I know at this time of year you are struggling for news.....
Neil and I went to Marrakech for a few days last Saturday. We left from Edinburgh Airport and packed some warm clothes and a shovel in the boot of the car – good move!! We had three fantastic days in the Medina and with the help of a guide we visited some wonderful sights. We walked for miles with him. He was very informative and had he not been there we might have missed so much history. His name is Aziz, he was larger than life and it seemed that everyone in Marrakech knew him!! Our Riad, Riad Karmela, was right in the middle of the Medina so once we got our bearings we were happy to go out on our own to look about the squares and markets. However, we did get lost – I defy anyone not to get lost there.
Headed to the airport at 3.30 pm on Tuesday to catch our 6pm flight. We had to walk to the taxi as the passageways in the Medina are so narrow – however, this was a ten minute walk in a torrential downpour. Got to the airport, through about four or five check in desks and to the departure lounge. First we were told that our flight would be delayed to 7.30pm. At 7.30pm everything went silent and no further information was forthcoming. However, a lot of us were on the internet and mobiles to friends and family and we did find someone on our flight who was in contact with a colleague working at Edinburgh Airport.
He was able to tell us that the flight coming out to take us back MAY board at 8.30pm – it actually left Edinburgh at 9.00pm – but we were all so pleased that it had left at all.
Once we boarded just after 1.30 am we were on our way back to Edinburgh – NOT!!
The seatbelt signs hadn’t been turned off before the pilot told us that he would get us as near as possible to Edinburgh but would probably only get as far as Prestwick Airport. Had we not left my car at Edinburgh this would have been very good news indeed.
Coaches took us from Prestwick to Edinburgh Airport at snail’s pace. Good news is that we would be travelling home in daylight.
When we got to my car is was buried up to the wheels in snow. Difficulty getting the boot open to get to the shovel but we managed. Car ended up full of snow before we had even begun to dig it out. After a whole hour of shifting snow (no help from the car park employees!!) we managed to get the car out of the parking space and onto a track. Friendly BAA man in a truck – who I would not let past me – agreed to create a firm track with his 4X4. He told us we wouldn’t be charged any extra for the additional parking time and showed us the ‘back way out!’.
We gladly headed home – even if it was in a blizzard. We eventually arrived home around 3.30 pm on Wednesday – 24 hours after our journey home began.
It was a wonderful break and I have no doubt we’ll do something similar again. We won’t let the horrible journey home detract from a lovely weekend.
CHEERS MAUREEN
