Scenes From a Failed Trip to Morocco

Morocco was supposed to be our real vacation during the winter. Sure, we spent a few months in Italy and Spain, but we were mostly working in other places. Andy and I planned a work-free, laptop-free trip to Morocco for about two and a half weeks as a chance to relax and go someplace a little more adventurous. As I talked about previously, the trip was not a success and ended it after only five days. But we did see some interesting things during our short trip to Morocco.

Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen is a city we heard wonderful things about. We were told it was more calm than other cities in Morocco, and it is well known for all the varieties of blue on the buildings. This blue city was our first stop.

While there was a hint of calmness, being there in the off season gave it a different vibe. While our friends spoke of being left alone, we were hassled quite frequently by restaurant workers, shopkeepers, and tour peddlers looking for business. I imagine they were a little more desperate for customers with so few tourists around.

Our guesthouse was up a steep hill and really hard to find when we first arrived, but it turned out to be worth it simply for the amazing views over the city. We couldn’t have been much higher up.

The staff were friendly and helpful, and the breakfast they served us was amazing. Piles of bread, cheese, olives, dips, spreads, and more, all from the rooftop terrace. We stayed at this hotel and really enjoyed those views.

Rabat

Rabat isn’t high on many lists of must-see cities in Morocco, but we needed a halfway point between Chefchaouen and Essaouira, the next stop on our itinerary. It rained a lot while we were there, so we didn’t get to see much, but it seemed like an interesting city with a huge market area. I think we could’ve enjoyed this city under other circumstances.

Our hotel was really pretty with a typical central courtyard. Obviously the courtyard would’ve been better during warmer months, but we still enjoyed it. Our bed was cozy, but the bathroom was a bit strange. There was only a curtain separating it from the bedroom, and it didn’t even go all the way across.

But besides the odd bathroom curtain, it was a super comfortable place. The woman who ran it was really helpful when we weren’t feeling well. She let us use the kitchen to prep some of the food we bought from a nearby market, and she made us feel at home. We stayed at this hotel and we’d definitely stay there again if we ever return to Rabat.

Unfortunately we didn’t get a good look at Morocco. We had to skip Essaouira and Marrekesh, plus a desert tour that sounded really amazing. But we’ll try again someday, next time during a warmer time of year, and hopefully with fewer food problems.