I wrapped up my trip to Morocco on Tuesday, April 23, 2019, and then headed immediately to Italy. I originally decided to go on a G Adventures tour because it covered a lot of ground and all the logistics were worked out. I figured I would love Morocco so much that I would return another time and focus only on the places that spoke to me. However, by the time I left the country, I had decided it was unlikely I would ever return.
We didn’t stay long enough Tangier or Fez to know if I would love it or not.
tanneries of Fez
I loved a couple of places, especially the blue city of Chefchaouen and the fishing village of Essaouira.
I enjoyed the markets of Marrakech for the fabulous medina and its exotic and enticing goods. I have often dreamed of having a store in the U.S. where I sell exotic items from abroad, but I doubt that will ever happen at this point in my life.
Other places I loved include Aït Ben Haddou and Volubilis, but one visit was plenty for both of those places. I also loved the desert in Merzouga, but I have spent a lot of time in deserts and I don’t have a huge urge to go back.
Most of all I loved the photography opportunities. Everything in Morocco was colorful, and as one who loves color, I was captivated by the vibrancy.
As for food, the tajines were good, but only to a point; they got a bit boring after a while.
The worst thing for me was being on a tour. I met some interesting individuals and actually liked all of them one-on-one. But I hate group dynamics. Group travel has never been appealing to me, and it wasn’t enjoyable this time. I must be diligent in the future to avoid these kinds of trips.
I wrote a number of posts about my trip to Morocco. My favorite posts were about Chefchaouen and Essaouira. I also loved writing my two poetic journeys and my photography posts about the blues of Morocco and the enticing markets. I still have one more poem to write, and that will follow shortly.
- call to place: morocco
- anticipation & preparation: morocco
- on journey: a roundabout route to casablanca
- blues of morocco
- enticing moroccan markets
- poetic journeys: aït-ben-haddou
- morocco’s architecture & interiors
- morocco: of the desert, dromedaries & berbers
- casablanca, morocco: settling in & a walk to hassan ii mosque
- rick’s cafe & a walking tour of central casablanca
- casablanca: back to hassan ii, a walk along the corniche, & quartier des habous
- farewell to casablanca’s satellite dishes & hello to fellow travelers
- morocco: casablanca to tangier to chefchaouen
- morocco: the blue-washed chefchaouen
- morocco: the ancient roman ruins at volubilis
- a whirlwind tour of fez, morocco
- poetic journeys: letter to the moroccan sahara
- on journey: a long drive from fez to merzouga
- morocco: a lazy day in merzouga
- morocco: merzouga to el-khorbat
- morocco: a stroll through the tinghir oasis
- morocco: a short walk through todra gorge
- morocco: tinghir to aït ben haddou
- morocco: aït ben haddou
- morocco: aït-ben-haddou to imlil to aroumd
- morocco: aroumd to imlil to essaouira
- morocco: a day among the blue boats of essaouira
- morocco: essaouira to marrakech’s bahia palace
- remembering: first impressions of marrakech
- a day in the marrakech medina
- in search of gardens in marrakech
singers in El Khorbat
I was in Morocco from April 4 – April 23, 2019.
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“ON RETURNING HOME” INVITATION: I invite you to write a post on your own blog about returning home from one particular destination or, alternately, from a long journey encompassing many stops. How do you linger over your wanderings and create something from them? How have you changed? Did the place live up to its hype, or was it disappointing? Feel free to address any aspect of your journey and how it influences you upon your return. If you don’t have a blog, I invite you to write in the comments.
For some ideas on this, you can check out the original post about this subject: on returning home.
Include the link in the comments below by Sunday, July 5 at 1:00 p.m. EST. When I write my post in response to this challenge on Monday, July 6, I’ll include your links in that post.
This will be an ongoing invitation on the first Monday of each month. Feel free to jump in at any time.
~ wander.essence ~ 
Well, looking at the number of posts you wrote, Cathy, that must be Morocco pretty well summed up. Some of it is about traveling safely when you book a group tour, but I know the dynamics don’t work for you. Stunning photographs, darlin! I could see you in that little shop of yours, with the vibrant array of scarves and ornate furnishings. You’d need a reliable assistant so you could go off traveling to restock. I might volunteer 🙂 🙂
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Well, you’ve said it all, Jo!
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Somebody will have the last word, Sue 🙂 🙂
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😄😄
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I guess I did sum up the country pretty well, Jo. I honestly think I could have traveled safely in Morocco on my own, but then I’m used to that in all kinds of places. I love to think of myself in that little shop too! Too bad it’s unlikely to ever be. I don’t know how people become entrepreneurs! Yes, I’d need a reliable assistant while I gallivanted around on buying trips, and I’d be happy for your assistance! 🙂 🙂
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I’m glad to be having a happy conversation, Cathy, because I’m sure your heart and thoughts are elsewhere today. I’m following Janet’s thoughts on Minnesota and the curfews throughout the country at present. You’ve mentioned civil war a time or two and I can see it coming nearer. It’s heartbreaking!
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It is heartbreaking, Jo. Meanwhile our so-called president is flaming the fires while he hides away in his bunker in the White House. If he isn’t voted out in November, I will need to look elsewhere to live. I hate what this country is becoming.
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I agree with Jo. You have presented an exhaustive and in depth coverage of Morocco. Love the colors & the presentational vibe.
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I agree!
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Thanks so much, Indra. It was a fun and colorful country to travel to, but I don’t need to return. Too many other places to visit in the world!
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True.
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Hey! I’ve had a shop during my working years, actually my husband and I did quite well as entrepreneurs and should you need a manager/buyer/organizer/book-keeper/stock-keeper/backroom girl, feel free to call on me.
Certainly you’ve brought Morocca alive for a lot of us and our photographs were absolutely brilliant.
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Wow, what kind of shop did you have, Mari? Tell me more, please! I would love to have one myself, but it’s only ever been a dream; I’ve never taken any steps to have one. Thank you for your offer of basically anything! 🙂 Thank you so much for your kind words about my tales of Morocco. It was a good experience, but not one of the best in my life. I’m glad I finally went or I would have wondered forever.
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It’s good to have that clarity so that you know you don’t need to return. I’ve certainly enjoyed your posts, and almost feel I don’t need to go myself now! That’s a good thing given present circumstances. I can’t see myself travelling far in the near future, and the US is certainly no longer a desirable destination. My heart bleeds for you all.
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I’m glad my visit to Morocco was enough for you! Thanks for your care over the demise of our country, Anabel. I am sick to my stomach over what is happening here. I support all the peaceful protests wholeheartedly, but they don’t do themselves or anyone else favors by turning to violence. That being said, I’m shocked as our so-called-president continues to try to divide us and has installed every kind of soldier on the streets of Washington. The violence by the troops and police are uncalled for and frightening for what is supposed to be a democracy.
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It’s all terrifying, I’m so sorry for America. There are #BlackLivesMatter protests here, and I don’t expect to see the same violence, but I look at the crowds and think – have they forgotten we’re still living through a pandemic?
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I think there are things more important to people than the pandemic. Sadly, the people most affected by the pandemic and the economic fallout are people of color. I’m so proud to see resisters of every race, age and background out protesting. As long as they keep it peaceful, I believe it can help their cause, while violence only sets them back. It is a fraught time here, but we’ve had those times before, especially in the 1960s. We had some change then, but not nearly enough.
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I continue to be captivated by all the color in the desert world. Bright colors come from nature and from people. Is it in response to the dominance of neutral tones from sand and stone? I mean, nature responding, too. It helps to ponder this because you bring out the colors in your photographs. Thank you, Cathy!
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Thank you, Christopher. I am always captivated by the color in desert landscapes myself. Maybe it is in response to the muted tones of the desert. I’m so glad you like the photos. 🙂
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Your photos have done Morocco proud. I have thoroughly enjoyed travelling with you as a silent member of the group. I have no urge to return to Morocco or any north African countries. In fact I’m not at all sure I want to travel anywhere again other than Australia and New Zealand!
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Thank you, Jude. It was a photographically beautiful country. I don’t have an urge to return to north Africa, but there are places further south I’d love to visit, all over South America, more of Asia and even Australia, New Zealand and more of Europe. So I have a lot of places I still want to see, but now, losing at least a year of travel (maybe more) who knows how much I’ll be able to squeeze in before I kick the bucket. 🙂
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South Africa is very beautiful too…
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I’d also love to go to Kenya, Tanzania and Namibia (even though I know you had a bad experience there). And Zanzibar. 🙂
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The wild life is wonderful. Namibia is lovely but I would definitely avoid Windhoek. Etosha is fabulous. As is Chobe in Botswana.
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I hope someday! Thanks for that advice (I added it to my spread sheet for future travels!).
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