7/15/2023 0 Comments Tour of the coastToday I booked another tour with Xuaen Tours, a great company here in Morocco!, to go on a tour around the cost of Morocco. Throughout the tour we visited the souk in Tangier, Hercules Cave, the medina of Asilah, Cape Spartel, and the Tangier Casbah. On this tour it was just me and a young couple from Spain who were so much fun! We made it a really great time, taking pictures for each other and joking around. The husband just got a job where he has to speak English, so throughout the day he kept asking me new words and pronunciations in English. They were a ton of fun, and I really enjoyed getting to do the tour with them. We first went to a panoramic spot in Tangier, where you can see across the water to Spain! It was cloudy at first in the morning so it was difficult to see all the way across the water but you could make out the shape of land. Then we went to Cape Spartel where the driver dropped us off and we went to get tickets to go into the museum and up the lighthouse. The lighthouse was built in 1863 and was recently renovated. Going up the many winding steps was not so fun for someone with a fear of heights, but the view at the top was so beautiful! Then we drove down to another point close-by to take a picture with the sign where the Atlantic and Mediterranean oceans meet. Afterwards we walked down to these caves for more views of the water. The sound of the waves crashing was sooo peaceful, I loved it so much. Then we went back in the van and passed multiple popular beaches, and stopped at Hercules Cave.
Hercules Cave was breathtaking. We had to wait in a long crowded line to get tickets and entrance to the cave, but it was all worth it once you get to the views. The cave mouth is shaped almost exactly like the African continent. It was so scenic with the color of the water and light coming through the opening. It was difficult to take pictures with because of the light, but that's okay. We didn't have a tour guide, but I looked up online before the visit, and saw that it is names the Cave of Hercules because it is believed in mythology that during Hercules travel to Africa, he stopped and slept in this cave for many nights. I love mythology and think that it would be really cool if this was true. We walked back out of the cave and went to a different section, where there was a Moroccan band playing, and tons of statues of Hercules were around and there was a natural water spring where they believe Hercules got his water. Then we went out of the cave area and walked down to the water to take some pictures of and with the water. Yes mom, I went on the jetty in my Birkenstocks, yes I had flashbacks from when I sliced by foot open when I was 10 years old on a jetty in flip-flops, and yes I suppose I never learn haha. But I was super careful and stayed on the flatter parts. It was fun as we took photos a big wave came up and splashed me in a photo. After Hercules Cave, we drove back along the coastline and stopped at one of the beaches for our camel ride. This was my third time on a camel, and I'm still not used to it!! You get so high off the ground, and you really get jolted back and forth when they stand up and sit down. They were beautiful camels and it was a ton of fun getting to ride them here. The ride was definitely a lot faster than my other ones, but the experience was still special. Once we got down we got to say hello to the baby camels, who were in love with our van driver who visits them everyday. It was really fun as I was petting one of them it started to sniff and lick my leg through the hole hahaha. It was so special and I love these special moments. Then we got back in the van for the long drive down the coastline to the city of Asilah where we got dropped off for lunch and for free time in the medina. The couple and I all stuck together and got an amazing Moroccan lunch. Asilah is known for their fresh fish, so of course we all tried different fish plates. I got a piece of swordfish, which was really tasty and not a very fishy fish. There were tons of cats milling around, and the couple fed them a whole one of their mini-fishes, which the cats knew how to devour easily in getting the spine out and just eating the meat. It was pretty impressive not gonna lie haha. After lunch we walked around the medina, which had many blue buildings like Chefchouan. We went up on the brick wall and got to see out into the ocean again. The color of the water and sights of the city were so beautiful. After two hours of lunch and walking we went back to the van and headed back to Tangier, where our driver took us to another panoramic point to see more of Tangier. It was really hot at this point and we were all getting very tired. On the drive back to our drop-offs he gave us tons of recommendations for places to eat and shop. This was so great because while I have been here for 2 months, there is sooo much to see and do here!
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7/8/2023 0 Comments Chefchouan and TetouanI finally got in some travel while in Morocco!! Life has been so busy lately I have been just on constant catch-up, but yesterday I gave myself the day off and book a tour. I booked a TripAdvisor tour that would be a group trip to Chefchouan and Tétouan by van with tour guides in each city. There ended up being 8 people in total, one other solo traveler, a couple from Canada and a family from Spain. It took about 3 hours to get to Chefchouan and oh man some of those roads are veeery winding and high up (and gravel). I was very happy that we stopped halfway through for a tea and coffee break just to stretch and get out of the car. The cafe was overlooking this beautiful lake!! Then we headed back in the car and the roads were so winding, but luckily I’m not a morning person and slept through most of it haha. It was all worth it making it to the Blue City!! Chefchouan is so beautiful and known for its blue buildings all throughout the town. I will say our tour guide seemed more for just walking us around the city and stopping in pretty areas for pictures. I still don’t know why the city is blue, but he did say they have to repaint every 2-3 months. Everything was just so gorgeous walking through, and ahh so many cats! The streets were all so beautiful and blue, with tons of potted plants. We wound through the town and made it to the river stream with fresh water from the mountains which maintains the town. Throughout the winding river/ hill were tons of kids and families playing in the water, riverside juice stands, and tons of mini craft stalls. After walking through the streets for 2 hours, we had lunch as a group and I got a traditional chicken pastella, like a chicken pastry pie with honey on top. It was a lot of fun getting to talk with other travelers and get to speak English with people!! We then got some free time in the main market square where I bought my traditional bracelet for the country and an piece of artwork (I had the guy add the little cat because the other ones that did have the cat weren’t very detailed). Then I had extra time so I got a henna from a super nice local woman. She did my right arm for free for being nice! It was such a beautiful city and I had a great time! Then we headed back to the van and started the drive back and stopping in Tétouan. The landscape in Morocco is so beautiful and I was happy (though a little car sick) to see it. Tétouan was a quick stop, walking through city streets and a local Medina. I liked getting to see more of Morocco and experience another town here. Overall, it was an amazing day and a much needed pause from the past few busy weeks!! |