Day 125 – Agadir, Morocco

We experienced very rough seas and gale force winds overnight and for much of the day.  I don’t ever remember the Captain making an announcement at 8:00 am to advise us of the weather conditions and remind us to be careful as we walk around the ship.  Walking was a definite challenge until later in the afternoon.

The Seas Don't Look So Bad in This Photo, But They Really Were Rough

Tim and I learned later that the sea conditions had slowed our progress, and our estimated arrival time in Agadir, Morocco would be pushed back from 6:00 to 7:00 pm. That did give me an extra hour to finish yesterday’s post and get ready to leave for our Marrakesh Overland excursion.

In the afternoon, we had time to watch Caroline’s lecture on the “History of Northwest Africa.” She spoke about the legacies of Islam and colonialism in this Maghreb region of Africa, and it was an excellent introduction to the area we will be visiting.

History of Northwest Africa

Early History of Northwest Africa

Once we docked in Agadir, we were ready to begin our excursion to Marrakesh. This was the overall description of the “Marrakesh Overland” excursion:

Immerse yourself in the rich culture of Morocco during a 3-night stay in the colorful city of Marrakesh. Explore the “Red City” as you wander the alleys of the ancient medina and delve into the lively atmosphere of its vibrant souks. Visit Essaouira and its city walls, and savor a wine tasting.

This was the description of our first day:

Day 1 - Marrakesh, Morocco

Enjoy dinner onboard your ship before disembarking and transferring to Marrakesh. En route, enjoy a panoramic drive through the city of Agadir, a seaside gem nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the foothills of the Atlas Mountains. Upon arrival in Marrakesh, check-in to your hotel and enjoy a light snack before retiring.

Not only was Viking Sky an hour late arriving in Agadir, but the immigration officials boarded the ship even later. We finally attended our mandatory face-to-face immigration inspection and then boarded our motorcoach at 8:45 pm for the four-hour drive to Marrakesh. It was dark when we left so we saw very little of Agadir and none of the countryside.

After a long drive, we arrived at the Savoy Le Grand Hotel Marrakesh, a 5-star hotel located in the heart of Marrakesh, and just five minutes from Jemaa el-Fnaa Square and the city center. We'll check out the hotel tomorrow.