Takat

This is a French owned and operated site and the vast majority of vans are French, with a couple of Germans and the odd Dutch. We're the only Brits here. As to be expected the facilities are excellent with spacious pitches, plenty of water points, and a lovely swimming pool adjacent to a bar/restaurant. The only down side is that it is in the middle of nowhere; the coast is 3km in one direction and the nearest village the same the other, so with no public transport unless you've got your own you're stuck. But that isn't really a hardship as there are a few essentials available at reception where Monique, the owner/receptionist speaks good English and is very helpful.

The mobile phone signal isn't very good either, making the use of the mi-fi sporadic. There is good wifi in the bar/pool area but there are a lot of folk using it so it can be very slow. 

Tuesday we went out to try find some gas as one of the refillables was empty and we were running on a small Moroccan bottle. Thinking the main road and village of Siddi Bebi would be the best place we tried there first but despite driving several miles in both directions we could find no-one who would/could exchange. So as we had passed a shop in the village nearest the campsite with bottles outside we decided to try there – which of course we should have done in the first place! No problem, three small bottles exchanged and one large 13kg purchased, all for the princely sum of £13. Camping Gaz 907 bottles in Europe are £27 exchange; identical (but unbranded) in Morocco 95p, yes 95p! The large bottles are the same connection as Calor in the UK so we just had to connect up using our adapter hose.

Back at the site we re-established ourselves but despite a nice breeze we couldn't sit out in the sun until late afternoon. Jamie was non too happy as there was nowhere to let him run so he spent a lot of time under the van in the shade – we wouldn't let him lie out for too long in th sun.

Wednesday was a sort out, clean up and washing day. Full service on the van and a load of washing, which was dry in less than an hour of being pegged out! Terry sampled the swimming pool which, despite being 19 deg, was very refreshing if a bit of a shock to the system!

Thursday was Valentines Day and the site had organised a Valentine Lunch poolside. “Les Anglais” had our own table of course but nevertheless were made welcome enough. After a toast of rum-laced punch, hors d'oeuvres were served followed by spit-roasted lamb with roasted vegetables, baked potato and salad. There was plenty of it, beautifully cooked and presented, with as much “seconds” as you wanted. All washed down with a cold bottle of Moroccan rose or orange juice for the non-alcoholics! Then three large chocolate profiteroles rounded it off, with coffee or mint tea.

Waiting for lunch

Roasting lamb

Being French, of course, this was spread over three hours but Jamie, who we'd had to leave in the van with all the vents open, blinds closed and a fan going, forgave us when he sniffed out the bowl full of lamb leftovers! It was then siesta-time and a couple of hours got lost.............