After coming home from Prague on Sunday, I knew that I had only a few days to relax before I was off to Marrakech, Morocco for Thanksgiving bright and early on Wednesday morning. I had homework to do, clothes to pack, and sleep to catch up on but I managed :] I also was overly stressed by the thought of having to fly so shortly after I just came home. I like a few days of relaxation before I have to start thinking about making it through another flight. But it’s always worth it for me. Anyways! Let’s get to Morocco.
We arrived in Morocco around 10 AM their time (11 AM back in Rome), and we had Simo and Hanane there to greet us (they were our travel leaders, along with a very bubbly boy named Abdul). They immediately took us to our Riad, which is a traditional Moroccan home turned hotel, and we all fell in love with it! It had so much color and personality to it, and the owner was a very sweet old woman that spoke broken English to us all weekend and gave us kisses everytime she saw us. It helped that she had a huge supply of clementines waiting for us everytime we came home. After having tea with everybody and talking about orientation at the Riad, we were already off to lunch at a traditional Moroccan restaurant. If you know me, you know that I have a horrible stomach…I’m constantly worried about what I put in my belly. So eating Moroccan food was an experience for me. And I’ll pride myself on the fact that I did not get sick once! So I was a happy camper. The food was amazing, we had couscous all weekend as well as tagine, which is basically meats and veggies with lots of spices. It was so yummy, I asked them for a recipe and now I’ll be making tagine all the time. After our first lunch, we went to a spice store that had lots of natural oils, spices like saffron, and wonderful smells. We probably spent a few hours in there, and I managed to buy: mint tea, lemon tea, argan oil to rub all over my body, body wash, 8 different spices including saffron, and a natural perfume. After the spices we went back to the Riad to drop all of our things off and we were on our way to the Hammam Spa, which was probably the most liberating thing I’ve done in my life…and I would be willing to go back. We get to the spa, and I immediately see a large group of naked women/girls of all ages in these incredibly hot and steamy rooms with buckets of water, scrubbing themselves down. I then knew what I was in for, lol. A woman came up to us, and told all of us (Tori, Tessa, Tia, Carolyn, and me) to get naked and bring our oils into the spa….so we did. All of us were very much naked, waiting to see what would happen next. We had to put all the body oils on ourselves, and then we waiting in line to be scrubbed down by a very nice old woman, who was overly friendly with my body parts, but got a lot of work done, and I came out with very soft, beautiful skin. All, in all I’d say it was an enjoyable/awkward experience, but I’m glad we did that. After the spa we were off to dinner to eat more Moroccan food, and we had an early night and slept because we were all exhausted.
The following day (Thursday!) was thanksgiving! We had breakfast in the morning, and we were off to have a tour of the city. Our first stop was a small museum that gave us an idea of the Moroccan history and culture. It was short and sweet. But we were ready to see Morocco! Not be in a museum…We then made our way to the main square in the Old City, and we were greeted by snake charmers and cute little monkeys that found their way onto our shoulders and managed to eat some of my hair :] It was very cute, and I now need a monkey. After we walked into the New City and went to the world famous Marjolle Gardens (I can’t spell, as usual) and I’m too lazy to check the proper spelling. The gardens were full of color and they were beautiful. After the gardens, we got to take a horse carriage back to the old city, and got to see all the wonderful sites of the city. After the carriage ride, we made our way to a Moroccan family’s house, and they made us tea and lunch! Of course it was couscous with lamb and veggies (so gooood) and then we had henna done by one of the family members. The family was so sweet making us lunch and doing so much for us, and even teaching us how to properly make the tea that we bought the day before. We then went shopping for just a few hours in the souks, which are nothing like the souks I am familiar with. I’ve been to souks in both Nigeria and the Middle East, but these were different. I figured they would be similar because Morocco is such a strong mixed culture of Africa and the Middle East, but I was pleasantly surprised to find otherwise! After shopping, we went to a hookah bar, had some Moroccan beer (of course I didn’t because beer is one thing my stomach will never learn to like). But I enjoyed lotsss of hookah, and then we made it back home to sleep :]
Friday was another busy busy busy busy day! We had breakfast at the Riad, then took a bus out to the Berber countryside where we were greeted by camels :] Lots of camels. Carolyn and I shared a camel, which really wasn’t too bad. Granted we were both slipping off the whole time, but everyone always complains about how uncomfortable a camel ride is…my butt came out just fine afterwards. After camel rides, we went to a local berber family’s house and we had tea on their rooftop which overlooked the beautiful Moroccan mountains/countryside. They played music for us, and we just all laughed/danced/giggled for a little while. After tea, we went to a work site where women make the argan oils. We had another sampling of all the oils, and then some of us bought some to support the women, and we were off to have lunch at a berber restaurant. Once again we had good music and great food! We then went out in the rain (I was not pleased about this just because I hate the rain, and every place I’ve gone to it’s RAINED!!! Ugh), but we trucked through it and hiked up the mountain to see a beautiful waterfall. Unfortunately, I wasn’t wearing appropriate hiking boots, I had on leather boots, which are very unsafe to wear when climbing up slippery rocks. So I moved at a veryyyyyyy slow pace lol. But I made it with no broken bones and only a few slips. After the hike we went to a carpet store, spent a good long while in there (I didn’t get any carpets because they were too expensive and I couldn’t find one that really stuck out to me…it was sad) But I had a blast nonetheless. I lovedddd looking at all the carpets, I could spend days in a carpet store just picking through all of them. After the carpet store we took a bus ride home, had some free time…where of course we went shopping. And then we went to another hookah bar, and had some drinks. It was an all over good day :]
Saturday was our last full day :[ ! We woke up early, took a 3 hour drive to a surrounding city called the “wind city”, and were once again greeted by the rain. Yesssss (sarcasm). We had lunch at a little stand that had possibly the freshest fish I have ever eaten in my life, and it was really good! I don’t normally eat fish, but this fish changed my eating habits forever. I will now be a fish eater…you can quote me on that later Christine when I say I don’t want any…hehe. We had a short tour of the small city, and got to enjoy the beautiful beach :] We then made the longgg drive back, had more free time for more shopping (over the days I purchased: a Moroccan shirt, tea pot with cups, 2 necklaces, a bracelet, and a ring) all very beautiful of course. The rest of the group went out to a casino and had more drinks, but I can’t afford to be gambling away my parent’s money that they so graciously give to me for these experiences lol. So I stayed in with the other group, and talked with Simo, Abdul, and Hanane for a while..then I slept :] I had a blast staying in though because they taught me how to make tagine, and I just got to chat with them for a little while.
Leaving was very sad and hard :[ because everybody felt like family! But we were off at 7 AM to make it back to Rome. I was so sad to leave, and I really want to go back one day. They have a program for 2 weeks where you volunteer and teach English with the same tour leaders, I might possibly see if I could do that one summer. We will see :] But that was my wonderful Moroccan thanksgiving experience :] and It has easily been my favorite trip so far just because of the cultural experience I had.
This week I’m very busy with papers and projects so don’t expect to hear from me soon! And then I’m off on my last and final trip of my time here to Paris for 3 days. Then I will remain in Rome until the 18th! Then I’m off to Saudi to see my Daddy. I have such a busy December ahead of me, but I’m very ready for it :]
On another note: Rome stores and streets are starting to put up Christmas lights and it’s making me sooooo antsy for Christmas to come! I love Christmas season, and everything about it. I am praying that it snows in Paris. That would be such an unbelievable experience, and I want to see it! I have yet to see beautiful white blankets of snow, and I want it. I can’t get everything, but I’ll be hopeful :]
Until then, I’ll enjoy all the Christmas lights in Rome, and thing about how I get to come home and Christmas will be so soon. <3
p.s. I have so much to be thankful for. I love my family and friends.
Ciao,
Kate
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