Imagine this: it is 2 AM on the day, I have one too many tagine pictures on Instagram, and I book a flight to Morocco.
Photo by Sergey Pesterev on UnsplashThat urge brought about life-altering mayhem, spice-scented souks that eat you up, blue streets requesting selfies, Sahara stars softening like urban candles, and the locals pouring mint tea like kin. Morocco is not a tour; it is a change of mood that recharges your soul.
In case Jetset Times discovers some hot spots in the world, such as a door to be used in secret in Paris, or the Siberian churches, the ultimate secret location is Morocco, which will be kicked down to the ground.
Through my Middle East Trips, it’s the destination that hit me the hardest, the one that stays with you long after you leave. This is my emotional overview of places that captured my heart, including my own misfortunes and miracles.
Marrakech
Jemaa el-Fnaa Square Magic
The heart of Marrakech beats in Jemaa el-Fnaa, naa snake charmers hypnotizing cobras, mythtellers telling heroic tales, food carts sizzling sheep heads in the evening. I drank fresh orange juice on a penny, avoided being caught by monkey trainers and was captivated by the uninhibited madness. Nights explode into sunsets of orange juice; tip: get there when you are hungry to have harira soup.
Medina Riads and Palaces
An alley of Medina concealed my paradise of a riad—courtyard fountain gurgling, rooftop minaret scene, interminable mint tea ceremonies with Berber masters whose family recipes they give.
Morocco travel packages make discovering these gems seamless. The zellige tiles and the green gardens of the Bahia Palace made me feel that I was in the times of sultans; the golden rooms and the mausoleums with the ghostly atmosphere of the Saadian Tombs made my spine shiver. Getting lost here? The most brilliant error of all—fell on artisan laboratories making lanterns to order.
Majorelle Garden Escape
The cobalt blues of Yves Saint-Laurent in Majorelle would include soaring cacti, calm pools, and the Berber Museum hidden within, with the ancient jewelry exhibitions. I spent hours and hours drawing vines to get out of the medina. Combined with the nearby Yves museum of fashion history; morning visits are better than tour buses.
Fes
Chouara Tannery Spectacle
The Chouara vats of Fes medina foamed with dyes of the rainbow–drying leathers overhead, like abstract pictures. The stale odour is harsh (mint leaves under nose save lives!), but the panorama of leather shops? Famous; bargained for my camel-leather bag on location as a steal.
Bou Inania Madrasa Glow
The emerald tiles and exquisitely turned cedar spiraled stairways were divine in this Quranic school– silent reverence with the distant chants of the students felt divine. Fine stucco work completed with Alhambra, and I followed designsforn hours, fascinated by the art of craftsmanship.
Nejjarine Museum Marvels
There are wooden doors, fancy fountains, carpentry implements in a remodelled caravanserai– Fes craftsmanship is immortal. The oldest city was growing golden at the time of dusk with rooftop views of the medina; the smallest cafe next door offered the best pastilla pie.
Mechoui Night Markets
Slow-roasted street mechoui Lamb, meat juicy, smoky, heave,n and shovelled by hand right off the platters. Local people exchanged bites, dishes served family-style; made new acquaintances their immediate friends as they laughed and called out to pray.
Chefchaouen
Blue Alley Wanderings
The blue walls of Chefchaouen were full of goats napping on the rooftops and cats napping in doorways; every niche in the building is painted like a picture.
Middle East Trips makes exploring these dreamy streets effortless. I was in aimless roaming hours, clicking my camera, waving at the locals, shyly smiling through their windows.
Ras El Maa Waterfall Chill
Fetched picnicking by this foaming torrent–neighbours bathed in the water, I walked in the icy holes. Minor and sharp climb was a profitable misty rainbows and mountain air that cleared the city haze in a few seconds.
Sahara Desert
Erg Chebbi Dune Treks
Footprints were swallowed by the golden waves of Merzouga in half a moment-the camel trod calmly to his camp as the sun sank into the dunes. Sandboarding off huge slopes, giggling out of control; running barefoot at twilight, cooled feet in the most perfect.
Luxury Desert Camps
There were glamping tents lit with lanterns and feasts of Berber tagine that were followed by drum circles underthe Milky Way explosion. Hot air balloon, pre-dawn, was silently floating on endless ripples–utterly speechless, including tears of awe.
Essaouira
Seafood Port Feasts
And grilled sardines sprinkled with charmoula sauce in busy stalls–sweetest bite of the ocean that can be imagined. Tall stories were exchanged at every plate by fishermen; boats were manned, and the daily load of boats was watched at daybreak.
Kitesurfing Waves
Atlantic wind blasts propelled novice classes–and in another instant, plunging on white foam, shouting pure triumph. Fortifications completely encircled each wipeout-turned-victory session.
Medina Art Galleries
Hippie studios of painters poured colorful canvases in the streets; Skala du Port cannons were seen over smashing waves. The filming locations in Game of Thrones, Astapo,r provided the thrill to the movie.
Hidden Gems
Ouarzazate Kasbahs
The mud fortress of Ait Benhaddou, which featured in Gladiator, was a place to climb towers to have a view of the valley, and to become a movie hero. Close to the labyrinths in Taourirt Kasbah, there were patios concealed.
Todra Gorges Thrills
Huge limestone walls which rose 500m begged climbs–trailed by hike bases with the distant goat callings. Amateur climbers were tempted by natural rock formations. Even amateur climbers feel tempted by the natural rock formations—experiences often woven into adventurous Morocco travel packages designed for both thrill-seekers and first-timers.
