Morocco; Part I

Morocco has been amazing so far. That is why this one will be hard to write. The tour company has developed such an amazing schedule, that each day feels as though you are seeing a different part of the world, a different culture and you are busy from dawn to dusk, and beyond. For those interested in trip itinerary can be found HERE.

I never really thought much about Morocco before. Just the usual things westerners have images of when they think of this part of the world. It wasn’t until the second day that I realized the amazing contrast and variety this country holds. Morocco is a melting pot of diverse history, cultures, races, religions. All blended into a wonderfully rich and diverse nation, set against a larger-than-expected backdrop of an assortment of geographic regions.

From the traditional bustle of cities, to flat green agricultural lands, to sprawling mountains with cities hidden inside, with most cities surrounded by huge defensive walls. The people, the clothing, the food, the traditions, all change as you move from place to place.

Without going into too much detail, here are my highlights:

The Food!

Any weight I have lost since I was in Europe has more than returned. The food here is AMAZING. Each meal seems better than the last. From lamb and goat tagines to the dipping’s for breads and the use of chili and spices in all meals. The absolute highlight for me was a home-made banquet, in a gentleman’s home in the middle of the Fes Medina (a labyrinth of alleyways which would take a year to learn. The first “dish” cannot be explained here, so I will just put the photo up. I tried everything. Twice. Just so tasty.

The Cities/Towns

Each one seems different to the last. They have a history based on the local tribes, the influences of the Jewish, Muslim, Spanish, French or “other” cultures, depending on their history. My favourite so far, Chefchaouen. If you haven’t seen the photos on Instagram, then there are a few on my “current photos” page. Even these do not do this amazing mountain city justice. If you are interested in finding out more, you can use this link.

The History/Culture

There is so much to write here. Apart from what I wrote before; all I can say is – amazing. Highlights for me would be visiting and being guided through some ancient roman ruins, walking the various medinas, exploring the fortifications and the mosques.

Tour Group

Initially I was hesitant about being in a group for 13 days. Especially one with 12 people, and the likelihood of sharing accommodation. I was lucky. There are only 7 of us. All Australian or NZ. We all get along quite well, enjoy every experience, no complainers, and no issues. I am also fortunate, as the make up of the group ensures a single room each day (of which, I have no complaints as the accommodation has been awesome)… that is until we hit the Sahara.

Being on a Tour

Inside all of us is a little rebel, who hates the ideas of “tours”. I am the same. I always thought they were a bit lame. Until I went on this one. For the amount of experiences, travel, accommodation, etc, Intrepid could be asking a whole lot more. There is no way I could have even begun to see what I have seen without this tour. Our local “overall tour guide”, Taha, is amazing (and he doesn't actually dress like the below, this was for "fun"). He hands us over to local guides for individual city or event tours, but is with us throughout. He is friendly, helpful, informative, intuitive and fun. Honestly, I never imagined there could be so much to do and see, and I honestly did not think I would be so amazed by comprehensiveness of the tour, and the manner by which it is run.

Next Up

This is ONLY half way. Next up, we are out of the cities and into the mountains/desert. Looking forward to it. This is the only chance I have had to write this, as this is the ONLY night where I was home before 9pm.

Tired, but happy... except when I had to dress up...

Cheers,

JC