Sensory Overload.

Only a tiptoe away from Spain, and you find yourself in a completely different world.

The language is Arabic, the money is Dirham, the dress is Hijab, the religion is Muslim…

Morocco.

Spice, dust, fabrics, vendors, henna, motos, coconuts, camels, markets, mosques, gypsies…

Just living, breathing, walking Moroccan life overwhelms the senses. Throw away the map, when you’re lost just follow the last “familiar smell.” Was it the Leather street, the Dye street, the Jasmine street, or the Orange street?

With our headscarves and beads, the only entertainment needed was a simple walk down the road (read: dusty, moto-crammed alley.) By Day 2 we were “regulars” in the city - known as “Fish&Chips, Spice Girls, Lemon&Chicken”…the list goes on. After mispronouncing every basic Arabic word, freaking out at the sight of a wooden camel, doing laps around the city on the reliance of strangers’ directions, almost getting sold for a half camel and 2 donkeys, and constantly bumping our heads on the small wooden doors, we gave up on any attempt to fit in with the locals. Laura’s bright blonde hair didn’t help our cause.

Nevermind that our only toilet was on the roof, or that we had rugs for beds, or that that tea replaced wine… Morocco, by a long shot, has been my favorite place to see.

For me, a step into this country was like entering a big bookstore… You thought you knew some stuff, then you realized how much more there is to discover. A sense of smallness comes over you - all of a sudden you want to see it all, know it all, live it all. [Thinking the whole time,“have I even traveled anywhere, at all, this year…???”]

My only regret was not staying longer - our limited weekend made the temptation of an excursion to the Sahara impossible.

Next time, for sure.

Ooooooooh Morocco. An adventure it was!

{Moroccan Market Life.}

{Exotic fruit juice. Standard}

{The Souk district. Good thing we view “getting lost” as a part of the adventure.}

{Constantly being involuntarily led by little boys trying to earn a Dirham – or 20 – to “show you way to Big Square”}

{Sometimes you find yourself on a Moroccan dark alley at night. Finding your way back to the Riad. Not recommended.}