Not only is today my last day in Morocco, but today is my last day abroad. At least for this summer. I can't believe that my adventure is already ending, and that today is my last day in my last country on this trip. The ship leaves from Casablanca tonight to head to Boston. I'm sad that it's already over... time really does fly by. My time in Morocco was definitely an interesting experience. I wouldn't say that Morocco is my favorite place I've ever been, but I'm glad I can say that I've been here and it was really really interesting to get to experience the culture here. Let me fill you in on what I've been upto the last few days while I've been in Morocco.
Let me start by explaining that right after leaving Turkey, I got really really really sick. It was definitely not fun, and it definitely put a damper on the beginning of my time in Morocco. I spent the first day in Morocco on the ship trying to survive through my stomach pain, and get better so that I could enjoy the rest of my time in Morocco. On Tuesday morning (not feeling much better still, but I forced myself to leave the ship) I left to go to Marrakech for a couple of days. After surviving a miserable three hour bus ride, we finally arrived in Marrakech, and the first thing we did was hop on a bunch of camels and went on a camel trek through the Palm Groves of Marrakech. I was so excited to ride a camel that for a while I almost forgot I wasn't feeling well. For the first hour or so of my camel ride, I was having the time of my life. I mean after all who can honestly say that they got to ride a camel in Morocco on their birthday? Did I mention that Tuesday was my birthday? But about an hour into the ride, my excitement about being on a camel subsided, and I remembered that I wasn't feeling well again. My head was throbbing, my stomach hurt and I all the sudden was seeing spots and thought I was either going to throw up or pass out. It probably didn't help that I was already dehydrated from being sick for so long, and then being on a really long camel ride through the desert in the beating sun in 125 degree weather. Yes, it really was 125 degrees in Marrakech on Tuesday. Needless to say, the last hour of my camel trek was pretty brutal. I was very grateful when my camel finally kneeled down, let me off and I was able to drink some water. Even though I felt really terrible, I'm glad that I forced myself to leave the ship and go to Marrakech... I'm glad that I got to experience a camel ride through the desert of Morocco. After our camel trek, we ate lunch at this little restaurant where we all sat on the ground and ate couscous and other things I couldn't recognize out of giant bowls.
The next day, we walked around Marrakech and saw everything that Marrakech has to offer. We went to the souk, which is a giant market similar to the Grand Bazaar in Turkey. And let me tell you... I never ever ever wish to smell the smell of this place ever again, but it was a really cool, crazy, overwhelming experience nonetheless. Just imagine the smell of sewage mixed with rotting meat (yes, I saw a loooot of rotting meat hanging up... in my opinion meat shouldn't be infested with flys and shouldn't be turning a nasty green color and raw meat should NEVER EVER smell like that) and the zoo. Maybe my gag reflexes were just heightened from being sick to my stomach, but I was very very glad to be wearing a scarf that I was able to wrap around my nose and mouth. Besides the smell, the souk was very interesting. It was all these small alleyways with shop after shop after shop along them, and people walking up and down them selling various miscellaneous things. Men were walking around with monkeys on leashes, and would throw them on the shoppers and wouldn't take them off their shoulders until they gave them money (thankfully this never happened to me, but I watched it happen multiple times... I was terrified that I was going to get a monkey put on me), and the same thing happened with snakes. Yes, real live snakes. They would throw these giant, scary snakes at people walking through the streets and wouldn't let you leave or wouldn't take the snake off you until you gave them money (thankfully this never happened to me either). Besides that, some of the shops were pretty cool. I got a pair of shoes, three bracelets, and a couple of other things for under 20 dollars. The bargaining in these shops was absolutely crazy. The entire souk experience was one that I never wish to relive, but am glad I got to see. Morocco is a crazy, crazy place.
Last night since it was our last night to all go out together, a big group of us went to get dinner. We went to Rick's Cafe, which is the restaurant they go to in the movie Casablanca. This morning I ventured out to go walk through the city of Casablanca one more time and to do some last minute shopping. I hope that no one at home is expecting me to come back with gifts for them because I seriously haven't gotten anything for anybody. Then after shopping I walked over to the Hotel Ibis to sit at the bar and use their free internet, which is where I am right now. I need to head back to the ship soon so that we can leave and start our voyage home!!
I had a great time in Morocco, and I'm so thankful that I'm feeling better and was able to enjoy my last few days here. I loved getting to experience the culture here... riding a camel, eating on the floor, shopping in the crazy souks, interacting with the people... I wouldn't trade my time here for anything, and now I'm ready to head home and am looking forward to it! I can't wait to see everyone at home in a WEEK!!!
