Intro:
Just a few years ago now (I honestly cannot believe it’s been years ), I embarked on my first ever solo trip! I’d dreamt of flying around the world by myself and the universe served me my dream on a platter I started with Morocco and not long after, I was backpacking South East Asia! Now as I look back on this time, I reminisce all the memories made from my very first trip travelling alone and hope I can encourage you to take the leap!
A trip to Morocco:
Gosh where should I start? There were so many positive experiences and with Morocco being the first place I went after deciding to say yes to myself, it will always have a special place in my heart. Here, I tried every kind of tagine that exists. From vegetable to chicken tagine, I really had it all. This is also where I tried authentic mint tea for the first time! The sun was beating down on me, but I’d still have a hot glass of mint tea. Ahhh…good times.
Morocco, a country in north Africa full of so much culture and history, it’s impossible to not fall in love with something. Whether it’s the food, the people, the clothes, jewellery or nature. I still remember each distinct smell – from the spices, to the cigarette smoke. I remember the sounds of people bargaining in the bustling streets and the prayer calls. I remember it all. I went from shopping in the medina to sleeping through a sandstorm in the Sahara desert, all the way to the seaside city of Essaouira. No two days were the same.
I met people from all over the world- a man who’s aim was to climb the tallets mountains in the world, a Japanese woman who I practised my (not so good) Japanese with, an older black woman who for the 2 days we spent together, felt like a mother. I made friends and said goodbye, taking the memories I made as a souvenir. One of my favourite memories was going to a hammam! If there’s one thing you MUST experience in Morocco, it’s a hammam. A traditional practice that can be traced back to the early 7th century consisting of steam and massage rooms. Read about everything you need to know before visiting a hammam here!
On the 3-day trip to the desert I met a young boy. Occasionally we’d have stops along our journey to give us a chance to stretch our legs, take in the beautiful scenery and buy souvenirs from stands along the mountains. I remember getting out of the minibus and just standing, staring at the mountains in complete awe. Then, a young boy, probably around 14 approaches me. He’s trying to sell me something. I remember looking down to see what he was offering me. It appeared to be some sort of plant shaped into a camel.
He couldn’t speak English. I couldn’t speak Darija (Moroccan Arabic) or Spanish. So, we both just laughed. He would say something, I wouldn’t understand, and we would laugh. I would say something, he wouldn’t understand, and we laughed. He then said “free, no money”. I replied with “are you sure?” and he repeated “ free, free, no money” He then said “Selfie”. And we took a picture, capturing one of the most wholesome experiences I’ve ever had with a stranger. We couldn’t understand each other, but we could still laugh together.
I remember thinking, “Is this what it feels like to have a son? To have a child?”. I remember wanting to nurture him, to protect him. He should’ve been in school but instead, he was trying to make some money selling what he created with his hands. I remember tears welling up in my eyes as he waved goodbye to me. I think of him to this day- wishing he’s healthy and happy. Wishing that life is being kind to him. A bright soul whose kind smile warmed my heart and brought me to tears.
Our selfie 🙂
The not so good:
Despite loving Morocco as a whole, there are things I had to get used and some unfavourable experiences. Walking through the Medina, I would find myself lost every single time. Every time I thought I was going the right way, I would end up exactly where I started and using the map on my phone was of no use. This may be overwhelming and frustrating at first but after learning about the history of why the Medina was built like that, I came to appreciate it’s structure more and committed particular routes to memory. This was important for me and if you’re a woman travelling solo, I would suggest doing the same and here’s why – during my stay in Marrakesh, I visited a Riad for a hammam, when I went to pay, the man at the desk said “were you lost earlier? I saw you in the Medina, you looked lost.” I played it cool and said “no, I was ok” but in reality my heart skipped a beat. Why? Because I didn’t recognise this man but he recognised me and he could tell I was a foreigner. Which means from the moment I stepped into that Riad and he saw me, he recognised me. I’m grateful that I was safe and this isn’t a story to scare you but, if he had bad intentions then perhaps my stay may could have been very different. I say this to encourage all women solo travelling to remain vigilant of your surroundings- most of the time, locals can spot foreigners from miles away but appearing confident (even when lost in a maze), can help you stay safe whenever you’re travelling alone.
In England, you can walk into a shop, look around, decide you don’t want anything and walk out. In Morocco? Think again. Here the culture is bargaining and convincing customers into their store with hopes of them buying something. We all make the mistake of saying we’re coming back, likely with no intention of returning but in attempt to politely decline. But guess what? You think you’re on you way back to the hostel but end up passing the stall you’d promised to return to. So…what do you do? You go in… After that you learn not to make such promises and how to say “no“. It’s ok to refuse going to a particular restaurant or stall but please remain respectful to the locals when doing so because many of them make a living by encouraging tourists into their place of business.
The cat calling– from ‘Hello Beyonce!’ to ‘Wowww, Nicki Minaj’ to the ‘I want you’ as you walk through the souks. Overwhelming would be an understatement. I learned the best way to deal with these experiences was to ignore them. Just keep walking is what i’d tell myself. Fortunately for me, none of the men cat calling me approached me or made any physical contact but it’s definitely something to be aware of particularly in Marrakesh.
Being overcharged– sellers will often double or even triple the price of items, knowing foreigners won’t know any different. Bargaining is not considered rude in Morocco and it is part of the culture to do so. If you decide to bargain with a seller, be respectful and decide on a price you’re comfortable paying, but also one that doesn’t put the sellers at a disadvantage. I often think “would I pay this much back home?” if my answer is “Yes”, or if I feel the seller has slightly overcharged me then I have no problem buying that item because whilst I may be getting charged a few pounds extra, that money will do a lot more for the seller and their family than it will in my account particularly in countries where the currency is weaker.
Being aware of the points mentioned will make it easier for you to adjust to life in Morocco so you can enjoy your experience to the fullest! My last night in Morocco was spent on the balcony begging my senses to take everything in so I can remember what it feels like. The cool air, each distinct smell and the sound of people laughing downstairs.
I hope after reading this, you’re feeling brave enough to book your trip to explore and experience all the beauty Morocco has to offer because if you were to ask me whether I would do it again? Without a doubt! Solo? Abso-freaking-lutely!
Affirmation: I surrender myself to the universe. Everything that is meant for me will be mine. It will never pass me.
