Salaam. I have arrived in Africa tired and quite unslept thanks to whatever kind of creature shared last night's hostel room with me. The creature I speak of is of course human, hairy and very French. To the soul unfortunate enough to share this horror with me, you knows to depths of my concern. Sacre bleu...

It feels the trip has now finally begun, what came before on the brief dash through Europe was merely the trip to get to the trip. Morocco is much the same as I remember, whilst there is a scam around every corner, it's largely a safe, easy going place. The people are resourceful and keen to make their livings doing whatever is available.

My two primary observations thus far, are that firstly, it is not what one would consider mild, it is in fact a toasty 50 degrees plus in the sun which may be t- shirt weather to some. For my pasty white complexion however, it merely yields horrible sunburn. Fun. Toto will not finds the rains he is searching to bless here either. The sun burns relentlessly without the merest hint of perspiration. Morocco is hot, dry and will only become more so as I venture further into its depths.

Secondly, and slightly less meaningful for anyone to observe, the police, of which there are many, wear immaculate uniforms and go about their business looking awfully dapper. They even have posh BMW motorbikes as opposed to the chinese scooters employed by locals and gladly race about on their Bavarian ponies everywhere, perfectly pleated trousers rippling in the wind. Oh to be so cool...