Backtracking

 

Chefchaouen

Allow me to backtrack a little.  Before we set off to cross the Atlantic again we decided to spend some time in Morocco, after all it is just across the strait from where we were in La Linea, Spain.  Morocco had been on my bucket list for a long time, so it seemed a shame to be so close and not take the time to visit.  However, this trip would be different from how we typically do things.  We are not "tour" type people. Usually, as we are sailing and visiting different countries I do all the planning for "sight seeing", lodging, transportation etc...  I did not do that in Morocco.  There was just no time for all the research involved in planning where to go, where to stay and how to get there.  Morocco is not like Europe with its extensive rail system, so driving would be required and we did not want to drive.  So for the first time ever we signed on with a tour company but it was perfect, as it was just Michael, myself and a driver.  Hicaim, our driver, was amazing and stayed with us the entire time we were in Morocco.

Chefchaouen

 We learned quite a lot about the country just from conversing with Hicaim as we traveled around Morocco.  There were plenty of scheduled "tours" with guides as well, which were very informative.  I would highly recommend a tour company should you ever decide to visit Morocco.  It seemed to us the best way to visit.  We did a whirlwind trip traveling from the port in Tanger all the way to the High Atlas Mountains and then back down.  First stop was Chefchaouen or the "Blue City".  All the buildings are blue and white.  Just so pretty!  

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Gate to the Medina in Fes

From Chefchaouen we traveled to Fes.  Michael had drunk a bit of the tap water - never a good idea, so he was quite ill.  I left him at the hotel to sleep it off and went on the tour of the Medina with a guide by myself.  I was not going to miss seeing the city, although it made the guide uncomfortable to be with a woman that was not accompanied by her husband.  A cultural thing.

Riad Yacout

We stayed at the most amazing "hotel". It was actually a palace at one time.  Some enterprising person bought it and turned it into a hotel.  Incredibly beautiful!  The interior was covered in fabulous mosaic tiles.  Pictures just do not do the hotel justice, but alas thats all I have.  After an afternoon of visiting the Medina and the mosaic factory I returned to the hotel and Michael was sufficiently recovered.  Our friends were also visiting Morocco so we met them in the dining hall for dinner, which was fabulous.  Next day we set off for the Sahara desert.  A highlight of the trip for me.  

Riad Yacout

Playing "Dress Up like Beduoins"

In preparation, we had to stop at shop and play dress up. Dressing up like Bedouins is part and parcel of the tour thing so we played along.  We did not purchase Bedouin outfits, but did buy the scarves to keep the sand out of our ears and noses.  And as a bonus we got to see some camels! 

The Mighty Sahara Desert

 They don't have the huge dunes in Morocco like the dunes that exist in Algeria or Tunisia, but impressive nonetheless.  As with everything in this modern world of ours the Moroccans have found a way to turn the Sahara into a commercial enterprise.  It was a bit disappointing to me to see how commercial it was but tourism is a huge industry for Morocco.  So... the Sahara is dotted with "tent compounds" so tourists can get a small taste of the desert.  We spent the night in a pretty luxurious tent.

Sahara Tent

Once inside you barely know that you are in a tent.  Michael had decided to ride a camel out to the tents while I opted for a ride in a 4 wheel drive jeep.  Driving on the edge of the dunes at a high rate of speed was quite an adventure - at times I just had to close my eyes!  But the camel ride was even more adventurous and uncomfortable.

Tent Camp in the Sahara

We were pretty excited to do some star gazing as the desert is the best place for that.  But as it turned out it was a full moon that night which made it not such a good night for viewing the constellations.

 Camels taking a break

Regardless, it was such a fun night.  The young fellows working at the tent camp entertained us with music and dancing.  And the dinner was fantastic.  Moroccans like to eat.  We could not keep up...  they kept bringing more and more courses.  In an attempt to not be rude or wasteful we tried everything but just could not consume that much food.  

Ait Benhaddou

From the Sahara we drove to see the Ksar of Ait Benhaddou.  It is an community of earthen houses that were built together and protected by a defensive wall.  It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it looks absolutely biblical.  They have filmed many movies here including "Jesus of Nazareth" and "Gladiator".  So currently it is an important site for the film industry, but in ancient times is was an important trading post on the caravan route from Sudan to Marrakesh.  Our guide around the Ksar was actually born in one of the old dwellings.  Only a handful of folks live there now, as most have moved to the more modern village.  But the Ksar is still preserved in the old architectural manner with clay.  Talk about being transported back in time... you truly feel as though you are viewing something biblical.  To top it off the hotel we stayed at in the town of Ouarzazate was stunning.  By now we were really feeling pampered.

Riad Ksar Ighnda

  I don't know that I would have found all these wonderful places on my own, which is another great reason to use a tour company.  Tourism is big business in Morocco but don't let that deter you - come and visit!

This blog was never intended to be a "travel blog", lord knows there are so many of those out there. Nor was it intended to be a "sailing blog" as the blogosphere is saturated with those as well. Rather, I started writing some things and sharing some photos as a way to keep our family and friends informed as to our current whereabouts.  And that is still what I do ... but I have to say I loved Morocco.  And so I want to share more of Morocco but in another post.