Morocco.... A love story - (the end)

You would think our last days in Morocco would wind down slowly. That was not the case. I'm going to go back to the evening of Day 12 just because I realized I had missed a couple very important events.

As Jim and I were walking around before dinner, we wanted to see the ocean. I'm so glad we did. The different sights we saw just strolling along were so interesting. So many things you would not see in the U.S. We ran into a random group of gentlemen playing music. I guess they were a local band but they may have just a few friends getting together to play music. They were in the square and there was a large group of people listening. We joined. Jim and I seem to have a knack for running into random events going on that were not planned. These guys were playing traditional Moroccan music and they were good. Everyone was having a great time. The kids (and some adults) were dancing and everyone was bopping to the music. Jim handed me money to go drop in their tip jar and they very noticeably thanked me. They were right by the sea and there was a great breeze blowing. It was a perfect evening and we really didn't want to walk away. But we had to eat...

The sun was starting to set and the sky was turning into a orchestra of beautiful colors.

Getting back to Day 13.... Our hotel had an amazing breakfast. One thing we have learned about Morocco is that they want you to eat. A lot! Breads, croissants, eggs, fresh yogurt, fruit. Absolutely anything you could want!

We spent the entire day exploring. We did a walking tour and we roamed out on our own. We visited a castle, we toured a port, and we just walked through the city. So many things to see

Barb was a blast and I hope we run into her again sometime. I ended up with a cat on my lap at lunch that would not let me put it down. It didn't want food, it wanted to sleep. On my lap. I put it down once and it jumped right back up and went right back to sleep.

During lunch we also sat through a call to prayer and prayer time. I hope it is not offensive to anyone that I took pictures of this. It is so personal yet so beautiful. I wanted to capture the moment.

It was a great day!

After dinner, we were entertained by local musicians. They were a blast and got everyone involved in their song/dance. I learned that Jim's fez twirling skills were not great but he got up and participated!!

Day 14 we headed toward Casablanca. Abdel asked us if we wanted to watch the movie on the way and we all said "yes". I had never seen it so I was really happy to watch it.

On the way, we drove through a small town who was having their market day. I can't believe we made it through. Traffic was crazy and there were people everywhere. Abdel said he had never stopped there but thought some may be interested in stopping. He said this was a true market without tourists. He told everyone that was getting off the bus to be careful to not take anything that could be stolen since he was not familiar with the area. The people that ventured out were glad they did. I did not get off the bus but had a blast watching people from inside the bus!

Once we got to Casablanca we did a tour while on the bus. We went past Rick's Cafe to see it and then we headed to the Hassan II Mosque. This is the 2nd largest operating mosque in all of Africa and it is beautiful. We also visited a walking area along the beach where many of the wealthy people go to "walk". We walked around there for quite a while and then headed to our hotel.

This was our least eventful day since we had to leave and get packed at 3:00 am the following morning.

So our story comes to an end. I will never forget Morocco. I will never forget the wonderful people that were part of our group. They became family. My time there was nothing short of enchanting. The sounds, the smells, the colors. The architecture, the people and the beauty. Wandering through the souks with the fragrant spices and the warm smiles of the local craftsmen selling their goods. The majestic Atlas Mountains (Mid and High), with their breathtaking views. The Moroccan cuisine that impressed me more with every bite. The experience of being a part of Moroccan history during the flood of the Sahara. And finally, a tour manager that left me with so much knowledge of the Moroccan culture and history. He became a friend to all of us. One I'm sure we will never forget. All of these things leave me with unforgettable memories and a longing to return.

Much love to everyone that was a part of this journey with us!

Ruthie