Janessa Alexis

It’s been three months now since I took my first trip to Northern Africa. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to formally post about my time there, but the more I sit with the trip, the more I want to talk about it, to share what a beautiful part of the world it is, with others.

Whenever I’m asked, I always tell people that Morocco was never a dream destination for me. My knowledge of the country really began and ended with one of its major cities sharing its name with that world-renowned film (that I’ve never seen). I imagined that side of the world with a desert, some camels, good tea. My imagination covered what I think most other ignorant North Americans would picture: exotic, hot, and out of our league.

I didn’t anticipate falling in love with the country. The people. Oh, their food. I had the absolutely most incredible time. When I look back on the travelling I’ve been fortunate enough to have done up until this point in my life, this particular trip ranks high on my list of absolute favourite destinations. There were a few key factors at play that make this trip a particular stand-out, and I wanted to take a moment to reflect and break it down for you.

I’d never had Moroccan food prior to visiting the country. Where I live in Canada, there are no Moroccan restaurants, and though we do have a decent population of people from Northern Africa in general, they’re incredibly under-represented in the restaurant scene in my city.

But when I tell you that I was floored by their food, I mean it. I was floored.

Their signature dish is tagine: a stew-type dish named after the pot it’s cooked in, its base is vegetables and your choice of protein (mostly chicken, beef or lamb), and is best served with couscous. Considered more of a “peasant” dish, it has a very distinctive flavor, a combination of spices that would make the dish recognizable even when blindfolded. It also just tastes phenomenal. I ate this almost every single day I spent in the country, and though it did start to weigh on me as time passed, I would now do most anything to be able to eat an authentic Moroccan tagine again.

Let’s talk tea. Moroccan tea, the tea of diabetes. I was fortunate enough to sit through a tea-making demonstration with a host family, and let me tell you: they take their tea seriously. Traditionally, they use green tea, and will garnish it heavily, heavily with sugar. Garnish isn’t even the right word. Half the flavour is tea, half is sugar. I kid you not. And while you might think that the sugary flavour is too much, you’d be surprised at how your body acclimatizes to the taste, and will come to crave it once you go home.

I also wanted to take a moment to highlight pastilla. I unfortunately only got to eat it twice during the entire trip, and wish I’d eaten it more. It’s a sweet-and-savoury chicken pie dusted with powdered sugar and sprinkled with toasted almonds. This might sound like an odd combination, but trust me, it works! The heartiness of the meat pairs really well with the sweetness of the nuts and the warmth of ras el hanout, the spice-blend used for the pastry. It’s an incredibly satisfying dish to eat, very filling, unbelievably delicious. If ever you’re in Morocco, you must try their pastila.

Let’s address those images you’ve seen online. I had the privilege of travelling around the country quite a bit, by bus, train and plane, and I hope you delight in some of the marvels I got to witness.

The obvious highlight is the Sahara Desert. Everything that you’ve ever seen on TV, or in books, or online, does not compare to the majesty of the actual desert. I got to walk through it, ride a camel across it, sleep in a tent on it. It was all so, so stunning. The texture of the sand is so soft, almost like butter. I’ve walked among many beaches, and they can’t compare to this. Nothing had prepared me for the awe I felt, actually getting to be in the Sahara.

Beyond the desert, the holiness you experience upon walking into Hassan II Mosque (pictured above) is unlike any other. The chaos of Fes is surreal. Stalls upon stalls, the winding streets. The image of the High Atlas Mountains stands out in my mind as well, beautiful, coldly majestic and ethereal. And Marrakesh, the Land of God, also hold a special place in my heart for its vibrancy and life. I didn’t spend nearly enough time in that city to fully appreciate it.

More than the actual landscapes, though, it was the sunsets that truly stole my heart. Morocco is quite literally known as the land where the sun sets. And the sunsets in that country are breathtaking. I regret to say I didn’t cherish them when I had the chance. Please, go. See them. Relish them. They’re unlike anything you’ll ever see. They happen quickly, too. Without exaggeration, if you take your eyes off the sun for more than a handful of minutes while it’s setting, you might miss it slip away beyond the horizon. Please, hold onto those for all you’re worth.

What makes travelling so incredible, though, isn’t necessarily the food that you eat or the places that you see. It’s the people that you get to experience it with.

In my year abroad, I learned that I loved to solo travel. I liked being in control of where I was going, what I was eating, how I’d spend my day. I loved the freedom that came with making my own decisions without responding to anyone. But while I relished those moments alone, I admit to feeling a certain wholeness when I got to spend them with others. Even if they were strangers. Especially with strangers.

This group pictured above started off as just that, strangers. Coming from all corners of the world. Brought together for their love of travel and their passion for people. Weary of being stuck with the same people for over two weeks, I tried to go into this trip with an open mind. I had my brother by my side, I reasoned, so even if I didn’t make any friends, that would be okay.

Little did I know.

Oh the laughs we had! The memories that we’ve made. We were mischievous and unstoppable. We delighted in each other’s joys, and took care of each other pains, and shared some of the most incredible life experiences with one another. I think we came out of the trip more holistic and whole. I’m grateful to have known these people, and hope to reconnect with them again someday in the future.

Full disclosure: I booked my tour of Morocco using the tour company Intrepid Travel.

I can’t speak for other tour companies, or even other tours that this company features, but let me assure you that this particular tour is entirely worth it. There are a couple of reasons why:

1. The cost. Yes, tours are expensive. That’s another reason why I’ve enjoyed solo travelling. And if you notice for this particular tour, yes, it can be expensive (around the $1300 CAD range). But if you wait for the right time, the price of the tour does reduce (I spent around €530 for this particular booking). These sales normally happen during their low season (which is high season where I live!), and at the last minute. So just keep your eye out! The prices will drop.
2. For the amount of activities, cities and foods this tour covers, the price is 100% worth it. This isn’t even mentioning the quality of transport, accommodation and tour guides, which were all superb. Yes, there are costs that you must cover if you want to purchase souvenirs, and certain meals you’re responsible for, but the country overall is quite cheap, and your wallet won’t be too empty by the end of the excursion.
3. This particular tour is intended for young people! This means that you’re not going to be stuck travelling with toddlers or with seniors. It’s really catered to those who are probably also in university, just getting married, or buying their first house, the way you are. Don’t worry. You’ll have lots in common, lots to talk about. And you’ll even make friends!
4. Maybe this isn’t talked about enough, but let me just say it here: tours take out the stress of planning. I know, I know. I talked about loving the control of planning my own trip. But that control comes with responsibility. And with my brother tagging along on my adventures, this tour took the guess work out of the kinds of things we’d get to do together. It planned everything we could’ve possibly wanted to see, and then some. I really got to sit back and just enjoy the trip for what it was: a vacation.

I cannot sing this tour’s praises enough. If ever you’re thinking about checking out Intrepid Travel, I’d highly encourage you to check out this particular tour.

For more information, check out this link: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/ca/morocco/essential-morocco-144906.