Here, in this section Travel journal, you can follow the saga of our trip. We promise we will often put our bike aside and ride our computer to recount all our adventures.
We will be two riders but we want you to travel by our sides and share with you all the kilometers we will go through!
– The hammam we tested was not of its first youth, and it was after all for the better: we were at the heart of the Moroccan tradition. There are two rooms, the second hotter than the first one. The heat remains soft, we sweat without realizing it. Then comes the show … A Moroccan joins us. His mission: to cleanse us from head to toe. At first his flannel burns. We are on a spit, turning to offer each side to the burn of the scraper. We then adjust and relax. Eventually, our guy turns into a masseur and, in a far too expert movement to be describable, he attacks our spinal column: several vertebrae crack but the stretching makes us grow 5 cm!
The price of this makeover: 10 dirhams (entry) + 30 dirhams (tip for the “massage”).
– Each village has its barber. We both tried it: our beard had never been cut with such precision before. Then, of course, you need time: 20 minutes for shaving only! The price is set by the client, roughly 30-40 dirhams for the beard, 50 dirhams for the beard and hair.
– Young people seem to dress more and more Western, but many men still wear the jilbab (with underwear of course). We would have tried, but cycling would have become quite complicated …
We arrived in Morocco on August 1, 2013. We cross the border via Ceuta and start riding towards Tetouan. Along the road, the scenery is deserted. Houses are silent. Shops are closed. The ghost train of the theme park is certainly made of real ghosts… Gardeners water the lawn along the road: they are the only living souls. Which illness this country is suffering from?!
Surprise! In Morocco, the August 1, 2013 is also the 23th day of the month of Ramadan. The country does not suffer: the country lives at the rythm of Islam. 98% of Moroccans are indeed Muslim and, during the month of Ramadan, they fast from dawn to sunset. They feast during the night (between the Maghrib prayer, which breaks fasting, and the Fajr prayer, which announces the beginning of fasting), get up late and live slowly to hold until the night.
Morocco makes itself heard pretty quickly. His message is clear: “Gentlemen cyclists, you’re not in Europe anymore, be ready to be amazed!”
– The Spaniards come to life after nightfall, once freshness has spread. In the small village of Portman, at 23h, toddlers as young as 10 years were still playing in the park. However, before 9am, there is not a soul.
– In general, schedules are evenly moved forward: the “comida” (lunch) is around 3pm. Stores close usually between 2pm and 4pm, sometimes even between 3pm and 5pm. The “cena” (dinner) comes at 11pm.
– Vincent and Sylvie explained to us that the Spaniards are very manic when it comes to their dining room. It must at all costs remain absolutely neat, ready to serve for special occasions. During an informal visit, you can come and go as you please, except in the dining room.
– Tapas are an extremely valuable institution. Many bars, especially in Andalusia, serve a portion of tapas for every drink ordered. You can therefore wine and dine, and only pay the wine !
– In Spain, the cheese is usually eaten as an appetizer.
– The tradition in Spain is to offer gifts to children for Epiphany, not Christmas. Unfortunately, this tradition gradually disappears under the pressure of consumer society…
1st August 2013. It’s been one month since we left France and started our world tour. We have riden more than 1700 km, of which 1500 km in Spain. 1500 km under a constant blue sky: in one month it has not rained even once! Even if rain was not part of it, these 1500 km already brought their own share of surprise, challenge, and difficulties. Beauty, amazement, and laughter were also a daily delight !
Without any further delay, welcome in the Spanish adventure !
