The dot is a bit of a con - it is not where this is written - but more to show we didn't take the motorway!! But I guess I should rewind 36 hours!

After another good nights sleep we woke to sunlight streaming through our stained glass windows. It took us a little while to get into gear - but without a raincloud in sight we were determined to explore Rabat. We headed back through the Medina in order to get to the Kasbah. Instead we ended up in the peaceful overgrown cemetry.

From Cemetry to Kasbah and great views across the Estaury to Sale. We headed into the gardens of the Kasbah before stopping for traditional mint tea with almond biscuits.

Prisca wanted to buy a pair of slippers for while she was away, and pretty soon set her heart on a green pair with what appears to be "silk-knot" cufflinks running up the front. A failed negotiation at the first shop, and no stock in the second didn't deter her. And by the fourth she had the pair she wanted in the right size.

No visit to Rabat is complete without diving into a Patisserie for something delicious and sweet. And eschewing lunch that is exactly what we did.

We wandered over to the Mausoleum in the afternoon - before heading to an old favourite in the evening for Tajines. With the drive planned for today - we bought some bread, jam, olives and dates for a picnic lunch.

With our parents due tomorrow the plan for today was to see Chellah (on the outskirts of Rabat) and then avoid the motorways and head south and then west to Marrakech.

The ancient Roman city of Chellah (and later a Necropolis) stands over the estaury to the south-east of Rabat. It is now home to a colony of storks (and other birds) - and was a riot of mating calls when we arrived.

After spending an hour soaking up the atmosphere - and taking over 100 photos - we settled back into the car for the trek to Marrakech. With lunch looming on the horizon - Prisca found a "small detour" for us. The detour ended up adding 110km to our route!!!!

But a pretty spectacular 110km. Either side of the car the fields were awash with wild flowers - I am useless with flower names, but even I know a poppy when I see one. It wasn't just flowers, we had roads disintegrating into tracks, suicidal cliff jumping sheep (well almost) and even I was sticking myself out the window to get one of those car magazine shots which always looks so good.

We witnessed a small sandstorm in Oued Zem, and the "What happens when a 7.5t truck rear ends a Passat?" 20km outside Marrakech. We, however, avoided trouble, located the Hotel in the Palmerie and enjoyed a pleasant evening of good company and food.