Morocco Day 10

Our original itinerary called for us to have left at 4:30 AM, but the flight was changed.  While it shortened the layover the I was looking forward to in Casablanca, it meant that was had time to say goodbye to friends that weren't going back to the States, especially Glenn and Adam.  It's strange, because I think the potential on tours like this is for people to become fed up with one another, but I know I'm definitely going to miss seeing some people on a daily basis.  We had a really strong and friendly group dynamic, and it added miles enjoyment-wise to the whole experience.  But now we all have new friends to meet up with and travel with in the future, so it's only so long and not goodbye.

 Next, we turned our attention to scheming a possible visit to Rick's Cafe, modeled after the restaurant in the movie "Casablanca".  That had been the plan, but with our altered itinerary, we weren't sure if it as possiblele.  Since the flight from Marrakech to Casablanca was only 25 minutes, we had plenty, and started booking it for the exit.  Unfortunately, we were stopped- we had already gone through customs in Marrakech, and they wouldn't let us out of the airport as such.  Neither would they let us do another entry and exit stamp- supposedly you can only get one stamp per day.

We dejectedly spent the next few hours grabbing food,  doing a group crossword puzzle, and playing "Heads Up" before getting in line for boarding...a line which did not move for several hours.  We didn't start boarding till wayyyyy later than our original departure time.  And while, for most of the trip, we have been able to use everyone's language skills, the airport announcements were in rapid French and Arabic, leaving us incapable of comprehending the cause of delay or the prospect for it to end.  We then also found out that our same flight had been cancelled the previous afternoon, so we worried that this would be our fate.  Luckily, it was not, and we were eventually able to take off.

Another amazing trip abroad.  I am feeling incredibly grateful for so many things- a great travel companion in Michael, the ability to have come on this trip in the first place, and so many great people that I am looking forward to keeping in touch with- and that I am missing already!  Too bad thinking on the trip positively till doesn't stop me from being incredibly sad that it's over.  Until the next time...