Chefchaouen and Tangier, Morocco

Land is so diverse and its so easy to forget that if you spend most of your life in one place. I'm so grateful I was able to visit such a different part of the world even for just two days, getting a taste of Africa was exciting and perplexing all at once.

The bus ride from Tangier to the small city of Chefchaouen was about two and a half hours. I laid back and relished in the relaxing hum of the motor. The countryside of Morocco was vast and varied. We passed mountains lush with greenery, and areas with dilapidated buildings cast about. Areas sunk low into the ground were sometimes filled with cattle and goats basking in the sun. Other areas held farmers with giant poles poking at their animals; the ends of ropes tied to their hooves and the other ends anchored underneath a large rock to keep them stationed to their keepers' land.

I could see women, dressed conservatively, scurrying around their houses hanging clothes outside to dry while boys played in the yard and men tended to the animals, or sat solemnly smoking a cigarette. It was surreal to sit looking from the outside in, at a culture that I really know nothing about. It was also bizarre seeing people riding horses (all of their goods and wares bound to its' sides in the pouches of the saddle) traveling along the country roads. I guess the horses know the terrain better than cars do.

And suddenly the Blue City of Chefchaouen was upon us and it was beautiful. Most of the walls and roofs are painted blue because this color repels the wave of mosquitos that sweeps through the city in the hot summers. We passed a donkey walking through the market and our tour guide said he was the only donkey that was allowed to pass through the city; the only donkey with "papers" to carry cold Coca Cola's to the vendors.

The streets were filled with cats also. They looked well-fed for the most part, and I understood that cats were allowed in this city as pets and strays but dogs weren't tolerated. Dogs disrupt prayer, but cats are amicable.

It was thrilling to bargain with the vendors in the center of the city where handmade rugs, silver jewelry and leather bags were sold. I have never been to a more colorful place! There are no fixed prices for goods and you have to fight for the best price; I felt like I was in a movie it was hilarious.

My favorite place was a store loaded with all sorts of spices! Every spice was individually wrapped and packaged into clusters like in the picture above. I was in awe when I asked the shopkeeper if he had wrapped up all of the spices himself and he said he had.

I'm so grateful to have been thrown into what felt like a different world for two days.

If you are planning a trip to Morocco and want to choose something all-inclusive and easy to see the main sights with great tour guides, go with Discover Excursions! I had an amazing weekend with them and I'm glad I was able to go with a group and explore this country in a safe and fun way.