A bittersweet ending to Morocco
I thought this trip could not get any better but I was wrong. After driving through the gorgeous Dades Valley, we arrived in Merzouga for the experience of a lifetime, a camel trek into the Sahara Desert. Riding the camels was remarkable, despite them not being the most comfortable to ride, and when we arrived at our campsite destination, the enormous sand dunes were surreal. To say the least, it was beautiful, especially at night when the moon lit the desert. The only downside was even though we all had head scarfs, most of us received a sizable amount of sand in our eyes, nose, ears and mouth because of the intense winds.
Following Merzouga, we made our way to the mountain town of Boumia where the family of Hakim Akki, a Moroccan ASU sustainability student, prepared an elegant multiple coarse meal and dessert for our group. After the delicious lamb, couscous, fruit and desserts, Hakim’s family showed us their organic apple orchard which was a topic we also discussed in regards to sustainable development. I have the utmost respect and appreciation for his family as they were some of the nicest people I have ever met.
Once our visit in Boumia came to an end, our group headed to the city of Meknes but on the way we stopped by one of the most stunning university campuses I have ever seen, the Al Akhawayn University. It sat in the dense forests near the mountain town of Ifrane. The architecture was nothing short of amazing with Dutch-style buildings, rafters and ceilings all made of wood and round hobbit-like windows.
When we got to Meknes we were given the opportunity to go to a Hamman which was a cleaning like you’ve never imagined. I was scrubbed down so much by a Moroccan that my skin turned red, but boy did I feel clean and refreshed after it was all done. I don’t think I have ever felt that clean in my life. Earlier in that day we also had a daytrip to the city of Fez where we were given tours of the medina and also were able to meet incredibly talented pottery and tile artisans. I bought a hand-painted plate for my sister which I am sure she will love.
After we departed Meknes, our stay in Morocco was coming to a close. We had one more day at the beach on our way to Tanger and had a last hoorah filled with walking around the city, watching the Barcelona versus Juventus futbol game and eating some good food. I absolutely loved my trip in Morocco and it was a truly life-changing experience that I implore anyone to attend as well. I learned so much and it certainly made me appreciate how well off I really am in the United States. The people of Morocco have my sincerest gratitude and I hope to come back and see more.
Now I am in Spain after a quick ferry ride across the Strait of Gibraltar, and I cannot wait to visit all the picturesque cities here.
