Day 73: 27 Oct ’91 Sunday Just hanging around

I tossed and turned all night and I eventually woke up feeling really fed up. We’re still here. Waiting, waiting, waiting with our money gradually ebbing away. I was not in a good mood. Dan showered and we went out for something to eat.

We met Bill and his girlfriend, Kate, at the café. John and Millie then came along too. We talked for a while. John and Mila had been travelling together for two years and had some interesting stories to tell.

At midday, we left and went back to the hotel. Dan wrote a letter (which was his first since France) while I listened to some therapeutic music (John Lee Hooker). It makes a lovely change from the local music which always seems to consist of much howling, waling and badly tuned instruments screeching in the background.

In the evening, we went back to the café to meet Bill, Kate, John and Millie. I talked with John and Mila about cameras for a while. They had a small video camera which they used sparingly. Many of the tourists off the coaches have video cameras and they walk about with them as if they were Clint Eastwood carrying a pistol at the ready filming every single action in Marrakech. But, John and Mila were more subtle about it.

For supper, we all went to the soup stand first. John and Mila then went off to another place while the rest of us found a stall serving fish and chips with fried aubergines for £1 each. It was very good. Feeling full, Dan and I had an orange juice and went back to our room.

I lay on my bed and tried to snooze but I couldn’t. All I could think about was the impending train journey back to Rabat. I had a hollow feeling in my stomach of the impending disappointment with the Algerian Embassy once again refusing our visas.

At 11.45, I packed my bag , had a slight panic when I could not find my passport and was let of the building by the maitresse at midnight.