Saturday 12 January Marrakech to Topsham

Usual cacophony at 7 from competing mosques, as we pull the blankets snugly over us in our cold room. Happy Birthday to me (Clare doesn't remember....I won't let her forget!). After breakfast in the Riad courtyard we take a short taxi ride ( price negotiated by Fatima) to the Palais Bahia, with its beautiful courtyards, ceilings and fountains. Then we walk back to the souks, after a short stop at a local spice merchant to buy saffron and mint tea. We wander around the souks before lunch at another roof top cafe terrace where we have fruit juice ( no wine available !), kefta (meatball) couscous with side serving of harrisa and onion relish, and really delicious tagine of beef and prunes with almonds. I count 8 nearby mosques. The high Atlas Mountains with their dusting of snow are hazy in the distance. Completely clear sky, hot sun. After a final tour of some carpet shops, where we manage not to buy anything (quite an achievement!) we head back to the Riad for final mint tea, which we pour from as high as we can before Hassan picks us up and we make our way to the airport for our 7 pm flight. Unusually we have to scan our bags even before entering the terminal. We meet Sergei and his girlfriend in the check in queue. They have been to Marrakech and Essouira. Flight on time . I get an exit stamp in my passport from Morocco with the date of my birthday! We say farewell to Izzie, met by Luke in a hire car just outside the terminal, and then we all share the drive back to Topsham where we arrive at about 2 in the morning.