Arrested driver, and other stories (including 3 hours sleep)...

What a crazy journey.- arrived in Mauritania early on today... our driver managed to get arrested on the Nouakchott entry checkpoint – lots of kerfuffle(spelling) and our bags fully searched... the only thing they were really after was booze (contraband in Mauritania) and what was it that the border guard wanted me to give him as a ‘cadeaux’... nothing but my hand washing gel...made from, you guessed it, alcohol... ah love ironies...
Desert taxi – this thing really moves!

Got a lift off a custom official to Nouakchott, massive hassle getting there, but on arrival...what a place! A great auberge, lots of overlanders hanging around. We dropped the bags off and went off in search of food – successful... a great little family place, and although they’d closed we had a private little dinner of chicken and chips(!) served in a tagine!!! A 17 year old girl who spoke good English served us and we chatted about the relative merits of myspace, facebook etc... what a world...We met a Frenchman too, Sebastian. He’s going our way and suggests that we go with him in about 5 hours. I think we might just do that...!

Desert taxi – this thing really moves!

End of the earth.

Left Dakhla, a.k.a ‘end of the earth’ early this morning. A rude awakening by our taxi driver at 6.30am was a little unexpected but then our French is lacking quite significantly. We bombed it through the desert... a long straight good road that allowed us to bomb it through this barren landscape. The desert certainly isn’t beautiful – not dunes and pleasantness that I might have hoped for. It’s dry dusty barren and quite eerie. Anyhow, it is amazing place to have seen and a reminder of how much space there is kicking around the world – solar panels, anyone?
p.s – had a cup of tea in the Mercedes taxi in the desert. How? Well, I had smelt gas a few minutes before being offered this hot cup of stuff but didn’t believe my nose. But yes, it’s true. Someone whipped up a brew on a camping stove whilst seated in the passenger seat...
p.p.s – the W Sahara/Mauritania border is one of the strangest places I’ve seen. It’s a no-man’s land, owned and cared for by no-man. Instead, it has become a dumping ground for unwanted car tyres, cars jeep and buses from Europe... apparently if the Mauritanians don’t allow them in there’s no point in driving them back up to Morocco so they’re left to die in the baking heat. Some incredible sights, quite disturbing actually –but no photos unfortunately, they’re quite strict about these things and I didn’t want to be told off...

Western Sahara=Morocco so say the Moroccans...

Western Sahara is covered in Moroccan flags. Quite a place. The desert just stretches for miles and miles. We travelled in an air-conditioned coach – not quite the vehicle I expected, and probably not one that really added to the experience... I think a jeep would’ve been quite adventurous or even better, a motorbike would give a great feeling for the landscape. Anyhow, I don’t suppose I should be complaining about comfort... difficulties will come, and when they do I don’t suppose I’ll be loving it...(or will I?).

View from the bus window – I think it's fair to say that W Sahara really isn’t the hip happening place of the moment...

Marrakesh comes alive!

Marrakesh is quite a great place. Last night we saw the main square in the city come alive...from around 4pm traders arrived armed with stalls, stoves, fuel and food. Out of nothing, in only a couple of hours, emerged a great array of street shacks serving food to the assembled masses of Marrakesh. Not only that, but freshly squeezed orange juice is constantly available for a measly few Dirhams... After feeding and watering, we walked round this amazing square soaking up the atmosphere – families strolling, couples cavorting – dancers, actors, and storytellers... it’s a case of ‘choose your entertainment’. And this happens EVERY night...!

Overnight train to Marrakesh - highly recommended!

Train from Tangiers to Marrakesh overnight last night. Great train, they provide sheets, blanket etc. And seem to want to look after their foreign visitors – there’s a special carriage with a man to look after you!

Day in Tangiers...

Hard to believe that such an exotic land can live quite so close to Western Europe. It feels like an Arabic place, and it’s definitely different! Drinking mint tea and watching the world go by was just about as strenuous as it got for me but definitely fun. Slightly daunted about the trip ahead, but I’m sure it’ll ‘all be fine’...right?

The famous Mint Tea.

Luxury travel...

Travel travel travel. So far it’s all been in luxury. First the National Express train from Leeds to London, then the Eurostar to Paris then a Eurolines coach to here - Madrid. Woke up this morning on this coach to a fantastic Spanish morning jingle... today’s gonna be a great day!