Travels With Maria

Riad

Zak’s Family

Zakaria, our trip leader, was born and grew up in Marrakech. Yesterday, we drove over the High Atlas mountains, hours on a winding mountain road in a huge bus on a narrow road, back into Morocco's green zone, finally arriving in Marrakech. We are staying in another Riad, an old home built around a courtyard. Tile, fountains, high ceilings. In the late afternoon, we walked to the Djemma el Fna, Marrakech's famous square full of hustlers, snake charmers, musicians, street food vendors and tourists. Crazy, chaotic place. Zak's mother invited the group to dinner. His brother, some sisters, a brother-in-law, some nieces and nephews all joined us. Zak is the…
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Fes

Yesterday, the group rode our bus to the city of Fez, maybe 120 miles east of Rabat. A beautiful superhighway took us through the green region of Morocco. The world's second largest forest of cork trees (largest is in Portugal), wheat fields, olive groves on a gently rolling landscape. Eventually, the city of Fez came into view. We exited the highway and drove into the town. Fez has one of the world's largest vehicle-free zones, the medina, a warren of 9000+ tiny streets and alleys dating from the 9th century. Here is the oldest university in the world, operating since 859. In the late 15th century, Morocco had a big…
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Casablanca

We flew into Casablanca Wednesday, arriving mid-afternoon. We were met at the airport by Ali, who manages the Airbnb. It was a long drive into the city, through very congested traffic. The apartment is on the 14th floor, overlooking the harbor and the train station and lots of construction. This is the vacation home of Alexandre, who lives in Paris. Unlike most Airbnbs, which are furnished with the owner's cast-off stuff supplemented by thrift shop finds, Alexandre's furnishings have been carefully selected. A kitchy-chic melange of oddball antiques, like an old barber's chair, a lamp that is a life-size statue of an African princess, a walk/don't walk sign... Lots of…
More

Zak’s Family

Zakaria, our trip leader, was born and grew up in Marrakech. Yesterday, we drove over the High Atlas mountains, hours on a winding mountain road in a huge bus on a narrow road, back into Morocco's green zone, finally arriving in Marrakech. We are staying in another Riad, an old home built around a courtyard. Tile, fountains, high ceilings. In the late afternoon, we walked to the Djemma el Fna, Marrakech's famous square full of hustlers, snake charmers, musicians, street food vendors and tourists. Crazy, chaotic place. Zak's mother invited the group to dinner. His brother, some sisters, a brother-in-law, some nieces and nephews all joined us. Zak is the…
More

Fes

Yesterday, the group rode our bus to the city of Fez, maybe 120 miles east of Rabat. A beautiful superhighway took us through the green region of Morocco. The world's second largest forest of cork trees (largest is in Portugal), wheat fields, olive groves on a gently rolling landscape. Eventually, the city of Fez came into view. We exited the highway and drove into the town. Fez has one of the world's largest vehicle-free zones, the medina, a warren of 9000+ tiny streets and alleys dating from the 9th century. Here is the oldest university in the world, operating since 859. In the late 15th century, Morocco had a big…
More

Casablanca

We flew into Casablanca Wednesday, arriving mid-afternoon. We were met at the airport by Ali, who manages the Airbnb. It was a long drive into the city, through very congested traffic. The apartment is on the 14th floor, overlooking the harbor and the train station and lots of construction. This is the vacation home of Alexandre, who lives in Paris. Unlike most Airbnbs, which are furnished with the owner's cast-off stuff supplemented by thrift shop finds, Alexandre's furnishings have been carefully selected. A kitchy-chic melange of oddball antiques, like an old barber's chair, a lamp that is a life-size statue of an African princess, a walk/don't walk sign... Lots of…
More

Zak’s Family

Zakaria, our trip leader, was born and grew up in Marrakech. Yesterday, we drove over the High Atlas mountains, hours on a winding mountain road in a huge bus on a narrow road, back into Morocco's green zone, finally arriving in Marrakech. We are staying in another Riad, an old home built around a courtyard. Tile, fountains, high ceilings. In the late afternoon, we walked to the Djemma el Fna, Marrakech's famous square full of hustlers, snake charmers, musicians, street food vendors and tourists. Crazy, chaotic place. Zak's mother invited the group to dinner. His brother, some sisters, a brother-in-law, some nieces and nephews all joined us. Zak is the…
More

Fes

Yesterday, the group rode our bus to the city of Fez, maybe 120 miles east of Rabat. A beautiful superhighway took us through the green region of Morocco. The world's second largest forest of cork trees (largest is in Portugal), wheat fields, olive groves on a gently rolling landscape. Eventually, the city of Fez came into view. We exited the highway and drove into the town. Fez has one of the world's largest vehicle-free zones, the medina, a warren of 9000+ tiny streets and alleys dating from the 9th century. Here is the oldest university in the world, operating since 859. In the late 15th century, Morocco had a big…
More

Casablanca

We flew into Casablanca Wednesday, arriving mid-afternoon. We were met at the airport by Ali, who manages the Airbnb. It was a long drive into the city, through very congested traffic. The apartment is on the 14th floor, overlooking the harbor and the train station and lots of construction. This is the vacation home of Alexandre, who lives in Paris. Unlike most Airbnbs, which are furnished with the owner's cast-off stuff supplemented by thrift shop finds, Alexandre's furnishings have been carefully selected. A kitchy-chic melange of oddball antiques, like an old barber's chair, a lamp that is a life-size statue of an African princess, a walk/don't walk sign... Lots of…
More