COLIN MATTHEWS: I HAD 3 WEEKS IN MOROCCO. BUT SEE IT ON YOU-TUBE & FILMED BY OTHERS

What I have written below is my own personal experience, it might help others if you venture to Morocco, most of us think we know it, but when I went on my First Cruise - I went to some-one who had done 20 trips on the Cruise Ships, so a little bit of knowledge there, and for me I took notice and it worked well.

Well as the title says . . . I have returned after an adventure, it was quiet an experience to say the least; I flew from Heathrow to Casablanca on Air Maroc, and what a great Company they are, luggage limit 60ks, friendly and helpful, I had a meal on the plane, first rate, the flight took just around 3 hours. I got to the airport in Casablanca, now this is where the home work comes in, I took a 6 months Moroccan Arabic Course came in - "not conversational, but 99 words, which I did and it did make a big difference, there are certain greetings when meeting people, e.g. the taxi drivers, the ducussion of the price of the ride, like leaving the doors open, putting your luggage in the boot and making sure it is locked, getting in the taxi before the driver, in the front seat and making sure the doors are locked, for it has been known that Taxi Drivers will phone ahead and inform others that they have passengers on board, and yes, when you stop at a traffic light or in a busy road, they will open the boot of The Merc and pinch the lot, for me I had no trouble, I had some cards printed with my name in English and Arabic, but 50% cannot write or read Arabic, so no good there. I got to the Hotel, right in The Centre of Casa, wow what a place only 2 years old, marble floors right through, a balcony room of my choice, right over looking the street (big mistake) a very noisy street, now the Moroccans are very loud, like a drink and heated discussions, in fact I saw one every day, no punches were thrown, but are they loud, but finish with a kiss. I got the hotel about 8.30 in the evening, I did a stroll around, and went back to bed, and watched CNN. I woke to the sound of shouting in the street, it was a parking attendent, an old guy about 76, he keeps parking spaces for people for a price, and stays there all night to protect the cars, he has about 15 vehicles to look after just in case they get broken in to (this I learned later). So I washed, etc., and went down for breakfast, the waiter Moos was superb, he did the lot, Fresh Orange Juice, Boiled Egg, Rolls, Yougart, Coffee or Tea, as much as you want, I always tip the waiter, so I always had great service. So then I went to discover Casa, now I had been there in October of 2010, so it was only 6 months after, I was asked if I wanted my Shoes cleaned, as there are shoe cleaners every 250 yards, but I had trainers on, but I got to know two of the guy, and gave them the normal Muslem greeting and hand shake, then I strolled to The Old Medina a weave of stalls, oh my God I was pestered for ages . . . good price, etc., but I learnt my replies . . . naam, deema, deema, now this caused a little confusion, you speak Arabic, I just walked on. Time for lunch . . . Chicken - great fresh in fact that fresh you can see the birds in cages in the market alive the next time cooked on you plate, in fact I ate out twice a day in many places and never ever had a bad tummy, like most people do, I always drank bottled water, and checked that the top on the bottle had not been tampered with, as they have a habit of re-filling the bottles with water from pipes popping out of walls.
There was air of me

nace in Casa as well as in Fes, but to be honest I never felt safe, not from being hurt but of being robbed. I did see a guy take a mobile phone from some-one at The Hassan Mosque in Casa, very slick, he asked a nut seller for his mus (knife) he opened the back a switched sim cards, and just

walked off, now this is in the sacred grounds of the Mosque, in fact 30 minutes before the calling to prayers.
I did a few days in Fes staying at a Pension house . . . very different ! Fes is a busy place, with stall holders trying to sell you everything from jewellery to carpets to lamps and pottery, in fact if it is not at Fes or Mara.K well it has not been made yet, the stall holders do get on your nerves, in fact you cannot get away from them, as the lanes are all jumbled up you can get lost there, and you will never find your way back to your place

for the night, you would have to hire a guide, usually boys of about 15 or 16, and they charge, in fact if you take any photos the subjects charge even for their donkeys, and if you don't pay they could get their own back, I think book-makers tick-tack works out there. By not paying they can find out where you are staying from the first guide, which you must hire to take your luggage to the Pension House. Just think being smart and saying " I am not going to pay" and find a little collection of young people outside when you go out for an evening stroll, this I have seen. Now you do not see many police around either, and they only speak French or Arabic if they want to. The head and neck is of a Camel, which is used in burgers, honest !

The most memorable moment which will stay with me for ever . . . is . . . one day whilst on The Corneiche a beach (of sorts) I saw a gentleman in T-Shirt and shorts and little girl of about 10 or 11 and her mother a lady in full Black Berka, so I wondered down a started to chat to the guy in Spanish and English his little girl only spoke Arabic, so that was me out, next I asked about his wife, he said she spoke Spanish, Arabic, French and a little English, I asked his permission to speak to her, he said yes, so off I went, and what a surprise, I chatted for about 10 minutes in 3 languages, I said my farewells to the guy, his little daughter and I put out my hand to say bisslama (good-bye) to his wife but she was not aloud to touch me, in fact she was covered from head to toe and hands in gloves. There was a meeting afterwards, but this I cannot write about, I feel it very, very private, not only - I found out after it was a great honour, as what came about was very rare, for I was the great un-washed.