It’s Off to Morocco

I lately have gotten fascinated with Morocco. A presentation on travel to Morocco at a local travel store convinced my wife and me that we should make it our next international destination. As a kid, I remember hearing about cities with exotic names like Casablanca, Tangier, Marrakesh and Fez, having no idea where they were. Because of the internet and travel publications, we now know more about what makes Morocco unique: the bustling, rambling medinas, tajines cooked in earthenware, cone-shaped namesake vessels, tile mosaics of great intricacy and pattern, argan tree-climbing goats, tanneries of Fez, Berber villages, camel treks in the Sahara Desert. How could we not experience all this?

We came across a tour company that specializes in Morocco tours. Experience It Tours is headquartered in the U.S. and has an office in Fez. They presented us with an itinerary to fit our budget. We would be met by a personal driver in Casablanca who would take us around the country over a span of 17 days. There would be stops in Rabat, Chefchaouen, ancient Roman ruins of Volubilis, Meknes, Fez (Fes), Erfoud, the Sahara, Todra and Dades gorges, Skoura, Ouarzazate, Taroudant, Essaouira, Marrakesh (Marrakech), El Jadida and back to Casablanca. Talk about sampling Morocco in all its splendid variety.

Join me as I write in the coming weeks about the sights, sounds and smells of this North African kingdom. Those of you who’ve read my posts before know that I’ll be looking forward to the food, too.

(The images above are borrowed from wikipedia.)