Morocco

Travelling for me is much more as the journey itself. First, the choice of the destination...always a difficult decision...Morocco seems to have a lot to offer: though nearby, still very "exotic". Culture, Food feasts, nature, beaches, markets,..Second, it is reading about the country, getting enthusiast, willing to explore what you are reading, and then making choices again. You need a route that is more or less convenient and you need to make choices. No, it is impossible to visit everything. You need time for transport. And, we want to travel at our own pace, have the time to relax, let experiences sink and digest.

As it is still too cold in March to visit the high Atlas mountains, we choose to leave Marrakesh, the Jebel Toukal and the beautiful valleys in central Morocco for another trip. Starting in the South in the Anti-Atlas (Tafraoute and the Ameln Valley), we intend to make up our way up along the Atlantic Coast (from Agadir, over Essaouira, Casablanca and Rabat, the nature reserve at Moulay Bousselham, and Tangier. We plan then to cross the border to visit the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Back into Morocco, the plan is to go visit the imperial cities Meknes and Fes, passing via Tetouan and Chefchaouen. Plans are made, but things can change...and this is more as ever true in view of the current crisis situation in Northern Africa.

Eager to depart tomorrow, leaving the cold and the rain for the sun :-)