#35 Completed – Atlas Mountain Taxis

Here we are then, Marrakech in Morocco.

Fantastic city. Lots of hustle and bustle as to be expected. Fantastic markets, that appeared to be genuine markets, not just for the entertainment of the tourist, of which there was a plentiful supply.

However, prior to the trip we had made the decision to avoid spending all our time in one place and capture as much of this surprisingly vast country as possible. And the first thing that came to my mind was to complete #5 by heading into the Atlas Mountains.

We went out with our heads full of guide book knowledge ready to barter hard with the grande taxi drivers on getting a journey to Oukaimeden for the cheapest possible rate. It soon became apparent from the guy who helped us cross the street and all the drivers that were perched on their Mercedes-Benz that 600 Dirhams was not only the going rate but the only rate. We tried to get it down to 400 but this seemed to make them irate, especially when we mentioned someone had already offered us that as a joker card in the game of bartering.

Inevitably, we surrendered to the 600 Dirham fee and entered the cab of a Monsieur Aziz who was to be our chauffeur for the day. He took us from the flat lego-brick landscapes of the city to the beautiful and dramatic valleys and peaks of the Atlas, all of the time reassuring us when I asked the question in my school level French ‘Est-ce qu’il ya de neige?’

On arrival to the one lift resort, we realised that it was not quite correct. The pistes were looking lush and green as the summer Alps with only the very top showing some signs of the white stuff. Leaving Aziz for a couple hours we endeavoured to make the most of the situation.

As did the sellers, desperately trying to sell us skis, boots and clothing for the ski, only to smile and chuckle in a surrendered manner when I pointed at the sign saying ‘Fermee’ on every piste. Even going up the chairlift required at least 10 people for them to turn it on.

Some people who were very persistent were the donkey owners who wanted to take us on a ‘randonnee’. Naturally I was not all that interested as I’d left that behind on the beaches of Whitby, Filey and Scarborough in North Yorkshire. However, one of my party was incredibly keen. Rob, of Helston, Cornwall, was very happy to have at least a photo. It was then that I realised this could solve my #35 – use a new mode of transport.

Not the most comfy of rides and I was feeling rather guilty considering that it seemed like a far less efficient means of travelling through the mountains. At least we were on a gravel path, I would hate to have felt what it was like traversing the side of a mountain like a saw these poor fellas doing later on.

Having paid 20 Dirhams for the pleasure we moved back to our legs for the next bit of Atlas Mountain excitement.

Some people were