Early in November 2009, those crowned company “champions” embarked on an adventure to the northern reaches of Africa to discover the magic of Morocco. Following the night flight to Marrakech (via a very brief stopover in Casablanca), the group naturally headed straight to the very heart of the city. There the team sampled hookah pipes and the local beverages, enjoying the vibrant and colourful nightlife that Marrakech so famously offers.
The following morning began with a 5 hour drive in a westerly direction (stopping off for a casual lunch with the camels), and then a mild 2 hour trek to “check-in” to the second night’s accommodation: a specially designated tribal Bedouin tent set up just off the coastal town of Essaouira. The experience really was quite extraordinary as we were welcomed as Desert Kings, enjoyed an epic feast with the locals and then sang tunes into the night.
The next day was, to put it simply, grueling: nine solid hours in mountain shrub land in scorching sunlight. After battling with sand dunes, lack of mobile phone signal and completing descent before sunset (which we did thanks to our very helpful camel friends), the team feasted on fresh Goat.
The first half of the final day was spent packed very uncomfortably inside a small van! However, the “sardine-in-a-can” experience was certainly worth it when we arrived in Essaouria to see our last night’s accommodation: a fabulous boutique hotel with all the mod cons! After freshening up, the team enjoyed a lunch of freshly caught fish, and then went haggling in the souks and wandering through the city’s historical streets. That evening the team congregated for a hearty dinner and delightful dance at a local restaurant.
After a wonderful closing night, the troops faced up to their final challenge: having to catch an early morning return flight after getting next to no sleep and consuming to excess! The challenge was met and all arrived safely back in London. From there the team was finally separated and each “champion” went their separate way across Continental Europe carrying a little bit of Morocco in their bag (a tone of ornaments and spices from the souks for the loved ones back home!).
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