Morocco

My plan was to update this new blog whilst I was in Morocco, but I was having such a ball that I did not have time!

So, now here I am back in Melbourne, reflecting on the beautiful people and country I experienced. For me, it was the whole package: meeting and hanging out with some interesting and fun people in the Intrepid group, having lovely personal experiences with the local people, even though at times we could not speak the same language, the beauty and variety of the countryside and the food!!!!

When I thought of Morocco prior to my trip, I did not automatically think France or mountains, but these were the two things that really stood out to me. The French influence in terms of architecture was highly evident, particularly in Casablanca, plus the sidewalk cafes, the pastries, the bread, the wine and the language. French was the easiest language to communicate with and as I seem to be drawn to these French speaking places, I will definitely be brushing up on my language skills in the near future.

I also knew there were mountains, but there certainly is good reason for calling then the Middle and High Atlas. We were fortunate enough to do a little walking in the area surrounding Mt Toubkal, the second highest mountain in Africa, and it was stunning! I may have to make time for some more serious walking there in the future, as many Europeans were doing.

If I had to give absolute highlights, firstly, I would have to say the local hammam experience near Todra Gorge. This was an all female grooming experience, where we were soaked, scrubbed, pushed, pulled and polished by local women. There were all shapes, sizes and ages going through their normal washing/gossip ritual and not a word of English was spoken but the looks and smiles we shared with the women was absolutely priceless – and we felt pretty good at the end too!

I also loved watching the local people go about their daily chores in the Berber villages. They seemed so content with their life, despite its demands, and were happy to share a smile. This moved me greatly as I reflected on the simplicity of their day as compared to the demands we put on ourselves and the ‘stuff’ we load ourselves down with. (I will be reminded of this as I declutter and pack up my life ready for the move to Vietnam).

Hopefully, I will return to Morocco one day, as there I feel there is still much to see and experience. It will also be interesting to see how it develops and changes in the next few years. I hope that it loses none of its old beauty and charm.

Inshallah!

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