Finally we had made our way through the hall and could get our luggage. There also was a money exchange office, so we took the opportunity and changed some money. Next to the exchange office, there was a phone. It was phone where you had to insert a card. Naturally I thought: "Awesome, a phone where I can just insert my debit card and call!" I tried that, but to no avail, the phone didn't accept the card. Then I tried the credit card .. didn't work either. I thought: "Hmm maybe that's the bug which forced banks to reissue a lot of cards in Germany." Meaning I couldn't call that guy. Thus we decided to just go to Fes and try our luck and left the building to look for the bus to Fes.
The first encounter with the Morocco of tourists awaited us just beyond the door. A bunch of taxi drivers was offering to take us to Fes. I don't remember the first price they asked for I think it was something like 100 MAD per person. That's about 10 €uro. Now before I came here I read the maximum you should pay was 20 MAD per person for a grand taxi. We wanted to wait for the bus, but they(the taxi drivers) told us, the last bus was already gone.
We weren't the only ones waiting, there was a group of girls from Spain and we, or rather Michael(he speaks Spanish), got into a discussion with them. (Actually only one of them was from Spain as it turned out later) Then one of the girls( Anna or Ana ) also spoke English and she translated a bit for us. In the end we took two taxis to the Medina of Fes. (We payed 25 MAD per person, the Spanish girls got a better price ifirc) Friends of the Spanish girls had booked a hotel online and we first tried there, but at first they said they were booked out or something. Then we tried the next closest hotel and upon entering a boy asked me: "Quanto Sombrero ?" which is broken Spanish for: "How much for the hat ?" I was confused and didn't understand the :"Quanto" at first so wondered what he wanted and went on. The hotel offered little more than small dirty rooms with beds and also asked too much for them. ( I think they asked something like 75MAD per night per person. )
Then suddenly that other hotel wasn't booked out anymore, but was pretty much the same as the other one. So on we went and tried a far better looking one - they even had a reception. After some bargaining (when we were about to leave) we got an offer of 120 MAD for a double room, so 60 MAD per person. The "Spanish" girls didn't want to take the offer at first but we where tired of searching and so in the end all of us stayed in the hotel. I shared a room with Michael, the Polish girls shared a room and the Spanish girls shared another (bigger) room. We even had a TV in the room and the others apparently had hot water. Unfortunately Internet wasn't working for the time being, they told us.
We went all went to eat something and later walked a bit through the streets but not for to long, being tired from the day. So we returned to our rooms and just for fun I turned my Laptop on - suprise the Internet was working fine. Being tired I didn't really do anything and just went to sleep. The night was a bit cold, (but still ok) since the windows were really thin (as everywhere in Morocco) and there was no isolation to speak of. The next morning I tried the Internet again - didn't work.
To be continued.
Wednesday, 24 February 2010
Saturday, 13 February 2010
Long time no post.
Yes I am still alive and sort of well ( I have caught a cold).
A lot has happened since I arrived in Fes, Morocco. The most obvious thing is that I failed to post my plans before executing them. This was in a large part due to the fact, that I didn't plan anything, but also due to other circumstances. Well, I'll just start at the beginning I suppose. I just can't spice up things with fotos this time, because I haven't made any since arriving in Fes since there were so many with good Cameras around and I still have to ask for permission on whether I can post them.
So I took that flight on the 1st as mentioned in the last article and arrived on schedule in Madrid. Walking through endless corridors in the Madrid airport, denying offers for taxi transportation and waiting for the check-in for my next flight I arrived in the waiting hall for my flight to Fes. Unusually for Ryan Air the boarding started late. What's more, this time they actually carefully checked luggage to fit size requirements etc.. I think the flight was almost booked out. This all took quite some time and so we started late. I heard one of the guys responsible for the checking etc.. saying that this was the second longest boarding he had ever experienced. Lucky I wasn't around for the other one.. ;)
It was impossible to catch this up and so we arrived late. I don't remember, maybe it really was an hour too late ? On the flight I noticed a blonde girl with a green backpack and I wondered whether she was another couchsurfer, she definitely looked like a traveling student. But more on that in a few sentences.
Leaving the plane I felt a bit lost. Having booked no hotel or prepared anything I was wondering were I would end up. Well I had a contact from couchsurfing who would show me around in the city. So the first thing to do after getting my luggage would have been to call him. He also knew a few hotels he could show me.
Then there was an endless line in the reception hall of the airport and everyone had to fill out a form with information on job, place of departure and destination. The only problem was I had no pen and I wasn't the only person with that problem. The blonde girl and her friend (girl) also were looking for a pen. They asked a blonde guy who was filling out his form and I noticed on his form, that he came from Germany. I then asked him for a pen too, and learned that his name was Michael. We talked a bit and the girls(Hanusia and Paulina) joined in. It turned out nobody had booked a hotel yet, so we decided to look for one together and I told them I had a guy from Couchsurfing to call. As it turned out Hanusia and Paulina are both on Couchsurfing too and I thought: "Wow this seems far more common than I ever imagined!"
To be continued ... I am going to eat something now !
A lot has happened since I arrived in Fes, Morocco. The most obvious thing is that I failed to post my plans before executing them. This was in a large part due to the fact, that I didn't plan anything, but also due to other circumstances. Well, I'll just start at the beginning I suppose. I just can't spice up things with fotos this time, because I haven't made any since arriving in Fes since there were so many with good Cameras around and I still have to ask for permission on whether I can post them.
So I took that flight on the 1st as mentioned in the last article and arrived on schedule in Madrid. Walking through endless corridors in the Madrid airport, denying offers for taxi transportation and waiting for the check-in for my next flight I arrived in the waiting hall for my flight to Fes. Unusually for Ryan Air the boarding started late. What's more, this time they actually carefully checked luggage to fit size requirements etc.. I think the flight was almost booked out. This all took quite some time and so we started late. I heard one of the guys responsible for the checking etc.. saying that this was the second longest boarding he had ever experienced. Lucky I wasn't around for the other one.. ;)
It was impossible to catch this up and so we arrived late. I don't remember, maybe it really was an hour too late ? On the flight I noticed a blonde girl with a green backpack and I wondered whether she was another couchsurfer, she definitely looked like a traveling student. But more on that in a few sentences.
Leaving the plane I felt a bit lost. Having booked no hotel or prepared anything I was wondering were I would end up. Well I had a contact from couchsurfing who would show me around in the city. So the first thing to do after getting my luggage would have been to call him. He also knew a few hotels he could show me.
Then there was an endless line in the reception hall of the airport and everyone had to fill out a form with information on job, place of departure and destination. The only problem was I had no pen and I wasn't the only person with that problem. The blonde girl and her friend (girl) also were looking for a pen. They asked a blonde guy who was filling out his form and I noticed on his form, that he came from Germany. I then asked him for a pen too, and learned that his name was Michael. We talked a bit and the girls(Hanusia and Paulina) joined in. It turned out nobody had booked a hotel yet, so we decided to look for one together and I told them I had a guy from Couchsurfing to call. As it turned out Hanusia and Paulina are both on Couchsurfing too and I thought: "Wow this seems far more common than I ever imagined!"
To be continued ... I am going to eat something now !
Sunday, 31 January 2010
To africa I fly
Tomorrow(Monday) I'll fly to Morocco! It will definitely be interesting. I haven't booked a hotel or planned anything. So far I have always booked things beforehand... I'll be meeting a Moroccan student there, who'll show me around a bit.
I don't even have exchanged money beforehand...
As price politics go these days I am not flying the shortest route, because that wouldn't be the cheapest!
I'll be flying to Madrid first and 2 hours later fly to Fes from there. And then I'll be lost for the first time and see where my path leads me. :)
No time left. I'll write again, as soon as I find an internet connection over there. ;)
I don't even have exchanged money beforehand...
As price politics go these days I am not flying the shortest route, because that wouldn't be the cheapest!
I'll be flying to Madrid first and 2 hours later fly to Fes from there. And then I'll be lost for the first time and see where my path leads me. :)
No time left. I'll write again, as soon as I find an internet connection over there. ;)
Traveling and equipment
If you go travel for longer periods, you have to carefully consider what to take along and what not. I thought I'd post every now and then what proved useful and what didn't, as it might be useful to others. ;)
I bought most of the things at http://www.globetrotter.de/ (you can also find the link in my link section) they basically offer everything a traveler needs and also deliver to other countries than Germany. ( I had them deliver things to Spain, that weren't on store when I was still in Germany)
However it didn't make sense to buy everything beforehand because I'd have to carry things around half a year before I put them to use eventually. ;)
Well let's start with something I didn't buy and why. Functional Clothing. The main reason was just price. The more affordable products all had mixed reviews. Then the wool products would have been a risk as I've never worn wool and don't know how my skin would have reacted (some people really can't wear wool clothing). Lastly also some South America travelers advised against it and said cotton products would make more sense. So I just stayed with cheap cotton products, which can be cheaply replaced on the road. ;) Downside more clothing is required and thus more weight, but so far I am still light enough on the weight side of things.. ;)
I bought most of the things at http://www.globetrotter.de/ (you can also find the link in my link section) they basically offer everything a traveler needs and also deliver to other countries than Germany. ( I had them deliver things to Spain, that weren't on store when I was still in Germany)
However it didn't make sense to buy everything beforehand because I'd have to carry things around half a year before I put them to use eventually. ;)
Well let's start with something I didn't buy and why. Functional Clothing. The main reason was just price. The more affordable products all had mixed reviews. Then the wool products would have been a risk as I've never worn wool and don't know how my skin would have reacted (some people really can't wear wool clothing). Lastly also some South America travelers advised against it and said cotton products would make more sense. So I just stayed with cheap cotton products, which can be cheaply replaced on the road. ;) Downside more clothing is required and thus more weight, but so far I am still light enough on the weight side of things.. ;)
Sunday, 3 January 2010
Dangerous Wildlife
For the most part Mallorca is not dangerous. Sure there are gangs robbing public busses and sometimes there is police armed with MGs patrolling the streets, but that's just humans.. !
So at first I thought that's it. But then I learned there is actual dangerous wildlife here.
The first, which I have not actually encountered yet, is the common snapping turtle. I never saw turtles as a source of danger until now. These ones are supposedly capable of biting off your hand and they are also fast moving!
Not the slow helpless thing I had in mind when I thought of tortoises. They even have claws, surely the only thing missing would be spikes on their shells.(Image is courtesy of Wikipedia)
Then there are Thaumetopoeidae caterpillars.. When I was a kid it was: "Look a caterpillar" not "Stay away from caterpillars! They are dangerous." How so ? Well it doesn't bite off anything it just has nasty bristles which easily break off to become airborne death threats. That is, if you breathe those bristles in. Just coming into contact with them isn't enjoyable either, resulting in rashes and pruritus.
You can see a nest, of which I have seen many today, on the image (which is also courtesy of Wikipedia).
So even turtles and caterpillars are dangerous!
So at first I thought that's it. But then I learned there is actual dangerous wildlife here.
Not the slow helpless thing I had in mind when I thought of tortoises. They even have claws, surely the only thing missing would be spikes on their shells.(Image is courtesy of Wikipedia)
You can see a nest, of which I have seen many today, on the image (which is also courtesy of Wikipedia).
So even turtles and caterpillars are dangerous!
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Time passes quickly when days are so short. Almost 2 weeks now, since I last posted. Time for a birthday post!
Of course most days I worked - we only work when the weather is good (which is most of the time) but we also went hiking again.
Trash was to be found at many places ( there was a microwave oven in the midst of a forest...). This is just another example showing that most people here care little about nature. They are also rather trigger happy with chemicals here, which has lead to the demise of many a roaming cat here. They seem to have little respect for animals in general here. The streets contain quite a few dead hares, chickens and cats. Those things which once were animals have been driven over so often that they are little more that a thin layer on the street and it is almost impossible to figure out which animal such a thing once was..
I really should register with one of these picture sharing sites to be able to post all of the pictures. I have a few higher resolution pictures now which were taken by my uncle (no, I don't have a good camera now).
I feel older now. Not a birthday post anymore. I'll have to go to sleep now and continue soon!
Of course most days I worked - we only work when the weather is good (which is most of the time) but we also went hiking again.
Trash was to be found at many places ( there was a microwave oven in the midst of a forest...). This is just another example showing that most people here care little about nature. They are also rather trigger happy with chemicals here, which has lead to the demise of many a roaming cat here. They seem to have little respect for animals in general here. The streets contain quite a few dead hares, chickens and cats. Those things which once were animals have been driven over so often that they are little more that a thin layer on the street and it is almost impossible to figure out which animal such a thing once was..
I really should register with one of these picture sharing sites to be able to post all of the pictures. I have a few higher resolution pictures now which were taken by my uncle (no, I don't have a good camera now).
I feel older now. Not a birthday post anymore. I'll have to go to sleep now and continue soon!
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
Incoherence
(if you want a google maps link where you can walk around here(in 3D) tell me via facebook, mail or some other means) The next day I started working, and did the same for the following days. Everybody has a pool around here .. kind of strange considering we aren't that far away from the sea.
On Saturday then my relatives here were going to hike with some friends and I joined them. We walked along a beach and picniced after an hour or so. Then on our way back we walked past a sun bathing topless woman(She actually had been there when we came already [maybe she thought her skin was looking to young] and greeted me[people here seem far more likely than Germans to greet] just lying differently, leaning against an old bunker and nobody seemed to notice her then. There also was a cliché-weirdo, wearing sunglasses and sitting about 15 metres away, constantly staring at her). So everybody (actually mostly the women, but not only) started complaining that there would be a nudist (FKK on German) beach nearby. Beforehand (the women) suggested that I go bathe nude in the sea... Well that much for coherence in behaviour.
Later then I checked Online - they were wrong - that was actually the nudist part of the beach. Now I can tell everybody that I have been on a nudist beach. :D
The next day I rode an old bike to Palma - well actually almost rode through Palma!
The locals don't seem to care much about signs here. There was no sign indicating that I was in Palma and names of streets aren't given at every crossing. The only reason I stopped was because I couldn't imagine El Arenal being that huge! Then after I finally found indications that I was in Palma I got lost a bit in the streets and had to head back already because there was a storm predicted. Apparently even here people think of Bavaria when hearing Germany. They have "Oberbayern" here(meaning upper Bavaria, however this also means something like "in the deepest woods". Ober is similar in meaning to "Uber".)
It wouldn't have made much of a difference though, if the storm wouldn't have been predicted for that time, since it was getting dark at about the same time the storm came and the bike doesn't have lights etc.. so I'd have returned at about the same time no matter what.
In the end I realised I wasn't cool enough for biking .. so I cooled down somewhat:
To be continued.
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