Overland with Kids

Yesterday was a day for extreme sports! If you are ever in Asilah, why not try a white knuckle ride “off road” on a traditional horse and cart. We had very sore bottoms after deciding to take a ride to a more remote beach about 40 mins - 1 hour away (by cart!), called Playa Las Cuevas - also known as Paradise Beach locally. This beach is south of Asilah, en-route to Larache ( a largely Spanish enclave further South).

If you do decide to travel there using this mode of transport, be sure you don’t suffer motion sickness, don’t eat just beforehand and make sure you hold onto everything you own including shoes, children, bags etc. AND hang onto the cart at the same time.

Am sure the locals must have thought silly tourists but it was one of the only modes of transport there until recently. Add to that the desparate need for a wee and you’ll have a very interesting time.

The reward was a great stretch of beach, more for the bikini clad than the traditional reservedness (excepting children and men) we have experienced so far. There are plenty of straw huts and refreshments to be found amongst camels, horses and donkeys also sharing the sea front, snad and taking in the sand and sea.

It is definately an off road route with plenty of potholes and rubble on the way so if you bring your car, be careful. The locals do and don’t seem to have too much of a problem traversing the route.

Jessica got stung for the second time since being on our trip. We think the first (in Castell de Ferro, Spain) was by a jelly fish on her arm. This time, on her back and not sure if a type of insect but all well now. We have plenty of Anthisan with us.

We took the same torturous ride back by horse and cart but this time felt humbled as we took a different route through a shanty town and the outskirts of Asilah. People living in homes of corruguated metal for protection and children seemingly immaculate and clean living and playing in what seemed like part rubbish dump and part building area.

The flashing thoughts of the comforts we have back in the UK made us feel ashamed of what we take for granted.

It is the end of a month long festival in Asilah and we spent the evening at the small funfair there. Think we were the only Westerners there yet we felt very comfortable. Excepting the hustlers at the port of Tangier, the Moroccans are a very hospitable and welcoming nation.

We found out when we returned to Christina’s House last night that a Moroccan woman had driven her car into the port. The woman was unable to drive but her husband had given her the keys to the car to drive it anyway. Non-licensed drivers unable to drive or who have never taken lessons is common in Morocco.

Today is Ramadam and also our last day of travel outbound from the UK. We begin our return journey to the UK tomorrow. It will be interesting to see the difference in the town today.

Good news is that our vehicle is ready and waiting for us in Castell de Ferro - another 274 Euros. Hoping our Land Rover will behave itself for it’s homeward bound journey.

Shukram friends for reading!

Lots of love

A, A, J and A

xxxx

Diary (Blog)