It has been two weeks since my last update and so much has happened. At the end of January, my first visitor came to Morocco. My friend Raymond from USC arrived, and we rented a car to take on a cross-country road trip. We started on the Atlantic coast in Casablanca and drove nine hours east to the Sahara Desert, crossing through the High Atlas Mountains along the way. Our itinerary included stops in Midelt, Merzouga (Sahara Desert), Ouarzazate, and Marrakesh before heading back to Casablanca for Raymond’s flight on Monday. It was a lot to fit into just a few days, but the trip was incredible.
I never expected Morocco’s landscapes to be so mountainous. The mountains here are completely different from what I am used to. They are not covered in trees like the Great Smoky Mountains or the Appalachians back home. Instead, they are dry and rugged, with deep valleys that look like canyons stretching for miles. Driving through them felt surreal.
One of the biggest highlights was spending a night camping in the Sahara Desert. We rode camels for about an hour and a half through the dunes to reach our camp. We were served dinner and dessert and then treated to a live performance of traditional songs by local musicians. Being in the desert, away from any city lights, made the stars unbelievably clear. I have never seen the night sky like that before. It was one of those moments I know I will never forget.
The next day, we drove to Ouarzazate, Morocco’s “Hollywood,” where movies like Gladiator and Game of Thrones were filmed. After that, we made our way to Marrakesh. It was my second time there but Raymond’s first, so we did all the must-dos. We negotiated in the medina, had dinner on a rooftop just outside Jemaa el-Fnaa, and experienced Marrakesh’s insane traffic firsthand. Driving through it was pure chaos. The next morning, we squeezed in some last-minute sightseeing before heading back to Casablanca, where Raymond met my roommate. She made us dinner, and we had a chill night in. It was much needed because the very next morning, I was off on my next adventure.
This time, it was a weeklong trip to northern Morocco with a group of 13 international students. We had no classes that week, so we took full advantage of the free time. Our journey started with a Monday morning train ride from Casablanca to Tangier. Tangier was stunning. It is an incredible coastal city with beaches that seem to go on forever. We visited Cap Spartel, where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean, rode camels on the beach at sunset, and had some of the best meals in Tangier’s medina. We rented out a villa that fit all 13 of us, which made for some unforgettable nights. We exchanged traditions, shared stories about home, and talked about all the places we want to visit in the future.
Next, we made our way to Chefchaouen, also known as the Blue Pearl. The entire city, nestled in the mountains, is painted in shades of blue, giving it a peaceful and almost dreamlike atmosphere. It was much calmer than the other cities we had visited, and you could tell that both locals and tourists really took the time to appreciate it. While exploring, I randomly met someone who goes to Texas A&M, so naturally, I had to joke about how much better USC football is.
From there, we headed to Fes, Morocco’s ancient city. We visited the University of al-Qarawiyyin, the oldest university in the world, met locals who showed us around, and explored the famous tanneries, where I bought a 100% leather jacket. After a few days in Fes, we finally made our way back home to Casablanca, just in time to start classes again.
It was an incredible two weeks filled with adventure, new friendships, and experiences I will carry with me forever. I am already looking forward to what is next.
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