james_d
Mar 26, 05, 3:06 pm
Hope you enjoy first report here on FT...
This was a trip offered by the geography department at my school and what an oppurtunity that I was not going to miss. 23 students and 2 teachers went along for the 8 day trip to Marrakech, Imlil (Kasbah du Toubkal), Zagora and the Sahara itself. We flew out on Royal Air Maroc, a first for me, and I was also able to tick off another continent that I have visited (only S.American and Antartica to go!). Our trip was booked through Discovery Ltd UK who specialise in this type of trip and they were very good in our handling of our group.
Flight Out: 17th March 2005
Royal Air Maroc AT 801
LHR-CMN-RAK
Boeing 737-800
I had to spend morning at school so brought my luggage with me, a large backpage and a day backpack. Since it was one of the last days of term we didn't do much work and left on a coach at about 1:00pm and everyone was in a really good mood. The group of people (boys and girls) travelling on this trip was really good and everyone got along with each other. The M25 was behaving and we got to Terminal 2 in plenty of time. I detest T2 and cannot wait until they knock it down, quite a few of us are quite tall and it feels as though you're going to be knocked out by hanging signs. This was my third time to T2, previously on Air France and Alitalia. Check-in was painless (I think by Luffthansa? We got Luffy boarding passes and tags), no queues, and staff were very helpful giving us the back section of the plane so we could sort out seats ourselves abord. Security took a while and once through we were told to go through to the gate once on the board. We split into some groups and bough some supplies in WH Smiths and wondered around Dixons and Duty Free. We then decided to chill out in the expensive Cafe Nero with a drink and sandwich and wait for the call to board.
Boarding was slightly delayed and we were boarded by rows and free papers were available at the gate, nice touch. We were welcomed by the mostly Moroccan crew and settled into the seats. I was in row 30(?) claiming the window seat quickly. The seat was pretty good with a similar specs to the KLM 737-900 I was in last summer. We were further delayed by slow loading and a late arrival of a passenger. The flight was about 90% full and we pushed back for a take off on 27L into the late afternoon sun. There was no queue for the runway and we had an impressive climb. There was no cloud cover until we reached the English Channel. I then got out my iPod and read my FHM that I had picked up in the airport. The flight was due to be about 3 hours or so and dinner was served about halfway into the flight. By the time the trolley reached us only fish was available and it was incredible. Fish in a mustardy souce with potatoes and a spinach type vegetable, really nice for airline food! Thumbs up RAM, who were really impressing me. The only bad point was that whoever had forgotten to order vegetarian meals for two of the girls. The FA apologised and said there was nothing he could do but later found a veg meal of a passanger who had not turned up. The two vegetarians split that meal and had some of our salads. I was full after that and my earlier sandwich so someone had my dessert which I was told was good. I got a whole can of Coke, a big one too! On the TV monitors in the aisle some Tom & Jerry cartoons were played without sound (no headphones) and mingled with some other short shows such as football highlights from early 90s Dutch league. It had gotten dark by now and we made our approach into Mohammed Cinq Airport in Casablanca where all flights to Morocco seem to go. We landed and taxied to a gate. Everyone was made to get off including those who were travelling onto Marrakech. Once off with our belongings we were given Transit cards and went straight into the gate area through a security check. After about 15 mins we got straight back onto the same, now clean plane. The load was much less now for this short 25 min hop. We took off quickly and climbed and then made a quick desent into Marrakech Menara airport.
Once landed we parked on the apron and deplaned by stairs and walked to the small terminal. Where we were greeted by large queues which were going at a snails pace. It took us an hour and a half to get through which is apparently unusualy long apparently. My luggage was waiting and we met our guide Catherine in arrivals who took us to our bus. Our minibuses took us to to the Hotel Foucauld in the Medina right next to Souks and Koutoubia Mosque (more about that later, ugh). By the time everyone had arrived at the hotel it was about 12:30 at night and everyone was exausted. We had an introductory mint tea (the one with sugar is gag worthy, the one without is much nicer, like Chinese tea). I was sharing a room with 4 other guys. We found our room and pretty much crashed out. Until the early hours when the call to prayer woke half of us up. Didn't realise how loud it was going to be but was able to get back to sleep afterwards.
I will continue this thread later, hope you enjoy and if you have any questions...
This was a trip offered by the geography department at my school and what an oppurtunity that I was not going to miss. 23 students and 2 teachers went along for the 8 day trip to Marrakech, Imlil (Kasbah du Toubkal), Zagora and the Sahara itself. We flew out on Royal Air Maroc, a first for me, and I was also able to tick off another continent that I have visited (only S.American and Antartica to go!). Our trip was booked through Discovery Ltd UK who specialise in this type of trip and they were very good in our handling of our group.
Flight Out: 17th March 2005
Royal Air Maroc AT 801
LHR-CMN-RAK
Boeing 737-800
I had to spend morning at school so brought my luggage with me, a large backpage and a day backpack. Since it was one of the last days of term we didn't do much work and left on a coach at about 1:00pm and everyone was in a really good mood. The group of people (boys and girls) travelling on this trip was really good and everyone got along with each other. The M25 was behaving and we got to Terminal 2 in plenty of time. I detest T2 and cannot wait until they knock it down, quite a few of us are quite tall and it feels as though you're going to be knocked out by hanging signs. This was my third time to T2, previously on Air France and Alitalia. Check-in was painless (I think by Luffthansa? We got Luffy boarding passes and tags), no queues, and staff were very helpful giving us the back section of the plane so we could sort out seats ourselves abord. Security took a while and once through we were told to go through to the gate once on the board. We split into some groups and bough some supplies in WH Smiths and wondered around Dixons and Duty Free. We then decided to chill out in the expensive Cafe Nero with a drink and sandwich and wait for the call to board.
Boarding was slightly delayed and we were boarded by rows and free papers were available at the gate, nice touch. We were welcomed by the mostly Moroccan crew and settled into the seats. I was in row 30(?) claiming the window seat quickly. The seat was pretty good with a similar specs to the KLM 737-900 I was in last summer. We were further delayed by slow loading and a late arrival of a passenger. The flight was about 90% full and we pushed back for a take off on 27L into the late afternoon sun. There was no queue for the runway and we had an impressive climb. There was no cloud cover until we reached the English Channel. I then got out my iPod and read my FHM that I had picked up in the airport. The flight was due to be about 3 hours or so and dinner was served about halfway into the flight. By the time the trolley reached us only fish was available and it was incredible. Fish in a mustardy souce with potatoes and a spinach type vegetable, really nice for airline food! Thumbs up RAM, who were really impressing me. The only bad point was that whoever had forgotten to order vegetarian meals for two of the girls. The FA apologised and said there was nothing he could do but later found a veg meal of a passanger who had not turned up. The two vegetarians split that meal and had some of our salads. I was full after that and my earlier sandwich so someone had my dessert which I was told was good. I got a whole can of Coke, a big one too! On the TV monitors in the aisle some Tom & Jerry cartoons were played without sound (no headphones) and mingled with some other short shows such as football highlights from early 90s Dutch league. It had gotten dark by now and we made our approach into Mohammed Cinq Airport in Casablanca where all flights to Morocco seem to go. We landed and taxied to a gate. Everyone was made to get off including those who were travelling onto Marrakech. Once off with our belongings we were given Transit cards and went straight into the gate area through a security check. After about 15 mins we got straight back onto the same, now clean plane. The load was much less now for this short 25 min hop. We took off quickly and climbed and then made a quick desent into Marrakech Menara airport.
Once landed we parked on the apron and deplaned by stairs and walked to the small terminal. Where we were greeted by large queues which were going at a snails pace. It took us an hour and a half to get through which is apparently unusualy long apparently. My luggage was waiting and we met our guide Catherine in arrivals who took us to our bus. Our minibuses took us to to the Hotel Foucauld in the Medina right next to Souks and Koutoubia Mosque (more about that later, ugh). By the time everyone had arrived at the hotel it was about 12:30 at night and everyone was exausted. We had an introductory mint tea (the one with sugar is gag worthy, the one without is much nicer, like Chinese tea). I was sharing a room with 4 other guys. We found our room and pretty much crashed out. Until the early hours when the call to prayer woke half of us up. Didn't realise how loud it was going to be but was able to get back to sleep afterwards.
I will continue this thread later, hope you enjoy and if you have any questions...