Days 353-356, 31 May-3 June 2015, Marrakech - Final Thoughts... and Au Revoir, Adios, Goodbye! We are safe & sound at the airport departure gate with an hour to go until boarding. Quite reasonable by Hardie standards. It was good to get here relatively early - no queues to check-in/security/emigration. Well a tiny queue... Two older (than us) French women who've apparently not travelled since 9/11 and were carrying all manner of liquids, sharp objects, sc...

Days 346-352, 24-30 May '15, Situation Normal... Shopping, Eating, Strolling. During the first few days of our stay, another guest mentioned La Mamounia... Churchill's favourite hotel (well his favourite in Marrakech anyway). Earlier in the week we strolled there just for something to do as we'd read you could walk around the grounds. Non Madame! Only during the week, not on weekends. Please come back Monday-Friday. So a couple of days later we gave it anothe...

Days 339-345, 17-23 May '15, Jamaa el Fna at it's Finest! All roads in Marrakech lead to the Big Square/La Grande Place/Djmaa el Fna. Even some roads that don't. Last time in Marrakech it was actually impossible to get to the big square without someone offering to give directions (often quite forcefully). It was actually impossible to leave the big square without someone giving directions on how to get back to the big square. Some clever clogs at the Council ...

Days 332-338, 10-16 May '15, Eat, Sleep, Explore, Repeat. The Marrakech Mantra! Our month out of time flows ever onward and parole date of 3 June can now be announced - then we're off to Ireland for a repeat engagement. Fab to be popular. We have spent the week exploring - we find a new alley or part of the souks and launch in with nary a care. It's a walled city. What's the worst that can happen. But lostness is a far distant memory. Our mental maps of the m...

Days 332-334, 10-12 May '15, Marrakech. AKA: Molten Core of the Earth. Now we knew it was going to be warm here... but hey - the peak temps aren't due until July / August. By our reckoning it's still definitely May. We are, however, in the grip of an early season heatwave. It was definitely a bit warm yesterday and even the locals were mooching about very, very slowly. Could barely be bothered to standup when they called from their shops... "I'm sorry, Excus...