MOROCCO: Life Doesn't Always Go As Planned. Where to Next?

Our plan was to spend 2 1/2 weeks in Tunisia, followed by 2 1/2 weeks in Morocco, followed by 1 week in Jordan, and then finally 2 weeks in Egypt. 

We thought this would be a great solid immersion in North African history and culture. (Who knew I would become such a History and Culture Geek?)

But, as they say, life doesn't always go according to plan. 

The relationship between Palestine and Israel erupted on October 7th, 2023. 

We were due to leave Morocco for Jordan on Oct 30th.

We performed a lot of mental gymnastics over what we should do.

One side said "We have a great plan! We should continue as planned!"

The other side said "Are you CRAZY?!?!? That is NOT a good plan!"

MOROCCO: Marrakesh

We started our tour of Morocco in Marrakech and we also ended it there.

This worked perfectly for shoppers that wanted to pick up a few of those "must have" items that they may have missed along the way.

However, that made no difference to John and me because we do not have any room for any more items in our suitcases. Siiiiiigh.

I guess the upside is that we could just enjoy the city without any "shopping pressure".

MOROCCO: Atlas Mountains, Berber Villages, Movie Sets and Seaside Sunsets

One of the things I love about Morocco is the diversity.

There are big modern cities that have centuries old historical medinas. 

There are quaint towns and villages nestled in the countryside and mountains. 

And there are desert dunes in the Sahara with Berber kasbahs.

Our route was a counter clockwise circuit of the country. We saw changes in the topography which included ocean, desert, mountains and valleys. 

MOROCCO: A Definite Highlight - the Sahara, Berber Camp, and Riding Camels

Riding camels in the Sahara's Erg Chebbi dunes to watch the sun set was by far one of the most memorable things we did in Morocco.

The Erg Chebbi dunes are giant hills of smooth wind-blown sand that line the border between Morocco and Algeria. 

They are famous for their great height and size. 

They can rise up to one hundred fifty meters high (500 ft) in some places, are twenty-two kilometers long (14 miles), and five kilometers wide (3 miles). 

MOROCCO: Fez Is a Shoppers Paradise

Founded in the 9th century, Fez is the second largest city in Morocco with a population of about 1.3 million (2022). 

Fez is home to the University of Al-Quaraouiyine, founded in 859AD and is believed to be the world’s oldest continuously functioning university. 

The medina of Fez (Fes el Bali) dates back to the 9th century and is the largest medina in North Africa. 

It is also the oldest and largest medieval city in the world.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

MOROCCO: Roman Ruins and Blue Cities in Northern Morocco

If you didn't know there were Roman ruins in Morocco, don't be embarrassed, neither did I. 

Volubilis, in north western Morocco, was founded in the 3rd century B.C. 

In the 1st century A.D., under Roman rule, it expanded dramatically and became an important outpost of the Empire. 

It was located in fertile land that was perfect for agriculture and far from the chaos of Ancient Rome. 

Volubilis was an exotic paradise in the Roman Empire.

Now, the ruined Roman city is the best-preserved archaeological site in Morocco. 

It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997.

MOROCCO: The Capital City of Rabat - One of the Four Imperial Cities of Morocco

Rabat is the capitol city of Morocco. 

It is the country's seventh largest city with a metropolitan population of  over 1.2 million people.

It is one of the four Imperial cities of Morocco and the Royal Palace in Rabat is the official residence of King Hassan II. 

MOROCCO: Casablanca's Hassan II Mosque

Casablanca has been immortalized by the movie with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. 

There are the famous lines we've all heard, such as "Here's looking at you, kid," "We'll always have Paris" and, "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

But Casablanca is also famous for its more recent Hassan II mosque.

Completed in 1993 after 6 years of construction, and delays, the Hassan II mosque is the largest functioning mosque in Africa and is the 3rd largest in the world.