add to the list fine Paris eateries.
Early to bed to prepare for flight to Morocco the next day. Yes I know I said we were leaving for Marrakesh on 21st But I never said I was Michael Palin.

The Obese Ferret.

Tuesday 22nd May.

Say our fond farewell to the Pierrots and take cab to airport. Easy jet flight one hour late leaving but we arrive in Marrakesh only 45 mins after scheduled time. No cause for complaint on any aspect of the Easyjet service.

Courtesy car to meet us at airport, only glitch being that the bureau de change does not accept Aus dollars. Resist the temptation to tell that our currency is worth far more than their pathetic little dirham but the prospect of sharia law overrides my first instinct.
Hotel Des Deux Tours on outskirts of Marrakesh superb and we have been upgraded for no apparent reason other than the fact that we probably look like two elderly codgers in need of much loving kindness.
Dinner at hotel restaurant fine although very slow in arriving.
The suite we have been given is huge and the bed enough to sleep a ‘ménage a quatre’. In fact I lost track of Gail more than once.

Wednesday 23rd May.

Superb breakfast in keeping with everything else about this hotel. Breakfast room full of Brits eager to escape the UK weather but dismayed to hear that the temp in London has gone up to high 20’s after months of terrible weather.

Our driver and guide for the next 6 days, Yahya, duly arrives at 10.00 am in his Toyota Land Cruiser and we head off to the south -east, destination Kasbah Ellouze at Ait Ben Haddou, where some of Lawrence of Arabia was filmed.
Nothing could have prepared us for the magnificence of the scenery along the way as we cross the Atlas mountains via the incredible Tichka Pass ( 2200 ) meters above sea level. The road is a marvel of engineering and Yahya’s superb driving provides even this chronic vertigo-sufferer with a very comfortable drive.
Lunch at Kasbah Telouet where a guide shows around the runs of a once-great Kasbah regaling us stories that he is from the desert and since his father died he has had to do this work to keep his family. Not sure about the story but he spoke very good English and looked fairly impressive in his Arab garb.
Arrive at Kasbah Ellouze at 5.30 and after swim in pool have dinner in hotel restaurant. Very impressive Kasbah and can’t wait for next day’s visit to the famous Kasbah at Ait Ben Haddou.

The Obese Ferret.