Exploring the Kasbah by foot!

After our wind and rainswept ferry trip we arrive to a sunny modern port of Algeciras.  We quickly disembark to be transported by bus to the city.  We are a bit disconcerted by all the razor wire around the port but everything seems calm.  Exiting the port we spy a row of taxis.  A guy wearing a  djellababsits nonchalantly in a deck chair directing all operations.  He assigns us to a lively cab driver who quotes the amount we have been told and we are off!

We loved the half hour trip, enjoying the sun and the change of architecture. Once we arrive at the Kasbah things start to change!

We had booked an airbnb house in the old Medina. The address was La Maison Bleue, Pl de las Kasbah, Tangier.  The first problem was that no cars were allowed in the Kasbah.  The second problem was that no one could recognise the address!

 

Of course there are always a couple of local boys eager to help and to practise their English.  Within seconds they had grabbed Roger's luggage and they were off.  I held onto my bag, reluctant to hand it over to these nimble teenagers.  Within a couple of minutes we were outside La Maison Blanche!  'No Maison Bleue' we kept saying. Everyone looked confused.  Now I had bought an ESim as i was sick of swapping over sim cards - only problem was it wouldn't work in Morrocco and so we had no phone or internet and no way of contacting our host!

That was the moment we met Aziz who came out of Maison Blanche and handed his phone to us so we could call the host but guess what - no answer.  Undeterred the boys asked to look at the picture of the  house.  Ah Ha!  They were off like a shot.  10 minutes later we were at the house.  We had to arranged to meet Malik who was to let us in.  There was no-one there.  

Over the next three hours we met copious number of people who all knew Malik and assured us that he would be there in 5 minutes.  No one showed up!

'That's it!' I said 'We're off back to La Maison Blanche' the beautiful riad we had seen.

How wonderful was the moment when Aziz opened the door and said 'Welcome.  Come drink some mint tea.'