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Tuesday 19 March 2019

Tangier to Marrakech Sleeper Train. Awesome Fun.

The new ONCF station at Tangier, Morocco.

I mean WOW, the sleeper coaches are towards the back of the train and we were soon shown to our coach by a very smart guy who couldn't help us more if he tried, he really was great so my expectations of this journey were now very positive and the boy's were excited and very tired as the train departs 23:00. Lucky for me the boy's convinced me to buy the extra bed In our coach as they wouldn't feel comfortable with sharing and on opening the door it was a great choice. Two sets of bunk beds with very little room for anything else. The extra bed was used for our bags. Soon we were settled Into a room within the coach and I couldn't help but notice our coach and the train itself was falling apart, it was so hot inside the boy's chocolate they had bought was melting, the floors were dirty and the beds were okay but for us this added to our crazy adventure on the sleeper train we had imagined.
      We departed slowly with not much to see from our window as It was dark. With our window open and the noise from the tracks we picked up speed and was on our way to Marrakesh via sleeper train and It was awesome, exciting and a new experience to our life's. Within a hour or two the boy's were asleep and I relaxed with a bottle of cold water supplied by the guy's on the train and a good book.

So excited.

Jacy and his giant rucksack. 
ONCF train station for sleeper train Tangier.

1100DH approx (£110) get's you 4 beds(2 bunks) on a sleeper coach
No WI-FI
No plugs
Free water
Coffee/tea for a small price.
Arrives early morning 07:00-10:00 

Camping Miramonte Tanger(Tangier), Morocco Gallery.

                                Welcome to Camping Miraonte Tangier, Morocco.
                                          Maths while at our camp.
                                         Our spot.
                                          Guy's In charge doing photo shoot with boy's.
                                          Chilling In the sun with one of many cats.
                                                    Soilders on duty.
                                                    Welcome.
                                                    Out and about.
                                                    Beautiful.
                                                    Another friend.
                                                    Gecko.

                                                    Our best friend Torso! Italian dog.

Friday 15 March 2019

A Journey Not Done Before? Ibiza-Barcelona-Tangier(Tanger), Morocco. The Gateway To Africa.


So we are not new to the first leg of the journey Ibiza-Barcelona. It was a quick ferry over to Barcelona at about 10:00 sailing arriving Barcelona 19:00. I've blogged about this journey but a through the night trip which apart from the daylight Is the same, same boat, same everything. It's the next leg that get's us excited. We are sailing to Morocco, Tangier at 21:00 from Barcelona which I'm still unsure of where it sails from, Barcelona yes, but what part of the port it massive? Adds to my excitement and the boy's questions are coming In fast. Dad where Is the ferry? Will we make It? I'm starving Ha. So with us docked Into Barcelona at 19:00 It's a mad rush for Information? Where Is the Tangier ferry? Security point me In the right direction which leads us to a rushed half hour walk across the port to the Tangier check In and wow. Within a walk through the doors a culture change has taken place In seconds. Suddenly we stand out a million miles from everyone else which Is great and already small Moroccan children have took a interest In the boy's and smiles, laughs and chit/chat starts to happen as I work out where to check In and It just happens to be the longest queue In the building.
     As time go's along It's not long before I realize that this line of Moroccan's Isn't moving to fast and the boy's are seriously fed up and It's drawing closer to departure. All Is fine we checked In with not long to go but hey that didn't matter In the slightest the ferry sailed some three hours late. I'd read somewhere this Is common so was not phased at all but the boy's had different ideas and I'd paid for a bunk room In advance so it was board ferry and off to bed.
     Room was as the same as every other room I'd stayed on, on a ferry with the boys. Two set's of bunk beds with a ladder each (great fun) a shower room and that's it! Couple of life jackets for the three of us, yeah I know what about me Ha? Why I booked the room I'll never know because for one night only I could of been a foot passenger like we normally do, save money and sleep In our bags on the ferry some place? Maybe I was thinking of how long the boy's had been camping for and the camping ahead of us.
     Round about price Barcelona to Tangier for me and boy's Is £150 foot passenger but I paid £260 for room for one night. I must of been flush that day or mad. Big blow to the budget.
     Waking up the next morning realizing after my shower that we were already some 4-5 hours behind the room was a great idea now as we would not be In Tangier until early hours, so we had a place to keep our rucksacks and a place to relax. During the day on board we just relaxed, snacking and enjoyed many walks on the outside of the ferry and up top because again the weather was sunny, dry and a lovely breeze blowing. A big let down for us was the pool on board was empty because to these guy's it was winter so seeing them wrapped up while we baked In the sunshine was great and made me laugh.
     4 am, I think some 5 hours late we docked In a very rough harbour and they ferry was being bounced everywhere while we queued to get off. The only time of the journey I just thought please get me off. So we were off! Now where the f@#k are we? There Is no-one to be seen anywhere?

Catch up on the next part of the madness, as we venture from port into Tangier for our one night In a hotel which we were late for, and how we made it over to our next camping location In Tangier.

     Run Wild & Free!!