We’ve made two glorious trips to Morocco, and they will not be the last.
In January 2016, we visited Tangier, Fes, and Marrakech for a few days each. The vibe, experiences and sights offered by each destination were remarkably distinct and equally captivating. Check out the slide shows below for highlights from each of our destinations. I’ve already posted other photo essays – Moroccan Kitties and our Visit to a Berber Village.
Tangier Images, 2016 | Fes Images, 2016 | Marrakech Images, 2016
The train journeys between the cities were delightful adventures in their own right. We spoke a little French (the recognized “second” national language, after Moroccan Arabic) and a few critical Arabic phrases (“la shukran” or “no thank you” was particularly useful). Despite the language barrier, we managed to connect with many lovely people, and learned a little more about Moroccan life through each of them.
Kids are Kids | Train Humanity, Morocco 2016
We returned to Tangier in January 2017, at the invitation of the delightful Australian satirist, actor, artist and trouble-maker Bryan Dawe for his his “Illusions” gallery opening. We also took day trips to Asilah, a beautiful seaside, Portuguese-built fortress town and Chefchaoen (the aptly-named “Blue Pearl”) with Bryan and his wonderful Kiwi mate, Krista. We flew home from Casablanca, which gave us a chance to visit Rick’s Cafe on our last night.
Tangier Images, 2017 | Asilah Images | Chefchaoen Image
There is much beauty to behold in Morocco. From sea to mountain to desert, the diverse landscape continually surprises with each mile traversed. The ancient medinas are an enduring testament to the value of these centers of trade, worship and community to Moroccan culture. And the people…well, the people of Morocco renewed our faith in humanity. Always welcoming, never judging and just happy to be, whether life found them in the city or in a remote village.
During our 2016 visit, we met a few 20-something Moroccans on the train, commuting to their jobs in Casablanca. We taught them to play an American card card game in our shared compartment and got to know them a little. One woman, clad in jeans and without the traditional hijab head covering, described modern, urban attitudes in the Muslim-dominated country. “No one judges you by what you wear or whether your head is covered,” she said. “It is understood that what you choose to believe and how you express those beliefs is between you and your God.”
je suis notlinda 