People often ask my what my favorite travel destination is and I have a hard time answering. Among my favorites are Vietnam, Peru, and France, but the country that I always come back to is Morocco. I’m lucky to have traveled to Morocco once in college and have since escorted two groups of Amazing Journeys travelers. And guess what – I just fall in love with it more and more every time. I want to share why with you, but while pulling pictures for this email I had such a hard time narrowing it down. Why 6 reasons? I tried to have my Top 5 but I just couldn’t narrow it down. And I got lost deciding which of our photos to share with you. Should I include the bright blue door or the intricate mosaic work? Should I include an intricate keyhole doorway or detailed golden doors? The beauty of sand dunes across the desert or the shock of tents with chandeliers inside? There are just so many amazing things around every corner!
Colors – Morocco is filled with colors of the landscape (blue skies, orange sand dunes, green date trees), colors of buildings (bright aqua doors, intricate green and yellow mosaic walls and floors, the iconic blue of the Majorelle gardens), and beautiful Moroccan goods (richly colored rugs, hand-painted pottery, brightly-dyed leather slippers). The colors of Morocco are anything but neutral, and I’m here for it! It’s a feast for the eyes and truly a photographer’s dream.
Grandeur – Archways taller than houses and grand entry gates, towering brass doors, palaces covered in mosaics – this country is filled with incredible craftsmanship and grandeur.
Food – Let’s be honest, who doesn’t experience a new country through their food? If you’ve never had tagine, you are in for a treat. Cooked over an open fire in a large clay dish with a pointed lid, tagine looks just as beautiful as it tastes. Spiced vegetables, flavorful olives and warm mint tea to welcome visitors are just some of the highlights. But my personal favorite? For breakfast, there are these small, squarish crepes with lots of layers called msemen. You can eat them with ham or syrup or peel them apart and eat them on their own and boy are they delicious.
Camping/Glamping – Okay, hear me out on this one. We take a jeep ride far out into the desert when out of nowhere, a small group of tents comes into sight – just like a mirage. When we get there and go inside our tent, you will discover that they have king-sized beds, gorgeous lights from the ceiling, running water (yes, a shower in each “tent”), and electricity (yes, you can charge your cell phone). They are amazing! And in the middle of nowhere. We will share a delicious meal prepared by the fantastic team who works there, and we will share in a drum circle at night. I guarantee everyone will be up dancing by the end. And when we wake up the next morning? Yep, we get to ride camels across the sand dunes! It’s a dream come true.
Shopping – I don’t typically shop much when I travel but when I come back from Morocco by bags are bursting at the seams. Hand-painted pottery, brass light fixtures and teapots, vintage rugs, tapestries, colorful babouche (leather slippers) and so many other beautiful, unique, hand-made goods. Even if you’re not a shopper, you will have fun wandering the aisles of the souk, checking out all of the fun things to see. It’s quite an experience.
Jewish History – there is so much Jewish history in Morocco. Did you know that Jews began immigrating to the region nearly 2000 years ago? Because of that, there are fascinating synagogues and history all over the country. From a synagogue in Casablanca that operates today to a small one in Fes that dates back to the 17 century with a subterranean mikveh and a blue and white mosaic-covered synagogue in Marrakech, they are all so different and wonderful. We visit a cemetery which looks unlike any cemetery I’ve ever seen before. And throughout the trip, we learn about how Jews have operated in Moroccan society and government through to the modern day. Wherever we travel in the world, visiting the local synagogues and communities are always some of our most memorable visits.
I could go on and on – as I’m sure you can tell – but alas, I will stop here. If you’ve never considered a visit to Morocco, I encourage you to check it out. And if you’re considering it, I highly (highly) encourage you to come with us on the amazing journey to Morocco in May. Whether you’re a foodie, an art-enthusiast, a photographer, a lover of cultures, a shopper, or any other type of traveler, you are in for an experience of a lifetime. To see some of the things we’ll be seeing and doing on our trip, click here to watch a little video we’ve put together for you.
We hope to see you soon in this amazing part of the world!
Stacey
