Misadventure Memoirs

We’re part of the ‘Back of the Bus’ crew… the cool kids who are a bit naughty and march to the beat of their own drum! We’ve had some running gags over the last few days down the back there, the most hilarious one (damned if I know how it started) is about me pimping out Col so I can buy more shoes and jewellery! 😂  Col, playing along, has intimated that it’s not only the ladies that he’s up for entertaining in return for cash, so you can possibly imagine the ripples of intrigue that were generated this morning when he turned up wearing his octopus pants! Only a very brave man who’s up for anything would wear pants such as these! 

You see, today we visited the Mosque of Hassan ll in Casablanca and we were advised in advance that we should dress appropriately, ie no shorts, women with shoulders covered etc, so Col bought himself some lightweight pants, faux linen with a drawstring waistband, and he just happened to fancy a nautical cephalopod design. 😄

The pants were a major hit with the team and drew many admiring comments.

After our morning activities in Rabat, including a walk through a beautiful Medina and garden, we reboarded our bus for the drive to Casablanca. Col and I were first on the bus after our wander around. I was already seated as he passed me his tube of Voltaren, lowered his waistband of the occy strides and requested that I rub some of the anti-inflammatory cream into his aching buttock – a recurring issue that he’s been managing for many months (Gluteal Tendonitis).

As Lester and Leanne (from Mooroolbark) moved down back towards their favourite seats (the row in front of us) I couldn’t resist glancing up at Lester and murmuring “he’s nearly ready”.  (Brought the house down). 😂

The Mosque in Casablanca was incredible! As we entered, a chap intercepted us by handing out small crumpled cloth parcels. Leanne, Melanie and I all glanced down at the offerings in our hands, wondering what to do with them as no explanation was given. I believe it may have been my suggestion that they were head coverings at which stage, the other two duly pulled theirs on. I dropped mine back into the hopper as I had (cleverly I thought) worn a garment with a hood, which I pulled on. It was at that moment, with the three of us demurely covered with bags and hoods atop our heads, that the interceptor chap advised us to take off our shoes, put them in the bags provided and carry them with us for the duration of our visit! F moi! The ensuing laughter gave me a stitch! 😂😂

My choice of footwear today was far from appropriate. I bought myself some slides from Temu to take away travelling. They are super lightweight, look adorable and are comfortable, taking up zero room in the suitcase…tick, tick, tick right? I also spun that wheel like a demon and got them down to $7.86 so how much better could these babies get? Nuh uh! They are assassin boots! 

By the time I’d committed to these lethal little bastards, my other options were stowed away in my suitcase, three deep and six back under the bus, so there was no revising my choice option! 

The first sign of trouble was walking the 500m across a marble courtyard to get to the Mosque of Hassan ll in Casablanca. Imagine wearing glass slippers on an ice skating rink…😳 That’s the level of purchase I had with terra firma. Several time throughout the day, I fought to remain upright, looking like one of those characters in cartoons, straight out arms flailing backwards in windmill circles fighting for balance while feet lurch and slip! Throughout the days I attempted various strategies including multiple tiny ‘lotus’ steps, a flat footed stance that must have looked positively Neanderthal and finally, a winning tactic of slightly higher than normal knee lift, pitch marginally forward from the waist and slow deliberate foot placement.

I expect our tour group think I have heinous haemorrhoids!! 🤣