EXPLORING
MOROCCO
the adventure of a lifetime
In 2018, I had the opportunity to take an excursion through the exciting country of Morocco. Having never travelled to Africa, I was consumed by the glorious experience and truly immersed in the magic of my surroundings. I took in each sun-soaked moment, documenting all that I could through my journals and photos. Thankfully, these allow me to revisit my trip regularly and I find myself reflecting on the experience quite often.
Our trip took us to renowned cities such as Casablanca, Fez and Marrakech, as well as several smaller towns along the way. We encountered incredibly kind people at each turn, who welcomed us and told fantastic stories of their country and their lives.
"The only thing that makes life worth living is the possibility of experiencing now and then a perfect moment. And perhaps even more than that, it's having the ability to recall such moments in their totality, to contemplate them like jewels."
We ate traditional tagine, a couscous and lamb dish cooked in a special ceramic pot, and drank ample amounts of mint tea poured from teapots held high above one's head, the steaming liquid falling into tiny glass cups. Strong coffee and dates were also staples, along with perfectly plump olives.
Snaking our way through the bustling souks, or marketplace of Marrakech, we were overcome by the delicacies, the smells and the numerous wares. We found ourselves amid a labyrinth of stalls selling a variety of foods, spices, and trinkets, each one more eccentric and inviting than the last. There was so much energy and movement; the city felt alive.
There was beauty to be found everywhere, even in the walls and surfaces. Spaces were covered in an intricate array of tiles, creating patterns and pouring splashes of color into every room. Each location overwhelmed your senses in the best possible way.
Our trip gave us insight and exposed us to the varied threads that, woven together, create the tapestry of a vibrant and beautiful country.
Here are some of my favorite experiences:
TANNERIES
Leather goods go through a strenuous process to be stripped down, dyed, and then turned into the variety of pieces that can be purchased in shops. Seeing this process was quite eye-opening.
RUGS & TEXTILES
I had the opportunity to sit alongside a woman and watch her work on a hand-woven rug. She taught me a particular knotting process that is used and even let me help her with the rug that she was working on.
Each rug is unique in color, shape, size, and pattern. The patterns and knots used are significant to various tribes throughout Morocco. I came home with my very own rug which was woven, knotted, and embroidered by a Berber tribe.
RIADS
Along the way, we stayed in several riads, or traditional Moroccan homes built with an interior courtyard. Guests stayed in their own private rooms, which typically opened up onto this small oasis.
The homes were also inhabited by the owner who would share meals with the guests and make suggestions for the best local spots.
THE DESERT
Part of the trip included staying one night out in Erg Chebbi--a section of the Sahara Desert. It began with a nearly hour-long trek on the backs of grumbling dromedaries, who were loaded down with makeshift saddles and strapped with our luggage. Ambling and trodding slowly, we made our way out toward an unknown destination.
To be honest, I thought I was going to hate going into the desert. More than anything, I was scared, my breath shallow as we made our way out into the endless abyss. I didn't know how I would do with complete isolation. How would I respond to no real sense of direction or sign of civilization?
We came upon several canvas tents set up around a fire pit and many Moroccan rugs. A surreal sight to be sure, as for the last hour we'd seen nothing but an ocean's worth of sand. This camp is where we would spend the night. We sat waiting for the harsh sun to fade into an all-encompassing darkness.
Unexpectedly, it was quite calming to be isolated, completely secluded out in the middle of the desert, nestled down in the soft valley of sand dunes. We scurried to the top of one, the sand rushing between our bare feet, warm on top from the long day's sun, but cool underneath. We watched our camp grow rusty red as the sun began to set. Across the sloping horizon I could see tiny silhouettes of other people who had managed to make their way out to some other hidden camp. They had crawled to their respective dunes and sat too, in the silence of the desert, watching the glory of the sunset, as if we were all stranded on another planet.
We were all we had out there. Nothing but the sand and the sky--everything else seeming so insignificant. You can really feel small in the moment, I'm sure, but more than anything I felt large. So much a part of the whole earth--the sand and the sky and me.
It is truly a moment I will never forget.
"Here's looking at you, kid."
Rick Blaine, Casablanca
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