Another engrossing and fascinating week as always in Fesworld. With Denise back at Riad Norma met great english couple Paul and Becky in the market for a riad budget 300000 euros which just happens to be what Adils bossman Stephan wants for his place fully furnished and renovated its excellent value. Arranged a meet and we all went along for nibbles at sundown P and B were interested but didnt move on it and Adil called me few days later to say a Russian had snapped it up, Im not surprised its designer luxury with incredible views for the price of a big terrace house back in Blighty!
On the road with D in the trusty Peogeot 206 and it was off to Marrekech all of 490 k with a stop at the Cascade D'Ouzoud which was a stunning turn off the road into the Middle Atlas up and up about 120 k from Marrekech. As it was a 6 hour drive from Fes I suggested I wouldnt be doing it again until i saw the Cascades which were metres from our Riad which was a wattle and daub structure breezeblocks, mud and straw with luxury fittings and terace overlooking the waterfalls!! Stunning doesnt do it justice plus sun was going down as we arrived cool mountain breeze and the falls tumbling 100s of metres down to valley below where we spotted antsized (from our perspective) people swimming in the lakes below. This is a must see a worth the detour. THE place to stay is with Patrick an amiable Frenchman at the Riad Cascade.
Whilst we enjoyed ourselves, back in Fes the terrace demolition continued with the workforce growing as the terrace and new terrace room took shape overseen by Ben my guardian and all round tortoise and cat carer with Houssine the architect and Baccali the foreman. When i get back it will be crucial time to choose tiles and fittings.
Onto Marrekech and what can i say busy, mad, pushy and main square like a rave without the lasers about 20000 people eating, staring, jostling, shopping too much for me, Fes is more civilised. Denise took me to Caravanserai next day a stunning old Caravanserai now one of worlds top hotels but in middle of a wattle and daub Berber village on outskirts absolutely brill and lunch was best meal I've had in Morroco.
D left on flight the next day and i immediatly had to meet Abdelkaddir the manager of Riad Norma who was in Marrekech and we took off on the next road trip over the High Atlas to Ourazazete. Another amazing 4 hour trip with the trusty 206 eating up the bends as we were gobsmacked by the dramatic scenery, mountains peircing the clouds, fertile lush valleys and mud and straw berber villages all the way. The town itself was like an exclusive suburb of Marrekech wide boulevards, top hotels like the Berber Palace and Moroccos most famous Kasbah and very affluent town due to all the money poured in from the two film studios there. Went round Atlas studios to see the old sets from Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven and Cleopatra amongst others.
Sidetracked on way back looking at land for sale on the road back just 20 k from Marrekech with views through olive trees and palm trees to the Atlas montains which would have dramatic snow covering in winter, price for a big plot only20000 euros soooo temting as the suburbs are moving out to this area at a rate of lets see about 100 k an hout (of course i exaggerate but you get the idea).
Carried on driving 200k to west to Essauoria for the Gnaoa music festival passing argan trees but no goats up these ones and argan cooperatives all along the route as we neared town. Girls note argan oil is the worlds best anti aging and top moisteriser plus you can cook with it its got a nutty distinctive flavour and is nutritionally better than olive oil and in Europe very expensive, here its just expensive. Called Ben all is good with the house then Adil called as i'm renting his house in the medina near to mine and he wants to sell to me so we will talk on my return, could be a bargain around 10-12000 pounds if my bartering skills are honed.
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