Moroccan Mishaps: A Repositioning Cruise Comedy of Errors

Hey travel enthusiasts! Lidia here, back with a tale of our recent Moroccan misadventures. My husband Jeff, my sister, her husband, and I decided to embark on a spontaneous day trip to Marrakech while on a repositioning cruise that docked in Casablanca. For those unfamiliar, repositioning cruises are a fantastic way to snag super affordable fares as cruise lines move their ships between seasons. Little did we know, our adventure would be less about Marrakech’s wonders and more about navigating a chaotic taxi ride and dodging aggressive salespeople.

First off, let me paint the scene: Casablanca’s taxi stand, a bustling hub of activity. We were surrounded by drivers clamoring for our business, practically fighting each other for the privilege of taking us to Marrakech. The scene escalated quickly, even attracting the attention of local police! Talk about an intense welcome to Morocco.

Finally, we found a driver who spoke a little English, and off we went in his vintage Mercedes. Now, the weather in Morocco is usually glorious, but fate had other plans for us. A torrential downpour decided to make an appearance, and our poor Mercedes, equipped with a single, barely functional wiper, was not having it.

Our resourceful driver pulled over to the side of the highway and MacGyvered a solution: newspapers and oil smeared on the windshield. It was a bizarre yet strangely effective fix. There we were, hurtling down the highway in a makeshift oil-slicked vehicle, following a passenger car transporting three live goats in the backseat. Apparently, they were destined for an upcoming feast!

Marrakech itself was a blur of aggressive salespeople who promised to show us the city’s hidden gems but instead whisked us away to their shops, hoping for commissions. We ended up with an overpriced lunch at a restaurant we didn’t even want to eat at. Thanks, guys!

The drive back was equally eventful, with rain and traffic threatening to make us miss our cruise ship. We practically sprinted from the taxi drop-off point to the ship, arriving just in the nick of time as the last passengers to board. Whew!

Despite the chaos, we couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. It was a reminder that sometimes the best travel stories are the ones that don’t go according to plan. And while spontaneous adventures can be fun, it’s always wise to have a backup plan, especially in a foreign country.

For our next adventure, we’ll definitely be researching local tour companies and checking out options on platforms like Viator.com, rather than wing it in Casablanca.

Lesson learned: Next time we’ll do our research and be better prepared. Don’t miss your boat, literally! But hey, at least we have a hilarious story to tell! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to savor the calm and predictability of life back on my balcony.