It has been a little more than a year since we dropped our son, “Karim,” off at Boston’s Logan Airport where he began his journey to Morocco as a Peace Corps volunteer. While modern technology has kept us well-connected, we yearned to see him in person and experience a slice of his life there.
Our reunion took place in Marrakech, a crazy, bustling place. We walked to the old medina through unmarked streets that were filled with scooters and exhaust-spewing cars — this is a developing country after all. Between the sights, sounds, and smells, and the joy of being with our son again, it was a lot to take in. The camera stayed in Paul’s knapsack.
The next morning, we climbed into our rental car and headed to Essaouira, a beach town. Much less intense than Marrakech, it was a good place to start our journey. Karim has friends there, who are also in the Peace Corps.
The name of the riad where we stayed, Les Matins Bleus, reflected the town’s color scheme.
Tourists’ jackets also reflected the decor.
The blue carried to the waterfront, where Paul took over camera duty and captured the fishing boats.
At the docks you can buy fish directly from the fishermen. Then, back in the medina, stop at the market for vegetables, before taking these purchases to a restaurant where they grill your food to perfection and serve it to you with bread – which also functions as your knife, fork, and spoon.
Eating in Morocco is a communal event: not a lot of cutlery or plates required.
The next leg of our trip took us back towards Marrakech and over the Atlas Mountains to my son’s site in Tinghir, where the real adventure began.
Beautiful photographs!
Thank you Jennifer and welcome!
Tantalizing photographs and story! I love the Essaouira blues. Did you get to the beach there to stick your toes in the Mediterranean? What a great idea…shop for your own fresh fish and vegetables and take them to a restaurant that will grill them and serve them to you! So many times have I, when travelling, had to forego treasures in outdoor markets because I had no place to cook them. The photographs of the goats grazing up in the trees are delightful…I’d like to print them and put them on my wall.
Looking forward to more! thank you, Judith (and Paul)
Hi Leslie, We did take a walk on the beach — too cold though to take our shoes off. But it was interesting to be on the opposite side of the Atlantic! Those goats were crazy! The first time we drove by some, Paul though that someone had thrown some goatskins up into a tree!
It is a great honor for us that you write about Morocco and its people in this way. And I think that this reception and good treatment by Moroccan people is very normal;These are the Moroccans!
Entertainment of visitors is their motto
so you’re welcome in any time!!
Kaoutar, thank you for your comment. It was such a joy to meet so many of Karim’s students. I plan to write more posts and focus on what I learned from the people I met in Morocco — people like you!
Gorgeous. A place I’ve never visited, that holds so much mystery and beauty.
Thanks, D.A.! So funny that you left this while I was engrossed in your Mad Men analysis — now that we are home, we have some catching up to do!
More, more, more please! Although now I am starving. 😉 Such beautiful photographs…this makes me want to head to the airport right this minute.
Glad you are home safe and sound.
I really love this!
Hi,
just want to thank you for a beautiful post – and fantastic images!
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