The End of the Road - Accra to Marrakech 2016

So that’s it! Here I am in Marrakech preparing to fly back to the UK in a few hours time. I last wrote in Essaouira which I really enjoyed exploring. Although relatively touristy, it had a laid-back feel to it and you could happily spend many hours wandering through the streets of the medina, exploring the souks, and drinking tea in the numerous cafes and restaurants. Although I have to say, I am quite over drinking the Moroccan tea - a sugary minty tea served in small glasses - and eating the ubiquitous tagines! 

Marrakech, on the other hand, is much harder to enjoy. The volume of tourists here is mind boggling after having spent three months visiting places that few tourists ever venture. The main square, Jemaa El Fna, is a spectacular sight particularly at night with the buzz and aromas of the open air eateries and juice stands. The down side of Marrakech is the constant hassle from traders, “would-be guides”, the snake charmers trying to drape a snake over you as you walk by, and the general ill treatment of animals. Horse drawn carriages abound and whilst the standards of equine care seem to have improved since my last visit here in 2004, it is still all too common to see lame horses with harness sores being made to work. Not to mention the monkeys on leads being hawked around the square for tourists to have their picture taken with.. 

In essence, there is no such thing as a quiet wander around Marrakech and you certainly need to brace yourself before venturing out. Having visited before, this time Marrakech for me has been a chance to relax and enjoy some luxury and pampering after three months of basically living in a tent. Hence booking myself into a luxury riad spa for my last two nights. A chance to get clean in the hammam, soak in the bath, and sleep in a comfortable bed - bliss!

But what an incredible three months it has been and I consider myself very fortunate to have visited many places most people have never even heard about. Learning about the histories of these countries has been fascinating - the slave trade, the civil wars, the beliefs and traditions. By the way, the best book that I’ve read in a long time is “A Long Way Gone - Memoirs of A Boy Soldier” by Ishmael Beah recalling his experiences as a child in the Sierra Leone civil war. It is difficult to pick out individual highlights of such a diverse trip, but it is always hard to beat camping in the middle of nowhere, enjoying the vastness of Africa, or strolling along a beautiful deserted beach, watching the sunset. Lots of special moments and memories I will treasure forever…