Ok in a Toronto heat wave (30+) , its hot, its sticky and we all complain... HOWEVER if I had known in Morocco that temperatures reached 50+ on a REGULAR basis I may have reconsidered my travel location (ok maybe not). But this heat is like no other I have ever experienced (and did I mention there is no AC). The best way for me show you what it felt like would be to turn the oven on to 400 degrees, make you stick your head in it, and then put a blow-dryer to the back of your neck… sweating yet? Join the club!
Perhaps one of the most common sites on any street corner, back alley, or souk stairwell is a fresh orange juice stand. This native fruit is freshly squeezed all over the country and for pennies a glass, one can drink fresh OJ morning, noon and night… beat that Tropicana!
My one area of caution…. The freshly squeezed juice is served in a glass cup so you have to drink it on the spot … sorry no take out, so come thirsty and ready to gulp!
Ok, I loved it here…loved loved loved! Perhaps dare I say it my fav place thus far (Marrakesh is still to come!). This laid back beach town was the perfect mix of casual and cool .. literally cool. Only reaching 35+ during the day and with a nice breeze off the lake, in Essaouira I could walk around and not use the phrase “it is so hot I feel like my skin is burning off”. Days were spent in the hassle free markets, lying out on the beach, exploring the UNESCO protected Medina walls and hanging out late night at surf bars with the locals. A must must in this costal town is having lunch in the fish market. Sweet and succulent, select a fresh fish right off the boat and they will fry it right up in front of you. SOOO yummy this was one of my fav things to do… served with Moroccan salad, fries and washed down with a Fanta it was a fabulous treat for my inner foodie!
The Todra Gorge was a welcomed break from the heat as our hotel was situated right in the heart of the Gorge (aka the SHADE). The beautiful natural rock formations brilliantly burst with color and the red and orange hues only intensified during our sunset hike (aka death defying rock climb). Perfect for pictures and simply to catch a moment of peace and quite, this gorgeous gorge is well worth stopping (and even staying over) for.
Drinking mint tea in Morocco is one of the most common sites and experiences that one will encounter. Not just for tourists, mint tea is a local staple and the tradition has spread north across the ocean to nearby Spain. The popularity of this has ranked Morocco amongst the top tea importers in the world. Made with green tea and fresh mint leaves, this highly caffeinated beverage boasts many health benefits including good digestion, soothing a sore throat and calming the nerves. While cooking is most commonly done by the women in the house, tea preparation is traditionally a man’s job. The ritual preparation or atai varies slightly across the country and the tea is always finished with a heaping helping of sugar! Interesting to note, the more north you are the sweeter the tea normally is. Although at first I found it difficult to drink such a sweet beverage, its sugary taste has long since grown on me and now I always look forward to tea time.
Morocco has many wonderful hikes from the simple inclined stroll to the death defying mountain side scale. Throughout my time here, I have been lucky enough to hike in the Chefchaouen countryside, the Sahara dunes, the Todra gorge and today the High Atlas Mountains. Far from a simple stroll, this 7 hour 15k hike up the switch backed mountain path was long, difficult in sections but oh so satisfying to summit. With a beautiful view, (including believe it or not SNOW!) and a goat filled peak, this day long hike was a wonderful break from the city shopping, the sweltering heat and the aggressive shop keepers!
(check out my turban)
Other than camel burgers, Fes is known for it's leather goods which are dyed in their local tanneries. Every morning HUGE vats of dye are filled and the fresh hides are dipped, dropped and drenched in the different pools of color. Red from poppies, Yellow from saffron, Blue from indigo and green from mint. The vats are lined up and together, the rainbow of colors yields the beautifully tinted leather goods we see today. Super stunning to visit my only word of caution is the odor from the fresh hides if awfully smelly. Bring a little fresh mint to sniff and your visit will be as sweet as can be!
ps.. the best time to go is first thing in the am, this is when the vats are filled and radiant with color!
There is nothing more beautiful then a stunning sandy beach except a stunning beach club on that sandy beach. A short trek from the grottes and a mile or so down from the beaches entrance, sits a lovely little seaside oasis that has simply captured my heart. With plush lounge chairs more comfortable than my bed and big luxurious umbrellas, this little piece of heaven was such a pleasant surprise. For 50d (5 euros..so cheep how could you resist) you can rent a lounger for the day and be pampered by the cute, clean cut cabana boys, a vision in white. Hungry? Never fear lunch is available from the sweet little seaside cafe at the club... I highly recommend the grilled calamari. It was so delicious and perfectly cooked. Washed down with a cola while keeping cool beneath the cabana shade.. really what could be better!
With little left to conquer in Tangiers, we decided to take a taxi to the grottes d'Hercule. This beautiful cave was onced quarried for milestones and now is most often used for private parties thrown by the local rich and famous. The cave itself is stunning but the main attraction for most is the look out. I however, was most in love with the beautiful nooks in the caves as they provided shelter from the hot Moroccon sun and a perfect place to do a little stretching!
Perched high on top of the kasbah in Tangier, sits a little oasis, so breathtakingly beautiful and lovely that one can't help but stop to rest their feet after a long day in the souk. With splendid views from their roof top patio, plush sofas, wonderful wicker furniture and a 10 washroom, it was such a treat to lounge here, rest my eyes and soak up the afternoon sun. You may have some difficulty finding the kasbah but don't get discouraged... just keep heading uphill and soon you will find it. Once at the very top be sure to and reward yourself with a cup of mint tea at Le salon bleu dar nour.... it was by far the best part of my day and my MUST DO in Tangier!
Needing a break from it all i have packed up and journeyed to a far off land.
