“Epic” would be the word I use to describe our trip to Morocco. At the end of the trip, I was exhausted and ready to go home, yet still craving for more at the same time.
First of all, I can’t tell you everything about the trip. I just don’t have the words. I can’t describe how much the craziness of Marrakech hits you like a freight train and leaving you breathless, yet the Fes calms you likes the ocean waves; how all the different shades of blue that makes up Chefchaouen mesmerize you and you can’t stop staring at the walls; how getting lost in the 9,000 streets of the oldest medina can lead to the best smelly surprises of the leather tannery.
The opportunity to share my love of travel and exploring the world with Savanna is something that I wouldn’t trade for the world. What I didn’t expect is how well she traveled. She never complained about being bored. She explored every place we went to, tried all sorts of food, slept in different beds soundly through the night, and just generally enjoyed herself.
I tried editing the photos, but there are just too many. So, here are some mostly un-edited photos, loosely grouped in some sort of order. The camel ride pics are here.
Marrakech: Cooking Class at Amal Women’s Center
Proceeds are used to fund the NPO that trains abused women to cook and learn life skills so they can work and support themselves.
Saffrone
The ladies who work at the center
Our tagines cooking on coal fire
Finished product–which we ate for lunch.
Marrakech: Bahia Palace
Marrakech: Food
Sheep heads
Eating where the locals eat.
From left to right: sheep tongue, brain, and meat
Sheep tongue sandwich. Sooooo good.
“Pancakes” with onions. A lot like the Chinese green onion pancake without the green onions.
Fruits are weighed on the balance scale and sold. I ate some of the sweetest melons I have ever had.
Pastry shop
Marrakech: Random
Lamp shop in the souk
Window display of a barber shop
A random street outside of our riad (guest house)
The square in front of the mosque is covered with mats for prayer time
Fes: Medina and Leather Tannery
Fes medina–one of the biggest and oldest medinas in the world.
Inside the Fes medina
The empty streets of Fes medina, early in the morning
A section of the medina wall
Leather tannery–the big vats contain a mix of cow pee and pigeon poop to soften the leather, then later color is added to color the leather
Despite the smell, the tannery is a visual feast of colors.
Hanging the leather out to dry
Fes: Random
Moroccans LOOOVE children. Savanna had her cheeks pinched and kissed by so many strangers. This guy is our tour guide, and Savanna loved hanging out with him.
Savanna and Ali hanging out at the palace.
The details of brass work on the palace door. All hand made.
The door knob
Mosaic tile work
Hand painting pottery. After firing, the purple turns into blue.
Mosaic work
I REALLY wanted to take this mosaic table home
All hand made tagines of various sizes and colors
Chefchaouen
The small town is known for its blue walls.
Cats
Cats are absolutely everywhere in Morocco. They own the streets. If you are eating on a patio, they come and beg for food. If you don’t shut the terrace door of the riad, they get into the riad to make a mess.
Hands down, the funniest cat I have ever seen
They gather and wait under restaurant tables for scraps of food
The Westcoast Mama 