Author Archive for James Little

Agadir, Moroc

جامع الفناء Djemaa el Fna, Marrakesh

On advice of a friend – Tracey and I headed towards warmer climates to break a hole in the English winter before it could completely smother us!

Morocco was an awesome experience and it was warm enough to hang out on the beach for almost the entire time we were staying in Agadir. We flew over on one of the first flights and were met with silly orange hats at 8am in Gatwick Airport, then singing a song about Agadir, followed by a very unexciting flight – though I was trying to see if there was snow in Andorra and we were both excited when started flying over Africa. Our arrival in Agadir was also musical – with local drummers and dancers performing some very enthusiastic moves accompanied with a lot of noise. We were then provided with Mint tea, local sweets and a rose for the ladies. Unfortunately an ATM then told us we could have 1000 Dirhim but then decided not to give it to us.

The rest of the trip was really very similar, most people in Morocco were particularly friendly; but this seems to just provide them without obstacle in asking for a tip, a little extra, more than you expected, or to invite you in for a tea to show you their products and try and make a sale.

We were taken for a few rides, one to Taroudant, which is also known as ‘Little Marrakesh’. The walls around Taroudant are spectacular… very similar to the walls around Marrakesh. But really Taroudant is no substitute for Marrakesh. As part of the trip we also went to a Berber village for lunch. It was on this trip that we realised that everything was negotiable in Morroco. Apparently restaurant meals are also negotiable, but probably less so in the tourist sector, when you are obviously a tourist.

Brest, Brittany, France

Point du Raz

Tracey and I have just returned from Brest, or more accurately Loperhet; staying in a lovely French house courtesy of Jean René and Pascal.

Thanks to Nathalie and Vincent, we managed to fit rather a lot into our 48 hour visit:

  • Crêperie An Ty Coz; on route de la Pointe d’Armorique, Bretagne
  • Point du Raz, Bretagne
  • Douarnenez, Bretagne
  • Le Cronquet and Pointe de Saint Mathieu, Bretagne
  • Locronan, Bretagne

Crêpes originated in Brittany and Brittany is saturated in Crêperies! There is also plenty of places to get cold beer with Seize Cent Soixante Quatre (1664) sold almost everywhere. Another gastro highlight is seafood.

My blog blocked in China

At least most of China. It was quite disappointing, initially I thought that my site was down. I was able to view it from my mobile and others informed me it was still good. So it appears that China didn’t want me to write about my trip… I was also disheartened to discover I couldn’t watch YouTube in China.

These issues didn’t factor that much as internet cafes were difficult to find. Using Google we discovered several in Guangzhou after 3 days there. In Beijing we used “free” internet in Pacific coffee cafes (you had to buy a coffee or snack) and in Shanghai we used the free shared facilities in our backpackers (Mingtown hiker youth hostel near the Bund).

I was also able to post some updates using twitter and my facebook status. I’ll have to write a longer description of my travels through China later. Today I will be attending a Chinese christian wedding in Hong Kong.