mon temps au maroc

Blog Post 12.

My time in Morocco. This is behind schedule. Sometimes, after condensed events (like a 2.5-day, 3 city trip to a different continent) I have to digest for a bit. I have to edit and comb through my photos. I have to think about all the things.

The trip felt like a superficial whirlwind. An educational and very beautiful one, yes, but a whirlwind nonetheless. In honor of the energy of my 58-ish hours in Africa, here is a list of what all happened:

• I rode a camel
• I saw the meeting point of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea
• I smelled many things
  • some good
  • some bad
  • some that can only be described as “new”
• I used my exceptionally mediocre French skills (and was laughed at many times)
• I went to a traditional Moroccan Pharmacy
• Everyone is a polyglot (the 2 official languages are French and Moroccan Arabic. But most people also know Spanish and English)
• I took photos of:
  • doors
  • clouds
  • cats- so many cats (Haruki Murakami wouldn’t know what to do with himself there)
  • alleys
• I heard several Islamic calls to prayer in real life
• Soup is part of every meal
• I crossed a border on foot
• I rode in a Ferry (once in calm waters and once through a storm)
• I was reminded of how small the world can be in many ways
• The tea is so good even though it’s way too sweet

Here are some photos:

The hotel swimming pool outside of Tétouan on our first morning in Morocco. Oct. 20 2018.

Somehow, a good friend and equestiran teammate of my cousin, Maddy Skrak’s (who I have been virtually introduced to), and I ended up in Morocco on the same tour the same weekend as me. A small world indeed. Oct. 21 2018.

Colorful mosque entrance, cat, garbage in the street- a very typical scene to capture the essence of a Moroccan Medina. Oct. 20 2018.

Oct. 21 2018

Oct. 20 2018

Oct. 20 2018.

That smile was plastered to every camel-rider’s face as we trotted along the Mediterranean beach outside of Tangiers. Oct. 20 2018

Public square at Tétouan. Oct. 20 2018

This is what it looks like to be the rider of a camel on a beach in Morocco. Oct. 20 2018.

Ma nouvel amie, la bébé du chameau. Oct 20 2018.

I’ve been working on being less awkward with my body in front of the camera. Thanks to my friend, Maddie, for the help and support. Oct. 20 2018.

One of MANY cats in the streets. This one in Chefchaouen. Oct. 21 2018.

This cat in Tétouan. Oct. 20 2018.

Nothing to see here. Chefchaouen. Oct 21 2018.

Many a textile from Morocco. Chefchaouen. Oct. 21 2018.

Typical street in the medina of Chefchaouen, the blue city. Oct. 21 2018.

The sunrise over some wetlands between Assilah and Chefchaouen. Oct. 21 2018.

I also learned that quick, large groups tours are not for me. I felt somewhat like I was watching a movie. Lots of busing about between the three northern cities we visited, lots of “free time to go shopping”, and very little depth into any specific sight. Albeit, it’s the best we could do given the time constraint and the general wants of tourists groups, but I think I’ll stick to one city per weekend moving forward.

Morocco is beautiful and the people we encountered were typically very kind. I am glad I spent a few of my days and a few of my dollars getting a taste of such a unique place. Under different circumstances, I would love to return.