Morocco

I’m back on the ship after having a great time in the last port of Morocco. Our ship was docked in Casablanca, where I spent the first day and night. The first day was very interesting because I got to meet a Muslim woman who is famous in Morocco for helping other women find jobs and get some rights in a country that is dominated by men. Last year she won the Opus award, that’s affiliated with the University of St. Thomas, for one million dollars. This helped her get more recognition and expand with three centers in Casablanca where women can come for work, food, and free daycare for their kids. After meeting her and touring one of the centers, we went around the city to see some sights. I think the most magnificent sight was the huge mosque, which is the third largest mosque in the world. After the tour I went out to have a drink at Rick’s café where the movie Casablanca was filmed. Overall, Casablanca was a nice place, but it was a bit dirty and I heard the city of Marrakech was much more lively, so I decided to take a trip there for a couple of nights.

After spending over an hour maneuvering through the 5-foot wide, windy streets of Marrakech led by a Moroccan guy with one tooth who didn’t speak English, we finally found the place where we were staying. While ducking down to get in the small door in the wall, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but once I got through I was ecstatic to see a peaceful courtyard filled with couches and tables shaded by orange trees. I ran up the stairs to find many bedrooms filled with Moroccan decorations and a rooftop with coaches and a pool. This would be the house that 11 other students and I would have to ourselves for the next couple of nights.

We had an amazing Moroccan meal cooked for us on the first night, which was highlighted by the chicken tajime (a stew-like dish with chicken, potatoes, and a curry sauce). We spent most of the next day at the souk, which is a huge open-air market where you can find traditional Moroccan and modern things. Also, we made our way over to the main square, which was filled with snake charmers, people with monkeys, and fresh-squeezed orange juice stands. Our bodies were worn out from strolling around for hours in the 100-degree heat, so it was time to head back to the house for a refreshing dip in the pool before our last night of sleep on land for 10 days.

It’s depressing that the next port will be Norfolk, Virginia, but everything has been amazing in these past weeks. There were so many great things to see and do in every single port that I really couldn’t say which place was my favorite. I guess I have to get back to reality in the U.S., but I would do this again in a second if I had the chance to, and I would recommend it to anyone. There were so many unforgettable experiences that have really helped me open my mind and look at things from multiple perspectives. I will try to post a few more pictures when I get back to the U.S., but I better get ready for exams now!