Palaces and The Sahara

[n7of9]

I've always been iffy about posting a trip report. I'm not of the social media generation, and other than Reddit and AFF, have no actual social media profiles. I started a trip report last year on my trip to South Korea and Japan, but deleted it after a few days without posting. Earlier this year, though, I really enjoyed @Human's TR of KSC and it just made me happy following his travels and remembering my own time there... so here's my TR of London and Morocco.

I've booked a 9-day tour of Morocco - single menopausal woman with a Natural Resting coughface travelling alone in a Muslim country, I'm not taking any chances! (I swear I'm happy on the inside and more than likely thinking about how cute my cat is, but I'm told my face says otherwise). I've done many multi-day tours over the years and always resigned myself to the fact that the accommodation will just suck, but this particular tour calls itself "Upgraded" so I'm hoping for slightly better than suck.

Once I had my tour dates I started looking for SQ J rewards to anywhere in Europe for whatever dates before and after the tour. I ended up with MEL-SIN-FRA and the dastardly dilemma of how to fill a week in Europe before I needed to be in Casablanca - oh no, my life is so hard, etc. I considered driving Frankfurt to Paris; flying to Barcelona and driving South to at least be closer to Morocco; train to London via Brussels. In the end I decided I'll have two nights in Frankfurt adjusting to the time zone then I'll fly to London for 5 nights before Casablanca.

I've only been to London once, for 3 days. I do want to do a proper in-depth trip of the UK and Ireland 'one day', so this time I decided to spend all my time in London visiting various Palaces. Of course, only after I'd booked flights for my Mon to Fri visit did I realise that a lot of the palaces and castles aren't open on Mondays and Tuesdays, so I'm missing out on Kensington Palace. But I will make it to Buckingham Palace, Hampton Court Palace, Windsor Castle, and the Palace of Westminster, as it is still called.

...
I'm pretty sure it was my first time in J on an A380. I gotta say, not a fan of the seat, I found it hard on the butt, and the lie flat position felt like my head was lower than my feet. The seat controls were too difficult to make incremental changes - I'd press it 4 times and nothing would happen, then on the 5th it would zoom out of control and wouldn't stop. Lord of the Rings marathon filled up 9 of the 13 hours nicely, though.

...
That's a lot of words for someone who hasn't actually done anything yet, other than leave home and check into the Hilton Garden Inn in Frankfurt. They have windows that open, yay, but only fruit tea, and no bottled water.

...
<STATS>

Flexiroam Global 12 months 30GB $172

SYD-MEL VA J on 737-800 with no shower curtain, $386 originally when I thought I'd be working that day, but changed to an earlier flight a week out for +$192

MEL-SIN SQ J on A359 with the flip down bed, 67,000 Velocity points plus $242
BTC Peppercorn Beef

SIN-FRA SQ J on A380, 92,000 Velocity points plus $301
BTC Lobster Thermidor (served with veges not rice, yey)
BTC Beef and mushroom burger

Changi Aerotel hours booked, 4...used, 3

Hilton Garden Inn, Frankfurt, 2 nights, $263 plus a Luxury Escapes voucher for $150

Things forgotten, 1 Fitbit charger. Amazon UK should be delivering one to my London hotel tomorrow

Hours waiting at MEL, 4.5
Hours waiting at SIN, 5

Leaked liquids, 2 (toner, face cream)

Wheels broken on my suitcase, 3 of 8
...

Mini Churros at MEL SilverKris lounge, so good!

Book the Cook - Beef peppercorn (great), Lobster Thermidor (great), Beef mushroom burger (not good)


Hilton Garden Inn, Frankfurt

 

[Human]

Definitely following, and well done for doing a TR — the first post is the hardest!

One lesson: Burgers on planes don’t work.

 

[kookaburra75]

On board, deck chairs set up to follow you along - MrsK says she can relate to your mindset. Morrocco is an interesting place; what's your itinerary?

 

[tgh]

Interesting place, Morocco,,following...

 

[Daver6]

Definitely following, and well done for doing a TR — the first post is the hardest!

One lesson: Burgers on planes don’t work.

I was about to agree with this thinking of a disappointing burger I had in QR F. However, recently CX J had a seriously good burger, so it can be done.

 

[VPS]

Very interested in your Morocco trip. It’s a place I’d like to go and as a cranky old lady not keen on tours

 

[Flyfrequently]

Another on board with you @n7of9
Enjoy!

 

[n7of9]

Morrocco is an interesting place; what's your itinerary?

 

[kookaburra75]

View attachment 471054

Wow - now that is an itinerary! The back country north of Fes, up through the Atlas Mountains is great to see. Even up the coast, where it is a mix of Phoenician/Roman/Byzantine antiquity (usually stacked on top of each other) is interesting. The open country down south is fascinating too. Very, very jealous, and riding on board.

Very interested in your Morocco trip. It’s a place I’d like to go and as a cranky old lady not keen on tours

As I'm heading to retirement, I've been looking for an angle to set up a small business where I could link travel to business expenses. Although spinning my ideas for branding past MrsK, of "...cranky old lady not keen on tours" Tours, didn't land that well.

 

[VPS]

Wow - now that is an itinerary! The back country north of Fes, up through the Atlas Mountains is great to see. Even up the coast, where it is a mix of Phoenician/Roman/Byzantine antiquity (usually stacked on top of each other) is interesting. The open country down south is fascinating too. Very, very jealous, and riding on board.


As I'm heading to retirement, I've been looking for an angle to set up a small business where I could link travel to business expenses. Although spinning my ideas for branding past MrsK, of "...cranky old lady not keen on tours" Tours, didn't land that well.

if I ran a tour, nothing would start earlier than 10am and breakfast must be served in your room or if you have to come down then you should be allowed to have not showered and definitely no make up

 

[RooFlyer]

Pls excuse the distractions, @n7of9 . As compo I'll say look out for saffron, which is grown in the lower Atlas hills.

I was about to agree with this thinking of a disappointing burger I had in QR F.

If you order a burger in any F you deserve to be disappointed. Book whY next time.

As I'm heading to retirement, I've been looking for an angle to set up a small business where I could link travel to business expenses.

Some business mates and I went to start an exploration company in Morocco; after doing due diligence in west Africa, Morocco seemed the safest bet re corruption.

Na. In fact I dare not enter the country any more as our Moroccan partner, who we punted for stealing from us, has excellent government connections (which is why we got him in ...).

 

[n7of9]

if I ran a tour, nothing would start earlier than 10am and breakfast must be served in your room or if you have to come down then you should be allowed to have not showered and definitely no make up

You're my favourite person of the day, I want to write songs about you.

 

[VPS]

You're my favourite person of the day, I want to write songs about you.

thanks - you just made me LOL

 

[Flyfrequently]

RBF Travels @VPS @n7of9 for your travel guidelines "Resting...... you get the rest

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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Glad you are doing Chefchaouen! One of the most beautiful cities in Morocco! Lovely to walk around at night. Shame they haven’t included Tangiers though, the old part of the city with European influences is wonderful, and depending on your hotel, you can have breakfast looking out to Spain!

If you are flying business class into Marrakech there’s an unofficial fast track to the far right of the immigration hall. Show your boarding pass and you’ll be let in. Saved us well over two hours in February. The lane is not marked, but says something like crew/diplomatic.

 

[Scarlett]

Nice tour and I like the plan to have a bit of a look around London. So many great places there.

Do you know if they’re putting you up in a riad in the old town of Marrakech? Such a nice setup in many of them.

 

[n7of9]

If you are flying business class into Marrakech there’s an unofficial fast track to the far right of the immigration hall. Show your boarding pass and you’ll be let in. Saved us well over two hours in February. The lane is not marked, but says something like crew/diplomatic.

Both in and out of Morocoo was quite expensive so I booked economy for both. Thanks for the tip, though, I'll get to MKA super early for my flight out in case its similar hooha getting out.