Morocco, Mdiq
Karinya
Tim And Vicki Schofield, Captain Cal 7 and Jess 4
Thu 26 Aug 2010 15:13
What a different place this is. After we left
Cueta, we went to Mdiq. We have to checkinto the country but are unable to
do it here, so we were told to go to Smir marina, which we then did. They
were desperate to get us to stay, as they are so empty, but for £50 a night with
nothing open due to Rammadan it was not very attractive. On our exit from
the marina, the customs man is shouting to us and pointing, so we realised that
we didnt have a Marocco visitors flag up. Actually we didnt own one and
wthey didnt have one. In haste and fear that they would chase us (joke) i
quickly made one from an ole pair of white trousers. Cut them up and
painted it both sides with the kids finger paint. Dried in the sun and
hope it doesnt rain. So far so good. We will purchase one when we
can find one.
So we returned to Mdiq for a couple of days.
We went into the town yesterday afternoon about 3pm. the heat is almost
unbearable at times, 45 degrees i think. It was very funny as no one is
eating or drinking, so they all just sit around in restaurents doing
nothing!! The markets were amazing. All open air, and selling
everything. Beautiful colours of fruit and veg, interspersed by carts with
bottles of orange juice (seems to be very popular), shoes, plastic boxes, dates,
dates, dates, figs figs and more figs, and sweet breads, which are all covered
with bees. I wasnt too keen on this as i have a bit of a phobia of bees
and wasps. The prices here for food are astounding. I bought half
kilo of olives for 70p and a hughe bunch of coriander for 10p, it is all so
fresh too. The shop assistants are all so lethargic, which is hardly
suprising, as they are not eating.
We bought some great chicken spiced somosas
and ate them in the street, but realised this may not have been very
diplomatic!!! We were told that women should cover their arms and knees,
and the men in trousers. But actually it wasnt that bad. Men can
wear what they want. Women more careful. I wore a long sleeved shirt
and long skirt, but i would have been ok in a shorter top.
The funnist thing was that when we arrived, we
anchored just off the beach. We certainly attracted some attention, with
swimmers coming out to the boat and swimming around it, made me feel a bit
uneasy at first. Then, while standing on the deck in a bikini, i looked
through the binoculars to the beach. ALL the women wore Birkhs(long gowns
with head coverings). They were even swimming in them!!! So no
wonder the men were looking at me, clearly i must have been some porn
star!!! I dont fancy going to the beach.
Having a quiet day today with catching up with
school work, cleaning, and resting, before a trip into a nearby town by taxi
called Tetouan (meant be have a great bazaar) tomorrow.
So far Morocco seems to be very safe, with friendly
locals and helpful police, but we are not taking any chances and minding each
others boats when we go out for the day.
Peter and Christine from New Zealand
Big Amil and little Peter on their boat as we pull
up to anchor
Convoy into the anchorage
local fisherman
local Moroccan children...not sure where we found
them
fish market, no i didnt buy it.
Bunch of Moroccan women and children in western
dress!
Shop keeper, taking her job very
seriously...amazingly crime is very little
close up of Tim when he doesnt do the
dishes.