121116 Morocco Day 7 Friday, Dakhla area

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Sky Watch Friday  Himmelsk  Our World Tuesday

121110-121124 South Morocco and WestSahara

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121116 Morocco Day 7 Friday,

Woke up at 6.10. I had been up once during the night but slept again. Now we had breakfast at 6.30 for departure at 7. We had mostly the normal breakfast but the bread was "hamburger bread" and we had to get the coffee from the bar. But that is just details, it was tasty and nice.

Today we spent the time on Dakhla peninsula and Dakhla Bay. We left at 7 and the driver had some trouble finding the way out of town. We wanted to go south along the coast. I don´t think those guys had any map to consult. :)

We found the road and headed south along the coast. Stoped here and there to look for sea birds. At first it was hard as it was still dark and a bit foggy. Most of the birds seen was gulls, terns, gannets and a few vaders like a Sandpiper (Drillsnäppa).

At the south point of the peninsula was a fishermens village of sort. We only turned the bus there. Nobody went out. It did not look nice. I did not see any woman so my guess is only men lived and worked there. Living in simple sheds.

We saw a lot of small boats on the water during the day.

On the road back there was a low area with tides and a lot of birds. Mostly gulls of course but also vaders and two Eurasian or African Spoonbills (skedstork). A nice sight.  

 

After "lunch" we headed north. Passed by Dakhla city, still birding here and there. Lots of terns and gulls. At the north end of the bay was a camping site. When it was high tide they used to do different sort of water sports in that area. There was also flamingos. :)

Back in town there were the, now usual, routine. And there are also some birding opportunities in town too.  Finding somewhere to buy next days lunch and then back to the hotel for a quick shower before meeting the others. Going through the days birds and then dinner. Tomorrow we will be early birds. Up at 04.00 to go deep into the desert. The hotel will provide us with breakfast.

Dakhla on Panorimo
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day 7, 121116 Friday, Dakhla Bay,

day 7, 121116 Friday, night in Dakhla

Bab El Bahr Hotel, Ave Al Moukaouama, Dakhla. Tel 05 28 93 14 40

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121115 Morocco Day 6 Thursday, Laayoune - Dakhla

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Himmelsk  Our World Tuesday   Outdoor Wednesday

121110-121124 South Morocco and WestSahara

Click to enlarge All photos  NF Photo 121115

121115 Morocco Day 6 Thursday
 

I went up at 7 as we had a sleeping morning. I was a bit late for breakfast so I was almost alone. There was a buffé to choose from but half of it was gone. But I manage to get an egg, yougurt and some bread.  The people running the restaurant is not what I would call serviceminded. The lady in charge took an order and then she sat down reading a book. Leaving me waiting till I got tired and reminded her. L
 

Never mind, we left Sahara Line Hotel at 8.35. My lower lip is swollen and not fun at all. The cold seem a bit better today. We started our long journey south. Kind of nice at first as I spotted some dunes. But then it started to become a really dry land. I thought it would bee very warm today as we were going south into the desert, so I took my lighter clothes. Mistake! But I managed. So far temperature has not been higher then Swedish summer. .


 

First stop, at 10.25,  we made was at a coffee shop to go to the loo and have a coffee break. Well needed for everyone I think. Then we continued. We still had 330 km to go. And the road is straight. No curves what so ever.





At 13.30 h we stopped at the shop/gas station where some black and white crows had nested 2 years ago. But we did not see any. What we DID seee was litter! So much litter all over the place. I can´t help but being amazed about how much litter they can dump in the middle of nowhere. :(   In this "dumpsite" were some gorgeous flowers growing and gulls searching for whatever leftovers they could find.
We are now in Western Sahara.



I am sneezing and feeling bad all over. And I start to feel dirty. This country don´t seem to be good to me at all. I am sneezing my way through it. Usually I start to feel great as soon as I leave Sweden. But not now.

 

Passing a desert area one of us suddenly shouted out. A falcon was in the air. The driver was able to stop the bus so we checked the bird and then went out to look at it. It was a pair of Lanner Falcon   (slagfalk). We were lucky. And Anders was overwhelmed. Such a beautiful bird. And it turned out to be 2 of them. Probably a couple. We were able to get a bit closer before they took off. That was a nice and needed break. Cheered everyone up.

 

Later we stoped at Dakhla Bay to watch for vaders. There were quite many of them so we stayed until 17.15 before we went to Dakhla and shopping and then the hotel. The room Is gorgeous but Internet connection is lousy. I took  a shower but it took 5 min before the water was warm. Lukewarm, not hot.

We met for the birdlist at 20,00 in the lobby. For dinner we had first a starter with some fish and vegetables. Then the main course was also fish. And for desert some kind of fromage. The dining room was outdoors and it was rather chilly so I had to go to my room for a jacket. My room is luxuary. Not used to such things. And we are going to stay here 4 nights. :) 

There is one thing strange with Morocco. At 23.00h the whole country seems to go dead. Everything outside our rooms goes blank. And the light in the corridors is not lit even for so long it takes to open the door. You really need a flashlight if you want to leave the room in the evening.
 

Tomorrow up at 6.10. Breakfast at 6.30 and off we go at 7 to watch for seabirds.

day 6, 121115 Thursday, Oas vid Laayoune, div stop

day 6, 121115 Thursday, night in Dakhla http://www.visitmorocco.com/index.php/eng/I-am-going-to/Other-cities/Dakhla/

           Bab El Bahr Hotel, Ave Al Moukaouama, Dakhla. Tel 05 28 93 14 40

           www.h-rez.com/a277132/index.htm

           wireless internet complimentary in public areas,

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Labels: Resor, travel, trip, journey, Sverige, Sweden, airplane, flygplan, sky, photo, photography, Monica Johansson, NatureFootstep, nfphoto, NF_photo, nature, natur, fågelskådning, birding, fågelblog, birdblog, Marocko, Morocco, Västsahara, West Sahara, Sahara, desert, öken, Marrakech

 Dakhla, Laayoune, Marocko, Morocco, Dakhla Bay, Bab El Bahr Hotel, Sahara Line Hotel, dune, dyn, sanddyn, öken, desert, Western Sahara