One of the many things I love about Morocco is that it’s so eye filling; She is never short of charming towns and cities. Hours spent on the road to get to one, to me is worth the journey. Just like how it was worth the four-hour trip by bus from Fez to the blue city... Continue Reading →
A favorite stay: Dar Mounir
Parts of what made my trips to Morocco interesting are stays in real homes or riads or little inns in the medina. Each place had its own character and appeal that add to a memorable experience in a particular place. One such stay was in Dar Mounir in Chefchaouen. The charming inn is located very near the... Continue Reading →
A welcoming sanctuary- Moulay Idriss
It was past six in the evening but the sun still shone brightly. We were at the market square after just having trekked the peaceful and compact town of Moulay Idriss. There was a time when tourists who dared visit were advised to leave by 3pm. Until the middle of the 20th century, non-Muslims... Continue Reading →
Le Patio Bleu
It was a refreshing break to be in Patio Bleu, a restaurant in the middle of the Fes medina after walking around the souks the entire morning. I was so tired that by noontime, all I wanted was to go back to the hotel and rest. But upon entering Le Patio, I somehow got my... Continue Reading →
The rhythm of Old Fez
“ Balak!” a man yelled as he dragged his mule through one of the busy alleys. I remember being hollered at twice in one day. “Balak” means, “get out of the way”. Sometimes, you can’t help but get caught in the middle of the action on a street in the old medina of Fez. It’s... Continue Reading →
Camel Burger + Mint Tea please
I remember some of us saying we needed to do it together as if it were some really daring exploit; to snack on Camel Burger. The normal way it's done is to buy the meat from the butcher and then have it cooked in a place where... Continue Reading →
Towering grace
Its size gave us the impression that we were near but it took us some time to walk across the massive and extremely windy open space before we got close to the Hassan II Mosque. The mosque is one of the few in Morocco that allows non-Muslims entry and while my friends and I didn’t... Continue Reading →
Essaouira
This happened more than twice as I walked around town. Local: "konnichiwa" Me: I continue to walk Local: “ni-hao” I continue to walk. Local: Starts to follow me “Konnichiwa” Me: “I’m not Japanese” Local: “No Japan? Chinois?” Me: I try to keep from smiling. “Not Chinese” Local: "Asiatique?” Me: “ Yes. Filipino” Local: Puzzled, slows down. Me: I look back, smiling as I... Continue Reading →
Sleepless in the Sahara
I was so glad I chose the front seat as we boarded the 4x4s that would take us to Erg Chigaga; quite sore from the painful camel ride, those at the back shrieked or laughed helplessly at each nasty bump during yet another rough ride as we sped over the rocky desert. We drove further south,... Continue Reading →
Humpy Bumpy
I have always wanted to ride a camel in the Desert. The time finally came in M’hamid, a small village in the edge of the Sahara. Our group leader said the ride would take an hour through desert oases and tiny villages before we transfer to 4WD's that will take us further out to the... Continue Reading →