I see you are back and after all of our talk before going, I am very curious as to how you enjoyed Morocco.

It is still haunting my mind as I am still uploading my 20 blog entries and pictures of it. I am kind of in a limbo here in Barcelona that is still a bit there, part of me is in Greece and the rest here.

It is a fascinating country isn't it?

Thanks for asking, WT. I got back two days ago and was going to post, but truthfully I am still in a daze. I appreciated the information and experiences discussed on ST recently. And I'm hoping to actually do a trip report -- one of these days....

I am enchanted by Morocco after our brief visit. It exceeded my expectations in every way. This was a long-planned trip to celebrate a significant birthday and wedding anniversary without our three children (13 and under), our usual travel companions. So that gave us certain luxuries of finance and time that we don't ordinarily have. And, although I have pulled them out of many streets in London, Paris and Rome, it would have shaved a few years off my life walking with them among the donkey carts and speeding mopeds in the medina.

My husband and I stayed at a riad in the Marrakech medina, and I would never want to stay outside in the Ville Nouvelle. The aromas of the spices in the streets and the sounds of the call to prayer from nearby Bab Doukkala mosque are permanently etched on my memory. We had a fantastic 1/2-day guided walking tour throughout the medina -- I learned much about Marrakech, Islam and the art and architecture. The souks are both exhausting and addictive. We're not big shoppers and I was amazed at how much junk there was to sift through, but we returned a few times to buy some special gifts for our children.

Food? Every morsel I put in my mouth was delicious. We are big food lovers and enjoy cooking Moroccan dishes, so this was a major focus of our trip. I have a "delicate" stomach, but I ate everything I wanted and didn't suffer for a minute. We even ate twice at the food stalls in the Djemaa el Fna and enjoyed that -- although I didn't partake of the steamed lamb's head as my more adventurous husband did (he adored it!). We spend a lot of time in France, and enjoyed two French meals outside the medina in Gueliz. I would say that speaking French isn't necessary in Morocco, but my intermediate French helped.

Last Saturday, we did a High Atlas Mountains day trip with a driver, who was fluent in English -- we had wonderful conversations with him. We stopped for lunch in a deserted cafe in the town of Ourigane, where we spent a little time with the Berber owner and his elderly parents. He showed us his modern house, as well as the traditional Berber kitchen they still use. His friendliness and warm spirit were typical of all the Moroccans we met.

The trip definitely whetted my appetite to explore other areas of Morocco, if we can. I will say that I felt tourism in Marrakech still strikes a balance between tradition/authenticity and modernity. But with construction cranes dotting the landscape and more big hotels going up, I wonder if that will change. I hope not.

I loved Morocco.

Wow, sounds like you had a spectacular celebration get away! You were a LOT braver than us in the eating department...can not even imagine the sheeps head thing or eating at the outside vendors...since I knew too many that got so sick. Glad that you stayed healthy. We did have some great food there as well....yummy!

It is funny that you left the kids behind,because we went to Morocco BECAUSE of our child and we found it the ultimate unschooling adventure that we will never forget. We are glad that she led us there as it was an adventure of a lifetime. That said , we only have one which makes it easier and I can appreciate the romance of a riad together as a couple.

We actually liked the desert and High Atlas Mountains area much better than the imperial cities of Fez or Marrakech, but we were glad to see them too. Fez is more authentic and calmer since there are no cars or mopeds in the medina,but they both have unique attributes and the riads are special and a perfect complement to the craziness outside.

We will be back too. Looking for your trip report when you get around to it! It is an exciting place with wonderful people.

I love reading these wonderful stories and reports and sensations about Morocco. It makes me close my eyes and remember the smells and the senses. It is such an incredible place.

Thank you both for writing wonderful things about this special country.

Living in Italy, there is a significant, relatively unintegrated Moroccan population here. They keep to themselves. When I get the chance to talk to some Moroccans, and tell them how highly I regard their culture and country, the broad smiles and warmth which I receive back is contagious. We immediately start talking about food and the mint tea and the colors and the HOSPITALITY of the country. I grow coriander (cilantro), (which is NOT normal here in Italy), and I occasionally give bunches of it to one of my neighbor's cleaning lady, who is Moroccan. It always makes her happy and think about home!!

quote:

Originally posted by WT:

It is funny that you left the kids behind,because we went to Morocco BECAUSE of our child and we found it the ultimate unschooling adventure that we will never forget. We are glad that she led us there as it was an adventure of a lifetime. That said , we only have one which makes it easier and I can appreciate the romance of a riad together as a couple.

Quite right, having traveled abroad with one, two and three children, one child is MUCH easier to travel with. I have no doubt that my children will visit Morocco one day -- they've inherited their parents' passion for travel and new cultures.

But this Moroccan trip was a once-in-a-lifetime adventure JUST for us parents. A special anniversary was celebrated and without that wedding years ago, the children wouldn't be here!

Marrakech is THE most exotic place I've ever been. We were only there for 24 hours in 2005, had a great tour guide, and I'm still trying to process everything we experienced. It was sensory overload.

I remember on the drive from Casablanca there were so many stands along the highway with people selling pomegranates...seemingly in the middle of nowhere. Who was buying them? The plastic bags tumbled by the wind and caught on the twiggy scrub in the sand....the huge resorts with bright green grass next to the poorest of the poor....so many contrasts. So much color and texture in the medina. Lots to think about.

I need to go back!

Gail

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A special anniversary was celebrated and without that wedding years ago, the children wouldn't be here!

So true and I give you great kudos for all the traveling that you have done with your 3 lucky children!

I just thought it was funny/interesting that we were drawn to Morocco because of our child ( which is a reason why some go) and you were drawn to Morocco without your children ( which is a reason why others go). It is the kind of place that can attract both kinds of travel ( and more still). I really get the excitement of a private celebration there for adults only.

In fact, probably most people do that kind of travel or at least we ran into quite a few doing that in Marrakech ( lots from the UK) ...as a romantic get away or celebrating an anniversary or birthday.

Morocco just would not have been on my radar had I not had a child, (even though not too many people take their 6yo wondering thru the whole country.)We were glad that she pulled us there as we discovered a wonderful country and had a once in a lifetime experience that we will never forget.

I am 55 and mobility challenged ( crushed knee that gives me daily pain & has put me in a wheel chair a lot for months at a time) so camel treking and staying over night in the Sahara or having a massage together in an ancient Hamman in Essouria were not things I ever thought I would do!

I am glad that I pushed past my concerns for my child's sake since it turned out easier than we imagined, even entering from Spain. We were there for 10 days and if felt like months.We planned it all ourselves and only hired guides for city tours.

You are right Gail, Morocco is THE most exotic place that I have been too ( & I have been to Haiti,Baku and Egypt). I can really relate to your still processing everything that you experienced!!! I think once you have been to Morocco it changes you a bit forever and is haunting in a good way. DO go back & savor all those incredible sensations!

It is really such a inspiring place for a creative person!