Four Days and Counting

Monday, September 27, 2010
Columbia, Maryland, United States
I'm getting ready for my next grand adventure. In less than a week I'm off to Morocco to explore the country from Casablanca to Marrakesh.   From the roman ruins of Volubilis, to the souks of Fes, and tents in the Saraha, it will be a time of discovery with visits to kasbahs, medinas, mosques, oases, souks, and maybe a hamman or two.  From the Atlantic Coast through the Middle Atlas, to the High Atlas and on to the Southern Oases, there will be amazing scenery, interesting people, and probably some surprises. 

The trip will begin with a flight to Casablanca, via Paris. We will travel to Rabat, then Fes with stops at Volubilis and Meknes. Then we will journey through the Middle Atlas mountains on the way to Erfoud. Next we will travel by 4 x 4 vehicles to a tented camp in the sand dunes of the Sahara near Daya El Maider .  After two nights in the desert we will return to civilization in the oasis town of Tineghir, then on to Ouarzazate and a stop at the Dades Gorge before reaching Marrakesh, then returning to Casablanca. But the trip does not end there, because our final post-trip excursion will be to the seaside town of Essaouira where we will have an opportuinty to learn about Argon Oil, Thuya wood, and Gnaoua music and dance.

I'm glad that I've had time to do a little pre-trip study and learn that Medina means town in Arabic, Kasbahs are fortified castles, and souks are markets. I'm looking forward to drinking lots of mint tea, eating delicious food with my fingers using only my right hand, and maybe actually learning to pronounce some of the exotic place names.

Last week, I received the final trip documents . Then I got a PHONE CALL from our group leader Abdelkader (call him Ab). He wanted to know if I had any questions about the trip. I was so surprised to receive a phone call from Tangiers that I couldn't think of a thing to ask!

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Comments

Marianne
2010-09-28

this really sounds like an exciting and very interesting trip; I'll be following your blog while you're gone waiting to hear the colorful stories. Think of me home here working and then swinging a hammer or much worse in New Orleans for a week. Have a great time.

Lori
2010-09-29

Sounds like a blast and a half, Aunt Mimi! So when we rock the kasbah, the walls come tum-bl-in' tum-blin'. Well, hopefully not; Sharif don't like it ;)

I'll be following your stories and sharing on the map/globe with my kiddos. Kelsey & Talon & the other 28. Don't have to tell you, I know you'll have fun!

2025-02-08

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