Moroccan Holiday

The first day in Morocco was definitely a culture shock. Busy streets, physically & verbally aggressive men every few inches, and an array of dialects and languages that are complicated to detect. Friendly or scammers? To be safe and not waste hundreds of dollars, you unfortunately have to assume everyone is going to scam you. At first I was naive, I thought the directions and helpful hints were genuine - but most of the time, you’re just viewed as an object (more specifically, an ATM). Beyond the constant harassment, Marrakech is a bustling city full of unique products, delicious food, and magnificent ruins. The mosaics are stunning and everywhere is full of character. The restaurants are cozy and nice places to catch your breathe. Simply put, Marrakech is exhausting to be in, so make sure you have a comfortable place to distress after a day of traveling. Furthermore, travel with a man - I hate to say it, but we were in danger multiple times when we left the hostel without our male friend. Coverup, respect the culture, and try to do your best to blend in (which is almost impossible for Americans).

Outside the major cities, we were relived to have such great experiences on both our pre-organized tours. Our first was three days to the Sahara Desert in Merzouga - an array of sceneries that were constantly varying in scope and landscape. “Glamping” in the desert was by far my favorite part of the trip, icing on the cake was the hours of camel riding to get there and the stargazing. Our second organized trip was to Agadir & Paradise Valley - just a day trip with a Berber cooking class included. The Berber people who guided us during both these trips were kind, flexible, and gave us an awesome experience to learn more about their culture. If you do not have time to plan in advance, organized tours are the way to go. Looking for directions in the streets makes you a target, so make sure you have a plan before leaving your riad. There’s countless tips and things I wish I knew before I went. Fortunately, we did a lot of planning and had a wonderful experience despite the chaos that is Marrakech. It’s a wonderful chaos, as long as you take the necessary steps to protect yourself.