Moroccan Adventure #1 -- Day 1

Greetings from the air over Algeria. This morning we awakened at 5 AM to take the 'bus to Cairo airport. It is a very good thing that we completed 99% of our packing quite early in the day yesterday. At about 8:30 PM most of the electricity in the apartment was cut off. It appears that the electric company has the ability to cut off about 60% of the power to each residence????? It  was so hot in Cairo that the electric grid just could not meet the demand. A few lights worked, a few electrical outlets worked, but most of the apartment was in darkness. Our resourceful Madam Soha made many phone calls and finally got some men to come and check things out. (YES, SHE HAS "PEOPLE" TOO, ANNE).They confirmed that the company had done it; the men made some changes to the cabling and ran a bypass which put most things back together. We could use the fans in our bedroom and a light, but, not the air conditioner so we went to sleep.

Once at the airport this morning Ron got quite frustrated at the delays for every thing we were required to do. Check-in was no problem – the long line moved quickly, but so little information was given causing us to have to go through another line twice after discovering that an exit visa was also required. There were also multiple security and passport checks. After all the hassle, we had time for breakfast, which was a half-sandwich and a cup of good coffee each, which spent all but pennies of our Egyptian pounds, which was perfect.Once on the plane, where we are now, the seats are so narrow that I am typing this with my elbows crunched to my sides, and nowhere else to put them. Ron still thinks I am crowding him. I tell you this to remind you that travel is not as much fun as it used to be. Looking at my receipt, I think we paid $573 each from London to Cairo to Casablanca. The Cairo to Casablanca flight takes 5 hours; sorry, 5 very long hours, though the food they just served was really good. Every so often the very fat man in front of me, who is sitting in the bulk-head, where there is lots of leg room, sets his chair to recline, thus taking up my face room. I can't drop anything on the floor – there is no way to bend over and even scratch my leg, let alone pick something up.O.K. That's enough whining. I hope to finish this in our hotel room. We will land in Casablanca in about 1 more very long hour. I wish I had some of that lovely fresh Alexandria air with me........

Wow -- I just read that back, what a whiner I am.....It took a long time to get out of the airport due to lines and a long walk.We found our driver and then some of our friends began to arrive. Seven of us shared a small bus to the hotel. We were given the key to our really lovely room and Ron thought he wanted to crash for a while. BUT-- I was ready to play. I was trying to find info about Rick's American Cafe, and Ron said "Why not just Google it, (clever clogs, isn't he). I did and that worked;  there is a good web site with all the information:                 www.rickscafe.ma/about.htm, Its worth a look if you copy and paste that in your browser. I found that the place was only a 10 minute taxi drive away, the food prices were reasonable, and, though it is an unashamedly tourist attraction, we just couldn't resist. Ron and I were going to just go alone but, before we got out of the door there were 14 friends calling into cabs to go with us. The food was good, the servers were friendly, the atmosphere is delightful, but, Sam wasn't playing the piano tonight. To be real, it isn't up on the thrill-standard as high as the Library in Alexandria, but is was a big thrill all the same.It definitely stands up to its on-line hype. 

I fell asleep over the computer last night and had a wonderful night. AND SO TO START OUR HAPPY DAY.

Hugs, Noreen