I cannot believe our vacation is over; it feels like it was yesterday that we started planning it.
Marrakech is an old city made beautiful by the kindhearted people who live there. Much of it (old and new) looks like it’s crumbling, and in significant decay, but it is not as dirty as one would expect. There is virtually no garbage on the streets! People seem to hose down their sidewalks every morning. I never saw cat or dog poo anywhere (they have poo bags for the horses and mules). We didn’t see roaches or rats during our entire stay (other than the occasional fly and wasp), and we walked through the oldest parts of town, back alleys and short cuts. I can honestly say I never smelled garbage or urine — you can’t say that about New York, Paris or even Toronto. Don’t get me wrong, the city is not clean (no major centre is) but it certainly did not have the dirtiness and litter I was expecting!
The weather was neither as warm or as cold as we were expecting. The first few days we were greeted by rain and chilling winds from the mountains, then the rains ended and the sky opened up to a gorgeous blue, without clouds to showcase the warm bright sun. Now those were the temperatures we expected. But the evenings grew chilly and we had our lovely wood burning fireplace on in our room a few times (no central heat).
The traffic is chaos but somehow everyone knows what to do, organized chaos. The Moroccans sure make good use if their horns, our 10 minute ride from the Casablanca Train Station, the cabby honked a minimum of 30 times, I stopped counting! Motorbikes don’t seem to have to obey the traffic lights; they can even ride on the sidewalks which shouldn’t surprise me as pedestrians walk all over the roads everywhere! Pedestrian cross walks mean nothing. You hold your breath and pray and as you walk with a purposeful stride across a busy city street you should be OK (kinda like walking across the Broadway Manhattan!). Strangely enough there were no issues. I wasn’t even nudged by a speeding vehicle once, but JT tells me he was nudged a couple of times! The trick is to keep moving at the same rate and not make quick changes, the drivers can then estimate where you will be when he reaches you!
The people of Morocco have the kindest hearts of any other people we’ve ever met. Strangers stopped us on the street to offer us directions, they helped us with our bags on and off the trains, with no expectations in return. They seem to genuinely want us to be happy. Sure, there are the desperate ones but few and far between. The markets are cut-throat and I have come to accept that the one’s in these souks are just desperate to make a living – aren’t we all? Some of us with more desperation than others.
The people of Morocco have an incredible pride in their country and their city and it shows when they talk about it. Even the cabbies in their old beat up Mercedes Benzes talk about their city as if they have been appointed the Royal Tour Guide, pointing out the highlights along our trek. In Toronto, you’d best know how to get to your destination because it’s unlikely the cabby will, let alone know what the highlights along the way are! In fact, in Toronto, you’re lucky if they speak English. In Morocco, they generally speak Arabic and French, sometimes English. They always try to communicate with you.
This vacation has really taught me the true kindness of strangers in a far away land. I’ve always appreciated what we have, but it’s all only stuff. The Moroccans seem to have this true kindness and peace within, that doesn’t rely on stuff. It’s really quite lovely.
This type of holiday is not for everyone with the noise and chaos of the streets, but it is a good eye opener for us Westerners.
Thank you for taking this journey with me, I hope that one day you will be able to travel to Morocco to enjoy their kindness and generosity first hand. Shokrohm (thank you in Arabic) ey Merci (in French).
Back to reality and a synopsis
November 14, 2011 by Eva Taylor
It does indeed seem just a few days ago that you were planning the trip and looking forward to it so much. Still – if good things never ended there’d be nothing to truly enjoy and look forward to! You’ve made me want to visit the country myself – it sounds truly wonderful and I’m pleased you had a good time too!
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Thanks Charles. It’s a short flight from Paris. Although I would reco, if you can, to fly into Marrakech, or Fes; other than the mosque in Casa not much else to see/do.
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I totally understand how you’re feeling right now, after a vacation! You take a long time planning and visualizing your itinerary and stuffs like that, and wondering when the trip would ever come (as you feel like it’s never coming!)
and then when it comes, it just whizzes past you and it’s all over in a blink of an eye and you find yourself missing the whole trip (and the planning!)
Don’t worry about the jetlag, at least it reminds you of your trip…hehehe 😀
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Thanks for dropping by Christy. It sure is nice to be home, and you’re right, I forget my holidays all too quickly.
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Welcome back Eva! It sounds like you had a wonderful vacation there! 😀 Hope the jetlag fixes itself speedily 🙂
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Thank you Lorraine, I hope I get over the jet lag real soon, day three and I’m still waking up at 4am!
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What a GREAT trip! I think it’s wonderful that the people were so lovely. Such a lovely aspect to the vacation! (It’s funny – we’re on line at the same time! I just noticed that)
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Thanks Ann. It was crazy busy at work, so I had to catch up tonight. I’m still jet lagging!
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wow1 how many posts did I miss here?!?..looks like that was a wonderful holiday you had..Im gonna go home and sit and read all of them 🙂
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Thanks Manju, I had more internet access than I thought I would. Plus the iPhone i such an amazing tool! Hope you enjoy them.
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Thanks for sharing the entire trip with us and you’ve definitely put Morocco on my list of places to visit. Cheers!
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Hmmmm, maybe I should get royalties ;-)!
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A beautiful synopsis Eva! I’m so glad that you enjoyed your trip and found so many wonderful and warm hearted people along the way. That always makes trips so much more fun. 🙂 Welcome home!
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Thanks Kristy. I can hardly wait to see all our pics on the big screen.
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All facts considered, I’d say you had a truly marvelous time! And, thanks to you, we were there with you, just about every step of the way. As wonderful as your holiday was and as short as it seemed, I bet it felt good to rest your head on your own pillow again. Some things never change. 🙂
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Thanks John. Now if only my head would understand that I need not get up at 4am Toronto time (9am Moroccan time)!
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It sounded fun, but after a week in NOLA I think we’re going somewhere quiet next time. Seriously, I’m so impressed you blogged the entire trip too!
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Hi Greg, I loved NOLA but you’re right, excitement ALL the time! I feel like I need a holiday too! Thanks for the compliment on blogging through our holidays; it was easy, my iPhone is an amazing tool, WordPress delivered an Ap that made it seamless and most of our Ryads did not have TV or radio (not that I understand Arabic, anyway!) WIFI in our Ryad was very convenient, not sure how dedicated I would have been if I had to trek down to an internet cafe.
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It does seem that your holiday has sped past in a tremendous rush. But you have had an incredible experience and been to places most of us could only dream about. Thanks for sharing your journey – it’s been so entertaining and informative. Best wishes settling in back into your daily routine.
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Thanks Charlie Louie, it was a blast. We know we are very fortunate to have had this opportunity.
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