Postcard #5: Markets, Mountains, and Mint Tea
Morocco was everything I imagined and more. We arrived in Marrakech early in the morning, and thankfully, our hotel transfer was able to find us quickly. We were greeted with traditional mint tea and got a full rundown of recommendations, plus a lunch reservation at a beautiful rooftop restaurant. I ordered a tajine and these Moroccan dumplings, which were incredible. We wandered the markets afterward, where we ended up getting our heads wrapped, buying pashminas, learning how to make argan oil from a Berber woman, sitting through a very long (but interesting) tea and medicinal cream demonstration, getting henna, shopping for gifts, and somehow never actually finding the main square.
That night, we met up with friends at another rooftop restaurant for dinner. One of the funniest parts of the trip was how often we were called the Spice Girls by people on the street. I was personally told I looked like Shakira and Lady Gaga at least twice, and Emily was dubbed "Ginger." The catcalling stories were definitely not exaggerated, but we did our best to laugh it off.
The next day, we went to the Atlas Mountains. We took a two-hour hike through the valley and then waded through a river to our guide’s village, where we cooked couscous and tajine with his family. They were so kind and welcoming, and the pastries they served were honestly some of the best things I’ve eaten. After lunch, we had a slow walk back to the car with the most beautiful views along the way. That night we were so tired we stayed in and ordered Papa Johns. I know. But it actually hit the spot.
The following day was one of the most surreal experiences of the entire trip. We visited a small argan oil collective outside of the city and then headed to the desert. We rode camels, which was terrifying at first and I definitely screamed a little, but it was the most amazing experience, and then we went quad biking across the sand. I could’ve done that all afternoon. We ended the evening swimming in a desert pool, followed by dinner and a fire show. It all felt unreal.
Our last day was slower. We visited the Secret Garden, walked through the markets again, and toured the Bahia Palace. We grabbed drinks at a rooftop bar and then headed back to our riad to order in dinner. Sadly, I didn’t end the trip on the highest note. I started feeling feverish and nauseous and ended up getting sick. I showered quickly after walking Katie home and went to bed early since we had to be up at 3 a.m. for our flight.
Despite the rough ending, Morocco was such a meaningful experience. It was vibrant, intense, welcoming, and totally unlike anywhere I’ve been before. I’m really grateful I got to experience so much in just a few days.
With love,
Kelsey 💌
