Hola from Espana.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

I don't know what I was thinking? We got the car today and I had to practice on the hill outside the resort before I ventured out on the highway.
Well since we've been on the bus all week I didn't realize I had to drive up so high on the mountains since the buses take the low roads.
My poor friends have a nervous wreck since I've stalled the car about 4 times already and rolled downhill too twice. Hopefully I'll get it straight before we go to Ronda.

Pat I went to Morocco the 1st tour we did. Honestly if it wasn't for the Paparrazzi vendors getting in your face non stop I did like Tangiers.

I think because there were so few tourists there the few of us that were there were like fish in a shark feeding frenzy.

It was hard to really soak in the ambiance because they really rushed us thru the town and of course it was all uphill on cobble stone streets. Because I'm definetely out of shape I was usually the last in the group and men kept coming up behind me telling me how beautiful I was and asking me if I was married. It was a bit unnerving as there were so many nooks and crannies in the city to pull you into that I didn't really feel safe despite being in a group. I really missed the boyfriend at times like these. Morrocco is probably not a great place for single women to visit.

OMG, I thought I gave you Aziz! No????

Best: Morocco with Aziz
Why: We made internet reservations with Aziz out of your guide book. He not only paid for our reservations on the ferry and emailed the reservation number, (which we reimbursed after the tour), but he met us at the terminal and took us all over the place, everyone knows him, we didn't get bothered by vendors, we got to see things that were unique to him. The History was fabulous and he was so personable. We recommend him to anyone wanting to see Morocco.
DW in Bremerton, WA USA 08/03/2009

Best: Aziz Tour to Tangiers
Why: We had a great time and were so well escorted and informed by Aziz. Thank you for giving the infor to set up this tour in your book
Burrows in Albuquerque, NM USA 05/26/2009

Best: Aziz in Moroco
Why: We contacted Aziz via email and he was available for the full day 35 euro tour, what a deal! Aziz was great, we were greeted by lots of locals whe were friends. Great fun, great memories and felt like we certainly got the most for our money
LC in Snellville, GA USA 07/15/2008


Best: The site of Africa from Tarifa and the Aziz Tour
Why: I was in a group of 7 great people for the Aziz tour. He was wonderful! He's a very warm & knowledgable - a real goodwill ambassador for his country. I loved the Market place with the colofully costumed women selling cheese. Tangier's suburbs reminds me of California flora. I saw the Alcazar first in Seville and it took the edge off of the Alhambra

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Pat,
I don't remember any mention of Aziz.

We did the Marriott recommended tour which I don't recommend.
They took us to a terrible restaurant. Certainly not like the one in
your pictures. The food was sorry. Didnt look too typical to me.
Looked like watered down "Americanized" versions of something
that looked like chicken.

Also the tour was 80 Euros and honestly in my opinion not worth it.
But, I didn't want to go alone as that would have been a mistake.

But things have been nice otherwise. Today I attempt the hills with
my stick shift car.

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

Sounds like an adventure to me!! I've never ever been to Europe but some day I may make it. shaggy

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Sounds like an adventure to me!! I've never ever been to Europe but some day I may make it. shaggy

Shaggy, it's been quite an adventure so far. I keep getting mad taxi drivers and local drivers cussing me out because I'm extremely confused in these round abouts. We only have 1 lane roundabouts in my city so I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be doing so I just keep cutting everyone off which is really pissing off the locals. Oh well, I just shrug and say "tourista". Hopefully I won't get road raged here lby someone like I would at home.

Today we went back up into the hills/mountains to Mijas which was breathtakingly beautiful. We found a great little family run restaurant that served great paella. Very few tourists there, just one bus full of Japanese tourists and a few Brits and us.

The town is really suffering with the poor economy unfortuntately.

The view from Mijas of the sea is spectacular but that cold front that has been coming across Europe arrived today in Costa and we weren't prepared since it had been so unseasonably hot all last week.

Also got to Malaga but it was so cold we chickened out and will try to return tomorrow with our coats this time.

We did go to Corte Ingles which is an upscale department store, ala Macy's or Nordstroms with prices all over the map. I found some nice stuff, not that I needed anything but they did have beautiful things.

Hopefully I'll get the hang of the roundabouts tomorrow.