Strolling through the sand dunes. I thought that was all I wanted to do. Until I got there. Morocco is located in Northern Africa, but could arguably be a country identified as part of the Middle East. Regardless, it is a unique place in both beauty and culture. When I think of Morocco, I immediately think of the Sahara Desert. But I was surprised to experience that there is SO MUCH MORE! From leather bags, to a city painted entirely blue, and mountain ranges where locals grow marijuana, Morocco is not just the desert. I started my Arabian adventure in Casablanca, the capital of Morocco. I arrived here in the evening during my Summer 2019 travels and the next morning I was en route to Chechaouen, the blue magical city. Magical because well, what other city do you know is painted all blue?
Legend has it that the city is painted blue to keep the mosquitos away! It might be true because I didn’t get bit by a single mosquito but everywhere else I went, I was sadly let down. I had bites for days. I roamed Chechaouen for two days and fell in love with richness of this tiny city. I also found the rug that can take you any place, Aladdin’s rug…I think.
Chechaouen was indeed a sight for sore eyes, and since it was the only major first stop of my trip, I was so excited for what else I would experience. Prior to Chechaouen, I also drove through Tangier. Tangier is not far from Casablanca and its the hotspot for many Casablanca residents to take a quick getaway, very much like New York City for Connecticut residents. I loved how it felt a lot like Italy in some places.
In Tangier, I also visited the port, where I could actually see Spain! It is always so interesting to see how close the countries are to each other and the fact that the naked eye can see it is even more incredible. From Tangier and Chechaouen, I went to Fes. Rumor has it that the most beautiful women in all of Morocco live in Fes. Well, I’m sure lots of soul searching happens in Fes …and shopping! One of the largest Medina’s, aside from Marrakech, is in Fes. Some of the alley’s are so small, only you can fit in it, literally one person at a time. People who live in the Medina and need to get their furniture inside, have to use the rooftops and pass it over from neighbor to neighbor. Don’t pick a fight with your neighbor! You’ll regret it later. The clustered living is such a different living style. But it works, and it’s normal.
I also visited the making of leather goods in Morocco and it was really like a reality wake up. Most of the labor that I saw in Morocco was manual. I saw not a single machine doing work. Moroccan’s worked with their bare hands. Even all of the tiles; locals carved the tiles and painted them, then assembled them with their hands. This is one thing I love about Africa. Africans work, and they work hard!
I then carried onto the Sahara Desert, obviously, the highlight of my trip to Morocco. Upon arrival, I could see the Sand Dunes very far away, but the moment my eyes saw them, I could not not see them again. It was crazy! All I kept thinking was, “how did they get here”. How does something like this happen? Clear signs of God’s love and unending mercy.
I spent the morning walking the sand dunes and praying out loud. It was so peaceful just being on this stretch of land, just me and God and giving thanks for such an experience. God is so good!
In the evening, I took a camel ride further into the sand dunes. It was way too hot to be in the desert during the day, so at sun down, I took this once in a lifetime journey. But first, I had to take a selfie:
I loved meeting the camels. They were the friendliest little guys I’d met since my summer travels and I was so appreciative of the ride through the sand. It ain’t easy walking it either!
I began the camel trek and it was something I couldn’t process in the moment. I was excited. I was dreaming. I was crying. I was doing everything. Oh, and I was trying to stay on the camel too. The Sahara Desert was one of those things that went on FOREVER. You couldn’t see an end to it. It just kept going and going. In that moment, I felt extremely small and that was the first experience that made me truly realize just how large the world is.
I watched the sun set in the Sahara Desert and until this day, I am beyond blessed for it.
After the Sahara Desert, I went on to Essaouira and Marrakech. I loved Essaouira for its Greece vibes. It was pained in Blue and White and reminded me so much of Mykonos in pictures. I spent my time in Essaouira chilling on the beach and doing some souvenir shopping. I ended my Arabian journey in Marrakech, a pretty aggressive city. There were tons of mopeds and if you weren’t careful, you’d quickly be surprised by how close you were to death by getting nearly run over by one. I stayed in Marrakech for 2 nights and the first day was spent visiting the largest medina in all of Morocco. It is unlike any of the other medina’s I had visited. The shopkeepers are also very aggressive, putting items in your face or on your hand so that you can try it. By the end of this 15-day journey, I was ready for a new scene.
The next day, I visited Bahia Palace and was mesmerized by all the pretty colors and all the fascinating designs. All of Morocco had this creativity about it that was unmatched by any other country. I argue that the manual labor definitely sets it apart.
Marrakech was the end to my Arabian adventure. I hope to come back to Morocco with my children some day. It was such a charming city!
Now it’s your turn. Have you been to Morocco? What was your favorite part?
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