Silence is golden. I can't remember the first time I heard the expression or the last time I've used it, but it seems appropriate to describe the feeling of being "off-line" over the past couple weeks. The reason: I've spent the past fourteen days with the people most important to me over the years (save my brother and my woman): my family.
The six of us able to make the trip kept busy seeing sites new and old courtesy of a well-used rental van and strategically-place "Ibis" hotels and started to familiarize with Morocco by guidebook, well-intentioned guides, other tourists and helpful locals across the country. Broken into four mini-tours to the country's capital, south, middle and northern areas, my family's orientation to "my second country" was a compilation of contrasts that mirrored the country itself.
Between rumbling up and down four different mountain ranges and cruising along two different coasts, we were drenched in cold rain atop camel while exiting the desert and baked under an unrelenting sun during a bird-watching boat ride. Locals brushed by us in unending waves by foot and atop motor scooter and donkey cart one day while only waves of golden sand scurried by us another. Good food and bad, smooth drives and treacherous river crossings met us along the way.
Our schedule was ambitious (as you'll see shortly), and I'm proud of the way my guests kept open and interested minds amidst the different culture and traditions they all experienced for the first time. But, if I've taken anything away from this trip, its a little motivation after seeing my grandmother and her husband, Al, make it through every part of the visit.
If I even make it to my eighties, I hope to just continue breathing, hold my bowels and get some visits from the people in my life, much less travel across an ocean, hop on a camel for four hours, climb countless kasbah stairs and sit in the back (back) seat of a broken-in, manual van for ten days (and close to forty hours). Thanks for the inspiration you two - you did great!
In a nutshell, here's what we did and what you can look forward to in the next few postings! The format is: Trip Number/Day, City: Sites or Brief Description.
1/1, Rabat: Chellah, The Hassan Mausoleum, Tombs of Hassan II and Mohammad V, Oudaya.
2/2-3, Marrakesh: Jamaa L'Fna, Koutoubia Mosque, Museum of Marrakesh, Ali Ben Youssef Madrasa, Kouba Ba'adin, Carriage Ride, Majorelle Gardens, Carriage Ride, Saadian Tombs.
2/3, Tizi n'Tichka: Drove over the Highest Mountain Pass in Morocco.
2/3, Ait Benhaddou: Walked up to the Kasbah from Gladiator, Jewel of the Nile, Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth, and others.
2/3-4, Ourzazate: Atlas Studio Productions Tour, Movie Museum of Morocco, Kasbah Taourirt from Star Wars.
2/4, Dra'a Valley: Towns of Agdz, Zagora (52 Days to Timbuktu), Palm Tree Wadis and Rolling Mountains.
2/4-5, M'Hamid: Erg Chigaga Desert and Camel Tour.
2/5, Tazenakh: River Crossing atop Flatbed Wrecker.
2/5-6, Agadir: Beach, Port, Saadian Kasbah and City Overlook.
2/6, Essaouira: Beach, Mogador Island.
2/6, Al-Jedida: Coast (drove thru only).
3/8, Volubilis: Largest and most Preserved Roman Ruins in Morocco.
3/8, Meknes: Imperial City under Moulay Ismail (drove thru only).
3/8-9, Fes: Bab Bajloud, The Old Medina, Cafe Clock, The Water Clock, The Bou Inania Medrasa, The Art d'Bronze, The Wood Workers' Alley, The Small Tanneries, The Metal Workers' Alley, The Qaraoiyn Mosque, David and Gaelle's Place, The Barj Nord and Weapons Museum, The Merined Tombs.
3/9, Ifrane: Al-Akhawayn Universtiy, The Stone Lion.
4/11, Moulay Boussalham: Merja Zerga Bird Sanctuary.
4/11-12, Tangier: Small Port, Cap Spartel, Grotto of Hercules, Hafa Cafe, Grand Socco.
4/12, Sebta (Spain): Spanish Fort, Plaza of Africa, House of the Dragons.
4/12, Tetouan: Old Spanish Capital (drove thru only).
Given this itinerary and the limited number of guides used throughout it, I consider myself "tour-qualified." Feel free to make a trip over here and see this great country for yourself!
Day One of the Moroccan Vacation: (from left) Al, Grandma, Mom, Dad, Megan
The six of us able to make the trip kept busy seeing sites new and old courtesy of a well-used rental van and strategically-place "Ibis" hotels and started to familiarize with Morocco by guidebook, well-intentioned guides, other tourists and helpful locals across the country. Broken into four mini-tours to the country's capital, south, middle and northern areas, my family's orientation to "my second country" was a compilation of contrasts that mirrored the country itself.
Part of the Rif Mountains towering over the Mediterranean.
Between rumbling up and down four different mountain ranges and cruising along two different coasts, we were drenched in cold rain atop camel while exiting the desert and baked under an unrelenting sun during a bird-watching boat ride. Locals brushed by us in unending waves by foot and atop motor scooter and donkey cart one day while only waves of golden sand scurried by us another. Good food and bad, smooth drives and treacherous river crossings met us along the way.
One of the First Trucks willing to forge the gushing spillway we later crossed atop a Flatbed Wrecker.
Our schedule was ambitious (as you'll see shortly), and I'm proud of the way my guests kept open and interested minds amidst the different culture and traditions they all experienced for the first time. But, if I've taken anything away from this trip, its a little motivation after seeing my grandmother and her husband, Al, make it through every part of the visit.
"The Silvers" (as they were affectionately referred to), looking for signs of Hercules in his rumored Grotto.
If I even make it to my eighties, I hope to just continue breathing, hold my bowels and get some visits from the people in my life, much less travel across an ocean, hop on a camel for four hours, climb countless kasbah stairs and sit in the back (back) seat of a broken-in, manual van for ten days (and close to forty hours). Thanks for the inspiration you two - you did great!
In a nutshell, here's what we did and what you can look forward to in the next few postings! The format is: Trip Number/Day, City: Sites or Brief Description.
1/1, Rabat: Chellah, The Hassan Mausoleum, Tombs of Hassan II and Mohammad V, Oudaya.
2/2-3, Marrakesh: Jamaa L'Fna, Koutoubia Mosque, Museum of Marrakesh, Ali Ben Youssef Madrasa, Kouba Ba'adin, Carriage Ride, Majorelle Gardens, Carriage Ride, Saadian Tombs.
2/3, Tizi n'Tichka: Drove over the Highest Mountain Pass in Morocco.
2/3, Ait Benhaddou: Walked up to the Kasbah from Gladiator, Jewel of the Nile, Lawrence of Arabia, Jesus of Nazareth, and others.
2/3-4, Ourzazate: Atlas Studio Productions Tour, Movie Museum of Morocco, Kasbah Taourirt from Star Wars.
2/4, Dra'a Valley: Towns of Agdz, Zagora (52 Days to Timbuktu), Palm Tree Wadis and Rolling Mountains.
2/4-5, M'Hamid: Erg Chigaga Desert and Camel Tour.
2/5, Tazenakh: River Crossing atop Flatbed Wrecker.
2/5-6, Agadir: Beach, Port, Saadian Kasbah and City Overlook.
2/6, Essaouira: Beach, Mogador Island.
2/6, Al-Jedida: Coast (drove thru only).
3/8, Volubilis: Largest and most Preserved Roman Ruins in Morocco.
3/8, Meknes: Imperial City under Moulay Ismail (drove thru only).
3/8-9, Fes: Bab Bajloud, The Old Medina, Cafe Clock, The Water Clock, The Bou Inania Medrasa, The Art d'Bronze, The Wood Workers' Alley, The Small Tanneries, The Metal Workers' Alley, The Qaraoiyn Mosque, David and Gaelle's Place, The Barj Nord and Weapons Museum, The Merined Tombs.
3/9, Ifrane: Al-Akhawayn Universtiy, The Stone Lion.
4/11, Moulay Boussalham: Merja Zerga Bird Sanctuary.
4/11-12, Tangier: Small Port, Cap Spartel, Grotto of Hercules, Hafa Cafe, Grand Socco.
4/12, Sebta (Spain): Spanish Fort, Plaza of Africa, House of the Dragons.
4/12, Tetouan: Old Spanish Capital (drove thru only).
Given this itinerary and the limited number of guides used throughout it, I consider myself "tour-qualified." Feel free to make a trip over here and see this great country for yourself!
Do I hear a second career calling? If you own your own tour guide business, you can take your dog to work with you...
ReplyDelete