How to sum up our family holiday in Morocco

Romantic Morocco

There were a few moments when we could pretend that there were no boisterous children in tow.

Taking the Casablanca express

Who else would show up 7 minutes before departure (at the beautiful and modern Marrakesh train station) and say:
"Hey, since we are early, why don't we take some pictures of the train". On time for once, but early?

It was a delightful ride, in first class at least. The sole complaint was that we were all excited by the prospect of ordering traditional mint tea from the snack trolley, only to discover that it was Lipton's...

Oh and the wacky glasses are not Seb being eccentric. He had been given some 3D paper and was checking his artistic and graphic efforts.

Omnipresent footie

A few more posts to catch up on the Morocco trip. Back in Toronto, we are actually preparing for Sophie's Little Grey Rabbit birthday party this afternoon. 7 munchkins and lots of games and cake.









The first thing we bought on arrival in Morocco - and the last thing we gave away - was a football. Everywhere we went Sebastian had something to do and within oh, 3 minutes, someone to play with. It was fantastic. Girls played. Boys played. Men stopped and took a turn to show off.

One time, he asked me to come out and play in the alley. I had to pack, so I sent him off alone and sure enough when I poked my head outside the riad 5 minutes later, he was playing a game with 6 other children. In fact, Sophie said that the best thing about Morocco is that there were lots of children. Our Toronto street looks even less appealing in that light.

Birthday girl(s)

Sophie wanted to ride a caleche and see the snake charmers for her birthday. All while wearing her new 3 piece purple jogging suit and sparkly lavender slippers. And so we did.

(BTW, it turns out that snakes are not her thing)





















I had fared well on my birthday, too.

The incomparable Marrakech

As it was the off-season (i.e. chilly out of the sun), we were able to rent a whole riad for about $50/night. Bad news was that the hot tub poured water down into the children's bedroom (we were cursed when it came to aquatic enjoyments).

But really, despite needing to be cautious about pickpockets, what is there not to love about this cultural gem? I want to live in Marrakech for the first year of my retirement. You heard it here. Book a bed now!

We played footie in the alley; we experienced Eid with our new neighbours (in the end, Sebastian was unfazed by the sight of a sheep being skinned and bled in the neighbouring courtyard); we shopped in the souk and bargained hard; we drank in the cafes; we ate merguez and roast chicken in Jemaa El Fna with the hoardes - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Djemaa_el_Fna ; we saw entertainers whirl and wail; we dodged the henna ladies; we strolled through Yves St Laurent's garden; we rode the caleches; we ate French pastries; we did it well.

Essaouira, the town too

While the beach was the main draw, the fishing port and artistic town of Essaouira deserves a photo mention too. Strolling the alleys and the ramparts is a real treat. Bartering in their shops (not quite a souk) is actually pleasant - though fruitless when it came to walking away with a prize of a kilm.

And there was plenty of time for just messing about as a family, taking boiling showers (to warm up off the beach), cuddling up in the big bed and reading the Phantom Tollbooth, tackling hand-basin laundry as a family, eating pain au chocolat/crepes/chocolat chaud in the lovely restaurant every morning at 9.

The only disappointment was that the hotel pool was freezing... The kids got in up to their ankles one day. The second day they braved it for 10-15 minutes. Yikes! The saving grace was that it was not too cold for turtles. 2 of them swam in the pool, while another 2 came every day to sun-bathe poolside and provided endless enjoyment to our munchkins.

Finally, a beach holiday!

We have never actually taken a beach holiday as a family - fair skins, holiday home far from a coast, etc. But it was fun! and to be repeated - though with less wind and camels are optional!!