Boulmane DadesJun 7, 2005
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After 03/06, I went to Boulmane Dades - hitched a ride with a very nice man who thought I was the bees knees. Kept shaking my hand and then crossing his heart (a religious thing I guess). Anhow, had a coffee with him and was then supposed to meet Jackani (arranged a tour with him for 2,500 - a rip off as I found out later). He did not turn up (after I gave him 400) - I saw him in the town but he didn't see me. Anyhow, thought I'd cut my losses and especially since some other locals advised me he was trouble so I arranged a taxi all the way to Merzouga (750dms). Driving along to Todra Gorge - who should start waving his arms out the taxi but Jackani. I told him to get lost since he didn't wait for me and he continued (now here's a surprise) to be a pain in the ass. Stupidly I relented and I gave him a ride to Merzouga. He kept on saying how he'd gone to all this trouble and made reservations etc - well by this stage I was having none of it since I knew he had not paid for anything. I ended up relenting because his badgering became too much and said I'd sty one night in the desert and he would be my guide. Checky git kept trying to get more out of me by saying he'll take me to an awesome oasis for an extra 300dms - I said NO! I knew it would be the same one - I wasn't born yesterday! Anyhow went into the desert on the bloody filthy camel and his constant jabber almost drove me crazy - 'relax max without fax' - what a drip! I should have trusted my initial instincts and not gone anywhere with him. I'd found out later that Mohammed from Dades didn't know him at all. In addition, when I was trekking with him we stopped at a cafe for a drink and the owner advised me that Jackani had stopped in the previous evening looking for me. On top of that, he actually tracked me down at the hotel so he'd obvously stopped in every one along the way. I didn't like that at all - the constand bullshit of no pressure was immense - so much that you end up agreeing before thinking. It was a good lesson to learn and I will remember to go with my gut feeling for the next stage of my journey.
The next morning we went back to the hotel and I showered and made my way back into the major town. On the way we stopped off a another bloody carpet shop (like I need more carpets I hear you say?!!!) - I ended up buying two and some jewellery. Mohammed was an excellednt salesman but I also felt he was very genuine. He asked me to join them for lunch which was really nice - proper authentic Morrocan - a tagine and I watched the final of the mens French Open. Afterwards he game me a lift to the taxi stand where Jackani tried for a free ride - after I'd paid for 2 places so I didn't have to sit next to anyone - he wanted the seat for a 1/3 of the journey! Unpaid for of course! I said NO - bugger it, he'd really pissed me off and that was the last straw. I made my way to Meknes (late) and paid a fortune for the hotel. Was out like a light and then went to Voluilis the next day (ripped off again with the taxi - hmmm). Afterwards I went into Mknes and saw the Moulay Ismail's Mausoleum which was stunning and one of the few places/temples that a non-muslim can visit in this country.
