A FULL DAY

Golf clubs are removed from the travel bags and make their way downstairs to the lobby before we head in to the dining room for our morning feed. Fantastic service, and if it is not on the menu we will make it for you……no problem. Van and driver are waiting out front so we hit the road.

We are on course today at Assoufid Golf Club, east of the city, but as we drive there, I realize that the city has actually expanded way to the east since the last time we were here……that was about 8 years ago, and our driver tells us that development has been going wild since then. Seriously, there used to be nothing here but desert, and now huge communities have been built, with all the commercial services (and golf courses), and everything is looking quite modern and slick. They still don’t appear to have painted lines on the roads as driving is still quite a free for all, but our driver navigates it no problem and we arrive at Assoufid GC well ahead of our tee time. Always hopeful, I ask if there is any chance we can go off early, and the starter guy says yes, if you go now, you can be first………SCORE………Cos and I scoot down to the first tee with the ladies not too far behind, cackling that now we will be able to make it back to the hotel in time for lunch…….woo hoo. A single shows up and we offer him a chance to join us and he seems politely reluctant, but at the end of the day he makes us a threesome and off we go. His name is John, so I am playing with a couple of John’s………Dutch, on a golf trip by himself?, and man is he a whacker……..full on grip and rip every shot…….I hope he has enough ammo. Assoufid…..the first few holes have fairways as wide as some holes are long……..I managed to hit every one (John not so much)……..the course is in good condition, but so far the most interesting thing about it is the Atlas Mountains in the background. That changes around holes 5 – 6 and we start to see some shape and undulation making it much more interesting and challenging. When all is said and done, this was a very nice golf course in good condition and was well maintained. We played in 3:15 mainly due to the fact that the Flying Dutchman didn’t want to look for some of those wayward tee shots, so we had time for a refreshment before the goats……..walking with trolleys………would arrive.

Lunch on the terrace is again spectacular and the chef’s daily special starter was a beet ravioli, stuffed with goat cheese……….that is BEET, not beef……a cold salad dish that we will be trying to make at home sometime soon……..what talent in this kitchen.

Jutta has a treat in store for us tonight……..recommendation from Norma will have us dining at Comptoir Darna, a very popular tourista spot, probably due to the fact they have a belly dancer show. I am IN. It is a most interesting spot…….couple of beefy bouncers at the door, low lighting, and a wine/spirits list that includes full bottle service across the board (Johnnie Black 2,000mad – 200 euro), and hooka service to your table. We have to keep Monica awake as the show doesn’t start until 9:30…….way past her bedtime.

First out of the chute are the mature ladies with candelabras balanced on their heads before their daughters came out and stole the show…….loads of fun

So many shoes to choose from