Two weeks ago, we visited the country of Morocco, specifically in the cities of Tangier, Chefchauen, and Tétouan for a weekend. The trip was both educational and fun, spent with great people and amazing and welcoming tour guides. It is definitely one of the best trips I have gone to and I would definitely go back to visit Morocco once more, if given the chance.
The trip was set-up with a help of a trip service company called, We Love Spain whose co-founder was a student from ICS, who also joined us for the trip alongside an amazing tour guide. Heading to Morocco was definitely a process, but was an experience. Since Morocco is not part of the Schengen Area, we needed our passport to get through the boarder where we had them stamped. First, we boarded a bus from Seville, to Algeciras where we took an hour-long Ferry ride to Ceuta, an autonomous city of Spain. From Ceuta, we got back on our bus and headed to Tangier, Morocco, where the border is located, thus entering the country. Morocco came as a surprise; going their, I expected a rich culture with an energetic market filled with beautifully crafted fabrics, delicious pastries, and colorful vegetables and fruits. However, it came as a shock to also see a mountainous country with diverse nature (from lakes, to trees, to rocks), and a beautiful breeze from the Mediterranean Sea. The sceneries in Morocco particularly interested me and is a big reason why I loved this trip more than I expected. In addition, Morocco offers a rich history and culture that is shown everywhere you go. Chefchaouen, also known as "The Blue Pearl" for its blue-painted buildings was definitely my favorite because of the town's serenity, color, and its people's friendliness. Being in Chefchaouen feels like being in the past; it feels surreal to have its culture and tradition play such a prominent part in the city's daily lives hundreds of years later. In addition, we were taken to a carpet co-op, where we saw beautifully hand made scarves, carpets, and other types of fabric. The highlight of the visit was the hike to a mosque where we saw the whole city's beauty. At night, we travelled to Tétouan, for a Fantasy Dinner Show where we enjoyed delicious Moroccan food and watched incredibly talented musicians and dancers perform. We also visited the city of Tétouan the next day. Tétouan is an old town and is one of Morocco's major ports on the Mediterranean Sea. There, we visited a Berber pharmacy that sells various beauty products, and tea leaves. Thereafter, we were taken to the Medina to shop and wander. Tip: Morocco is filled with merchants who sell many things, from clothing to souvenirs. However, it is important that you bargain the prices because the prices merchants tell you are not necessary the prices you can buy these things for. When buying something, make sure to bargain the prices; it is reasonable to ask for half the price they asked for and go from there. On the contrary, there is no bargaining when it comes to food or drinks; the price they ask for, is the price you have to pay. Morocco was definitely a trip to remember! It was amazing to witness a different culture and interact with other people. It is also great to visit a country whose culture is in relationship to the development and history of Spain. However, it is important to remember that similarly to all the places you may visit, be careful and be mindful of your actions.
29 Comments
It is still unbelievable to think that I have been in Seville, Spain for the past two months. Within these months, many things have happened that created a lasting memory for myself and my peers. The program have made studying abroad such an incredible experience, thus far by taking us to numerous cultural and city visits, and field trips. So far, we have travelled to Cordoba, where we learned about the Islamic influence in Spain, Granada, and Morocco, a beautiful country located in Northern Africa that is rich in both culture and nature. Our program also took us to city visits in the Alcazar located in Seville, the Roman City of Italica, the third largest Cathedral in the world, and El Museo de Bellas Artes, where works of famous artists lay. The city visits and field trips have been fun and gave me and my peers the opportunity to learn more about Spain and cultures that have played a crucial part in the history and development of Spain. Unfortunately, with only approximately one month left in the program, we are only left with one city visit and field trip. Nevertheless, I am very excited and can't wait to attend them. In addition, the next couple of weeks are very important in Spain. Next week will be Semana Santa, a prominent religious event in the Catholic religion, specially in countries like Spain. I am very excited for this event because as a Catholic, I have dreamed of witnessing Semana Santa in another country specifically Spain. Moreover, the last week of April will be the April Feria, a one-week fair filled with dancing, drinking, and eating. Overall, the last two months have been a blast and an experience to remember. The visits, we have had have opened my eyes and taught me many things about the world we live in and how there is many things we don't see that only traveling abroad can show us. Although, it is sad to think that there is only a few weeks left in the program, I am very excited to experience them with the new friends and family I have made. |
Archives
May 2017
Categories |