Meow

Shootee

Coming to a UAE publication soon. Be afraid, be very afraid...

The_Citizen

I'll give it a miss!

The_Citizen

Went to Hopfest on Friday as well. Got there about 3ish and it was busy but plenty of room to move and have a wander etc. Was also really cold!

By about 7pm it was way to busy and really hot. But all in all was a really good afternoon.

Bahtatboy

Well, no Fna’ing. By the time we’d done the 3 hour journey, checked-in and changed, it was 11 when we arrived at the restaurant, which is just when things get going, or so I’m told. My little neck of the woods in Morocco is fairly typical ME / North Africa, ie shit; Marrakech is, literally, like a different country: different cars (Jags, Maseratii, Ferrarii, Porches as opposed to so-knackered-you-wouldn’t-even-be-allowed-to-drive-them-to-the-scrapyard Mercedes being used as taxis-cum-buses, Renault 14’s, which were shite when they were made but don’t improve after 15 years in France followed by 20 years of nil maintenance in Morocco, and the locally-built Dacias which are appalling); proper shops; almost every building the same terracotta/pink colour; decent restaurants; weird road layout.
Good meal (although I really can’t get worked up about Tajine—yeah, the slow cooking makes the meat nice and soft, and gives time for the herbs and spices to infuse fully, but it’s basically just a slow-cook), but the restaurant was incredibly atmospheric (Middle Eastern-cum-gothic-cum-brothelish-cum-palatial) and the belly-dancers (who appeared twice—no stage, they just came and danced at the tables, and worked their way through the restaurant so each one of the half-dozen or so visited every table) were the best I’ve ever seen: young (all in their 20’s), nubile and good dancers. And barely dressed.
Then on to the 1st nightclub—Spanish. The stage, filled with a 20-strong band, was at table top level, and extended as a table top into and across the room in a huge cross, like a catwalk, with both singers and the audience literally dancing on the tables. Between appearances there were various acts, including a big black muscular male dancer who did a semi strip while holding an aerosol can in each hand which had ignition devices, so each time he sprayed them there was a fireball; and then the barely-dressed gymnasts-cum-dancers, also extremely fit. Mental.
Then downstairs to the Moroccan nightclub, which was heaving. As is the norm (as much as one is established), buying a bottle of spirits in a nightclub is the done thing (in my local one it’s the only way to get a VIP table—ie any table that isn’t tucked away in a corner). A good time was had. Nothing further to report on that front.
Broke fast al fresco in a French-style café. Then the guys I was with decided they want to head back to Casablanca for a Hamman (Moroccan sauna / massage), so that was it for Marrakech. What little I saw of the city was, largely, eye-watering in comparison with the rest of the country that I’ve seen. There’s pretty-much **** all for several hundred clicks around it (apart from the Atlas Mountains), but it appears to have charm and diversity. The cafés generally spill out onto the pavement, and with average service while looking across wide tree-lined boulevards give it a French feel (reinforced, of course, by nearly everyone speaking French); the squalor, lack of sanitation and high-self-respect give it a distinct North Africa / ME character; some of the flashiness is what I imagine Vegas to be like (plus it’s in the middle of a desert); and the street markets and hustle-bustle give it the feel of Guangzhou. Ok, each city is unique, but so far everyone one I’ve visited I could probably sum up in one sentence if really pushed. Not so for Marrakech, just so … different. Definitely want to see more of it; package deals from UK are not much more than the standard air fare.

commander

The high fat, low carb diet is going well. Upped the ante today with my bullet proof coffee. Increased the butter to 50g. Epic

scrubbedexpat141

I smashed a sugar into my so-strong-the-spoon-stands-up coffee this morning.

LIVING ON THE ****ING EDGE COMMANDER.

We're the future, my friend.

commander

Worst thing is....beer is a complete no no. I'm now confined to tea, coffee( with cream) and red wine

70% cocoa chocolate is okay in moderation also.

Rock and ****ing roll

Meow

Of course, this is entirely your choice.

scrubbedexpat141

Red wine: good
Red wine hangover: BAD

Kelli28

Fresh meat eh? Did you just want her to wear the outfits?
I love derby! Nothing quite like kicking some girly butt once a week.

I've been house hunting all weekend and most likely next weekend too

Blazeaway

Love 70% chocolate, 1 bar lasts a week!

Robajob

Outfits? I have no idea what the dress code for roller derby is, indeed I have only the vaguest understanding of what it involves!

Kelli28

Fishnets knee pads and little else!

You Know it's a contact sport and she'll be coming home with a bruise or two or three!

Robajob

I think it would be infiinitely more amusing if they did it in local dress.

I'm married to a Donny lass, so she'll be the one doing the bruising

commander

of course. its my thing. I am experimenting with my body.

Mid life crisis in full swing.