It turns out that the hotel we were accidentally standing in has the same name as the riad we were meant to be standing in.
Still the staff were really very nice after the embarrassing bit between us trying to check in and them not letting us. Our actual destination was a beautiful, peaceful riad in the medina. Somewhere..this was a perfectly pleasant aparthotel Somewhere Else. But it had a restaurant. And I was hungry. Very. Ruled by my stomach I was ready to give up the promise of the etheral, spiritual experience to come with the instant gratification of a club sandwich.
However, one of our party had already phoned our driver and told him in no uncertain terms to come back, so instant gratification was not to be. The hour and a half at Passport control for no apparent reason had drained me and I was unable to state my case. Instead I stood sulkily on the pavement. No one took any notice.
Waiting for the next stage of our endless journey to start I reflected on the fact that I REALLY DIDN’T NEED THIS. I had student loan forms to fill in at home. And not EVEN for me. I also had to sort the bathroom out and clear the garage as well as put my paperwork into piles, sorry files. (the last three tasks were fairly constant as I never really got around to doing them)
This weekend was supposed to be a break from trying…but this was very, very trying.
So, back in the car. But not really confident in our drivers navigational ability..still…the streets got narrower and busier, and suddenly humanity seemed to be bursting out of the walls. Rows upon rows of tiny shops, with streets thronged with people, cars, bikes, donkeys, cats, dogs. This looked more like the Marrakech I had seen on my computer.
At last, we arrived at our destination…or had we? Our driver got us and our bags out of the car and led the way. Well he would have done had he known where we were going. He didn’t. Again. As he frantically asked passers by the way to our accommodation, a couple of irate taxi drivers pursued him noisily..he’d parked in front of their cars and blocked them in… During the ensuing argument he somehow located a young boy..a child…and said “he will take you”.
Then he jumped into his car and was gone. Again. The alternative was to cry, so we decided to do as we were told. The boy turned and took us in the opposite direction to the one in which we had been going, and we had no choice but to follow him. He was about 9. I was not confident.
After a weekend in the city I realised that basically people of all ages just led you places, whether you wanted them to or not, actually, but at this point I did not know this.
So, we were dragging our cases up this street as fast as we could. Nine year old boys walk fast.
Suddenly, he turned into an alley. A ver dark, very narrow alley. There was still someone riding a bike in it though..
Then he turned again into another alley….I was beginning to panic slightly. It was like being dropped into a maze from a plane with your eyes shut.
Whereas we were actually walking very quickly through some derbs in Marrakech quite late and with no idea where we would end up.
Then again he turned. Into a dead end. To a huge wooden door in a windowless wall. The door opened slowly, and without looking up we virtually fell inside.
We fell inside the most beautiful, serene, glorious room I had ever been in. I feel calm just thinking about it.
Next time: in which I am sent to scavenge for supper and learn the significance of left, left, right..
