-What a first impression! I arrived into town at night and hopped a city bus to the center of town with 2 American kids I met from the plane. We were dropped off at Plaza Jema’ el Fna, which the guidebook says is “the busiest plaza in all of Africa.” Busy is an understatement! We walked into the most bustling, interesting places I’ve ever seen. (and was a Wednesday night!) We saw over a hundred food stalls spewing smoke from their grills, veiled ladies trying to grab my hand to paint a henna design on it, real snake charmers (complete with turbaned men and a dancing rattlesnake), storytellers and singers surrounded by an entranced audience. It was something else that’s for sure.
-I don’t usually experience intense culture shock when I travel, but I was in awe of everything I saw at first. Morocco was the first Muslim/African/desert place I’ve ever been to. I really did see women that were covered completely head to toe, even gloved hands, all I could see was the whites of their eyes. The men of Morocco were very interested in a single American girl traveling solo; it was not my favorite to get some many blatant reactions to me, yelling after me down the street, I had to pretend I didn’t hear them.
-So needless to say, I was very grateful to meet up with some people I know (friends from Texas including our burly 6 footer friend Jim (the catcalls decreased substantially when he escorted us girls!) We headed to Essaouira, a beach town that hosts an annual music festival we went to. It was great fun, dancing in the crowds to the music outside. And although it is a beach town, it was wicked cold at times, mostly due to the wind “The Windy City” is what they call the town.
-The hotels to stay at in Morocco are called “riads” and they generally cost around $25-$30 a person and they are nothing short of amazing! Most of them are arranged around an open square (often with a fountain) in the middle, and the majority (all?) of them have these ultra-plush lounges on the top terrace. There are lovely couches and pillows and a tent for shade and tables and umbrellas, they are made for lounging. Beautiful!
-The food was an adventure! I took a lot of risks (a few too many says my stomach) and ate lots of street stall food because it looked so good (and for the most part tasted good too.) I ate snails in broth and kebabs and lots of fesh squeezed OJ for 30 cents and I think I must’ve drank 30 glasses of Moroccan tea (a sweet mint tea they drink at all hrs) I only got sick once, which is lucky, considering.
-All in all, I loved the country, and the people were super friendly (a little too friendly at times!) I know that 5 days in an exotic land is not nearly enough! I’d love to go back, loaded with thousands of dollars to spend on all the lovely trinkets and jewelry and shoes and bags (etc.) and accompanied by 5 burly intimidating bodyguards on all sides of me. I can dream, can't I?
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