Marrakech

So with a double bank holiday and no street party in Wiltshire Road (thank god) i thought that i would get away for a few days. Easyjet location map and a pin led me to North Africa for the first time.

An hour delay with Easyjet, left me arrving around 7pm and after passport control (which seemed to be on a go slow in sympathy with Heathrow), a short taxi ride got me to my hotel around 8.

First impressions - very pleasant temparature, although i imagine midday will be hot, bustling, fairly easy to navigate but go off main roads can be an adventure. If you make the mistake of looking at a map, or just giving the impression of being undecided on where you are going, then you will instantly make a friend, whose english is very good and is very helpful. Of course this friend is for hire because you ar encouraged to provide a small donation - "so mustapha can buy some cigarettes". To be fair it is done in a very unintimidating way.

Took in main square Jamaa el Fna is the main attraction at night. Covent garden the african way with entertainers, touts, food sellers. The teams that encourage tourists to venture to their particular food stall have a whole range of sales patter, one offering Jamie Oliver influenced food!!!, another telling me that it was Lubbly Jubbly!

Its going to be an interesting couple of days.

ps typed on tablet - blogger app - which does not appear to have a spellcheck. You may have guessed that already