1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,000 If you've ever been interested in any crazy different places 2 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:08,560 compared to the US or Europe, 3 00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:11,660 and you're looking for a place that has a lot of bang 4 00:00:11,660 --> 00:00:14,580 for your buck, but also a lot of chaotic 5 00:00:14,580 --> 00:00:16,360 eye-opening experiences, 6 00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:20,840 I can confidently say that Morocco is your place. 7 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:24,560 Hello and happy whatever day of the week it is for you 8 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:27,980 as you are watching or listening to this. 9 00:00:27,980 --> 00:00:31,080 Today's episode is going to dive deeper into 10 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:34,560 some of the very key moments and memories 11 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:38,040 that I particularly remember from Morocco 12 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:41,760 that I think would be very insightful, entertaining, 13 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:44,180 and interesting for you to know about 14 00:00:44,180 --> 00:00:46,960 if you are ever planning a trip to Morocco 15 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:49,960 or to the North of Africa in general. 16 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:53,480 From my own experience, from getting scammed 17 00:00:53,480 --> 00:00:57,160 to getting scarred from henna, to goats, to desert, 18 00:00:57,160 --> 00:00:58,760 to Moroccan flight attendants, 19 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:02,080 to riding camels in the desert and being surprised 20 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:04,600 by some of the most unexpected things 21 00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:07,200 that you wouldn't think normally would happen 22 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:11,160 in your daily life, Morocco is colorful. 23 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:14,200 And I would encourage anybody who has the chance 24 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:17,120 to go to Morocco to really go and experience 25 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:19,640 this crazy place for yourself. 26 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:23,520 I personally went to Morocco six years ago. 27 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:28,080 So in 2019, I went to Morocco with two of my good friends. 28 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:30,440 All of us were living in France at the time 29 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:34,240 and we all went to Morocco for 10 days. 30 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:37,400 Morocco is definitely one of those places 31 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:40,520 that really oftentimes comes back to me 32 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:43,660 when I think of how different and exotic, 33 00:01:43,660 --> 00:01:48,080 yet also very raw in terms of some of the realities 34 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:50,880 of Morocco when you visit as a tourist. 35 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:52,920 I really wish that I would have known 36 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:57,000 some of these things before I even went in the first place. 37 00:01:57,000 --> 00:01:59,560 So without further ado, let's go ahead 38 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:02,520 and jump into these mini stories from Morocco. 39 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:04,280 I hope you enjoy. 40 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:09,100 The first memory of Morocco that I have to share 41 00:02:09,100 --> 00:02:14,100 is the time that I got scammed in the beautiful blue city 42 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:17,200 that is known as Chefchaouen. 43 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:20,720 And if you are not familiar with what Chefchaouen is, 44 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:24,400 it is basically literally a city 45 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:27,180 where all of the buildings have been painted blue. 46 00:02:27,180 --> 00:02:29,280 Historically, as it's believed, 47 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:31,840 Jewish people came to Morocco, 48 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:34,560 escaping persecution from Europe, 49 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:37,360 and they painted all of the buildings here blue 50 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:41,160 as a sign and symbol of divinity and heaven. 51 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:43,480 That is why Chefchaouen is blue. 52 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:46,920 Even though there are not that many Jewish people left there. 53 00:02:46,920 --> 00:02:51,200 Anyway, little tidbit aside, I got scammed there. 54 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:55,160 I had traveled to Chefchaouen with one of my two friends. 55 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:57,520 Our other friend had to be somewhere else. 56 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:02,520 We got to Chefchaouen via, let's call it a minibus. 57 00:03:02,640 --> 00:03:05,600 That's just one of the main ways you get around Morocco 58 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:07,640 is taking a little minibus. 59 00:03:07,640 --> 00:03:10,320 We got there and for some reason, 60 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:14,880 we had so much trouble locating our Airbnb. 61 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:17,680 Well, what happens? 62 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:22,180 This local person comes up to us and specifically me, 63 00:03:22,180 --> 00:03:25,400 because this person thinks like other Moroccans did, 64 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:27,140 think that I am Moroccan. 65 00:03:27,140 --> 00:03:31,080 My friends and I did our best to not speak English. 66 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:35,360 We were all living in France at the time of our Morocco trip 67 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:38,080 and we made it a point to not speak English 68 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:39,460 except among each other. 69 00:03:39,460 --> 00:03:41,480 So when we were in Morocco, 70 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:44,320 we were speaking French with the local people 71 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:46,480 and we were really trying to blend in 72 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:48,560 and understand their culture. 73 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:50,760 This local person comes up to me 74 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:53,980 and I tell him in French, we need help. 75 00:03:53,980 --> 00:03:57,120 Can you please help us find this place? 76 00:03:57,120 --> 00:04:01,040 I pulled up the place on my phone and he said, 77 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:03,320 yes, I know where that is. 78 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:04,520 Follow me. 79 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:08,120 And me, especially naively thinking, 80 00:04:08,120 --> 00:04:10,460 oh, he's just being so nice. 81 00:04:10,460 --> 00:04:12,720 Yeah, I appreciate this country. 82 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:14,560 Wow, all the generosity. 83 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:15,960 I was just so naive. 84 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:19,160 Followed this person up this really steep hill 85 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:23,640 and we eventually, because of him, found our Airbnb. 86 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:27,260 Right at the end of the trek up this hill, 87 00:04:27,260 --> 00:04:30,760 he asked me for 50 euros. 88 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:34,120 And I looked at him and I was just thinking, 89 00:04:34,980 --> 00:04:35,920 what? 90 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:40,920 50 euros for you walking me up a hill 91 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:44,940 and you giving me directions and some help? 92 00:04:44,940 --> 00:04:46,100 No. 93 00:04:46,100 --> 00:04:47,880 That brings me to another point 94 00:04:47,880 --> 00:04:49,660 that you need to know about Morocco. 95 00:04:49,660 --> 00:04:54,660 If you ever, ever go, you need to negotiate price. 96 00:04:54,780 --> 00:04:59,780 A price tag that you see in any market can be negotiated. 97 00:05:00,140 --> 00:05:03,240 So don't necessarily accept the price. 98 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:04,840 You need to haggle. 99 00:05:04,840 --> 00:05:09,040 You need to negotiate, especially in touristy places 100 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:12,660 where you might be overcharged anyway. 101 00:05:12,660 --> 00:05:16,180 So when this person said 50 euros, 102 00:05:16,180 --> 00:05:19,300 of course I'm thinking, no, that's ridiculous. 103 00:05:19,300 --> 00:05:21,940 So I haggled a little bit and he pushed back 104 00:05:21,940 --> 00:05:25,200 and eventually we agreed on 20 euros. 105 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:28,540 Gave him 20 euros because he walked me up a hill 106 00:05:28,540 --> 00:05:31,500 and it did help us find our Airbnb. 107 00:05:31,500 --> 00:05:35,820 So whatever, you need to be prepared to negotiate price. 108 00:05:35,820 --> 00:05:40,540 And unlike me, don't take random walks and directions 109 00:05:40,540 --> 00:05:44,100 from strangers in places like Morocco 110 00:05:44,100 --> 00:05:47,500 because there is a good chance that a person will want 111 00:05:47,500 --> 00:05:50,940 some sort of compensation in return 112 00:05:50,940 --> 00:05:52,860 because that's just what happens 113 00:05:52,860 --> 00:05:55,180 when you are in the North of Africa. 114 00:05:55,180 --> 00:05:58,160 So be very aware of that. 115 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:03,160 My next Morocco memory involves a Moroccan flight attendant. 116 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:08,160 My two friends and I were taking a flight from Talje 117 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:12,080 in the North of Morocco to Mahakesh. 118 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:15,120 We were all sitting in different parts of the plane 119 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:16,980 because we just didn't book together. 120 00:06:16,980 --> 00:06:20,160 We were super cheap and we're like, whatever, 121 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:22,160 we'll see each other at the destination. 122 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:25,500 I was sitting by myself and I noticed 123 00:06:25,500 --> 00:06:27,560 that there were two flight attendants 124 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:29,900 working this specific flight. 125 00:06:29,900 --> 00:06:31,960 Both of them were pretty young 126 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:36,320 and one of them was a really attractive Moroccan guy. 127 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:40,080 When he was giving out refreshments and food, 128 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:44,680 I made eye contact with him and he was pretty flirty 129 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:46,160 and he was really nice. 130 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:49,680 He was attractive so I wasn't opposed to it. 131 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:52,280 And even after he finished the refreshments 132 00:06:52,280 --> 00:06:57,080 and the food portion of the flight, he kept looking at me 133 00:06:57,080 --> 00:06:59,920 and I smiled at him and he smiled back 134 00:06:59,920 --> 00:07:02,880 and then he also winked and not too long 135 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:06,160 after he winked at me, he came up to me 136 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:09,240 and at first he didn't know what language to speak. 137 00:07:09,240 --> 00:07:12,520 He first tried Arabic because he thought that, 138 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:16,340 okay, I'm Moroccan, I must speak Arabic, but no. 139 00:07:16,340 --> 00:07:19,560 And when I didn't understand, he switched to French 140 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:22,920 but my French was not strong enough at that time 141 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:25,160 to understand whatever it was he said. 142 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:26,640 So then he switched to English 143 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:28,360 and then we found a common ground. 144 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:32,040 We spoke in English and he casually invited me 145 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:35,080 to the back of the plane where we could drink coffee 146 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:38,360 and talk, which I didn't know that was protocol, 147 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:40,760 which actually it's probably not, 148 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:42,760 but he invited me to the back of the plane. 149 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:45,480 He said, come here, let's go to the back of the plane 150 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:46,720 and I followed him. 151 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:50,680 I got out of my seat and here I am just standing 152 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:54,560 in the back of the plane when everyone else is sitting down 153 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:57,880 and I am with this attractive Moroccan flight attendant 154 00:07:57,880 --> 00:08:01,840 drinking coffee because he asked me what I wanted to drink 155 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:05,160 and that's what I said and we were just talking 156 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:07,560 and he was pretty fascinating at the time. 157 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:11,200 It's just bizarre, random situations like this 158 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:15,400 that really make any sort of trip that much more interesting. 159 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:19,080 This flight attendant and I actually did keep in touch 160 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:22,060 for a little while after my Morocco trip 161 00:08:22,060 --> 00:08:25,840 had finished in general, but I honestly have since 162 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:28,600 for years lost touch with him. 163 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:32,160 The point that I wanted to get with this mini story though 164 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:35,880 is the importance of meeting different people, 165 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:38,400 whether you are single or whether you are not, 166 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:42,120 but just simply meeting the local people in general 167 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:44,960 and getting to interact with them makes your experience 168 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:48,540 so much more enjoyable and memorable. 169 00:08:48,540 --> 00:08:51,560 Be open to talking to lots of different people 170 00:08:51,560 --> 00:08:53,880 because I don't think you will regret it. 171 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:56,800 This next memory that I wanna touch upon 172 00:08:56,800 --> 00:09:00,280 is actually reflective of a harsh reality 173 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:02,700 when it comes to North Africa 174 00:09:02,700 --> 00:09:04,800 and a number of countries in general. 175 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:08,160 This next story involves racism. 176 00:09:08,160 --> 00:09:11,780 And just a little disclaimer before I share the story, 177 00:09:11,780 --> 00:09:15,580 not everybody in Morocco or in the North of Africa 178 00:09:15,580 --> 00:09:19,840 or in the world is racist, but it's really important 179 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:23,480 to be aware that these sorts of things in many countries 180 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:27,760 still happens and it's so tragically wrong, 181 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:29,960 but I hope that my own experience 182 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:32,400 with what I'm about to share will make you 183 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:37,040 a little bit more aware in general of this situation 184 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:40,340 because I absolutely was not. 185 00:09:40,340 --> 00:09:43,360 And this was my hugest mistake. 186 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:48,020 My two friends and I were taking this long car ride, 187 00:09:48,020 --> 00:09:52,500 I don't remember where, we were taking a taxi to somewhere 188 00:09:52,500 --> 00:09:55,360 and naturally on a long car ride, 189 00:09:55,360 --> 00:09:58,360 you stop for bathroom breaks. 190 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:01,960 There was a point in time when two out of the three of us 191 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:05,800 had to stop for a bathroom break, including me. 192 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:09,860 So my one other friend and I asked the driver 193 00:10:09,860 --> 00:10:14,860 to stop somewhere and we do, we both get out of the car 194 00:10:14,860 --> 00:10:17,240 and there were a couple of local Moroccans 195 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:20,000 at this restaurant slash cafe 196 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:22,600 who were at the front of the restaurant. 197 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:25,760 One of them took me in one direction 198 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:30,240 and the other took my friend in the other direction 199 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:31,640 to go to the bathroom. 200 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:35,080 What I thought had happened was the two guys 201 00:10:35,080 --> 00:10:38,560 at the restaurant had taken us to different restrooms 202 00:10:38,560 --> 00:10:42,160 that were the same, but that's not what happened. 203 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:47,160 One of the guys took me to a pretty regular restroom 204 00:10:47,160 --> 00:10:51,480 with a toilet and toilet paper. 205 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:53,680 I mean, just like your standard bathroom. 206 00:10:53,680 --> 00:10:58,680 My friend on the other hand was taken to a hole 207 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:03,140 in the ground with like nothing and that was her bathroom. 208 00:11:03,140 --> 00:11:07,840 My friend is Haitian American and I had no idea 209 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:10,000 that this was happening at the time 210 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:12,700 and my friend even got very upset 211 00:11:12,700 --> 00:11:14,520 that I had not stood up for her 212 00:11:14,520 --> 00:11:16,520 and that I hadn't said anything 213 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:20,440 because I was oblivious and didn't notice it. 214 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:22,940 So we both got back from the bathroom. 215 00:11:22,940 --> 00:11:27,600 I had not realized that my friend was so irritated 216 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:31,220 and especially at me, I actually didn't even notice 217 00:11:31,220 --> 00:11:35,700 that she was basically distraught and really annoyed. 218 00:11:35,700 --> 00:11:37,720 It wasn't until later that night 219 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:39,840 that I found out what happened 220 00:11:39,840 --> 00:11:43,040 and I really apologized and felt horrible. 221 00:11:43,040 --> 00:11:45,080 I really was a horrible friend 222 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:47,120 and I should have stood up for her 223 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:49,720 had I actually realized what that was, 224 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:54,520 that it was a racist bathroom situation in Morocco, 225 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:58,720 discriminatory, absolutely wrong. 226 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:03,720 If you go to Morocco, you really need to be aware 227 00:12:03,880 --> 00:12:06,160 that this situation can happen 228 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:09,440 and you need to know how to respond to it. 229 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:12,240 These next two observations that I'm going to share 230 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:14,360 really throw your mind in for a loop 231 00:12:14,360 --> 00:12:16,680 if you are not aware of them in advance. 232 00:12:16,680 --> 00:12:19,800 They are small things, but when you see them, 233 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:22,280 you really think that you're looking into another world 234 00:12:22,280 --> 00:12:23,640 for a second or two. 235 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:27,240 The first little mind blowing phenomenon in Morocco 236 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:31,120 that you will find if you take a cross country trip 237 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:34,700 via car or taxi or bus or whatever 238 00:12:34,700 --> 00:12:39,520 is you just may see goats in trees. 239 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:41,000 And that is not a joke. 240 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:46,000 Literally there will be Argon trees and trees with fruits 241 00:12:46,560 --> 00:12:50,200 and goats are just casually standing up on the branches 242 00:12:50,200 --> 00:12:51,280 and eating them. 243 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:54,040 It literally looks like something out of a movie 244 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:57,320 if you have never witnessed anything like this before. 245 00:12:57,320 --> 00:13:01,880 Like why and how the hell are goats able to get up 246 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:05,540 in trees and eat fruit and why do they do it? 247 00:13:05,540 --> 00:13:08,600 I had apparently learned that not only in Morocco, 248 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:12,380 but also in places like Greece and Spain, 249 00:13:12,380 --> 00:13:14,160 but especially in Morocco, 250 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:17,320 this can be a very common sight to see. 251 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:20,460 The reason you can find goats in trees 252 00:13:20,460 --> 00:13:23,840 is because oftentimes in the surroundings 253 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:27,200 that the goats are in, there is not a lot of grass 254 00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:29,960 and not a lot of shrubbery that they can eat from. 255 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:33,260 Goats really like fruits and in order for them 256 00:13:33,260 --> 00:13:36,680 to actually reach the fruits that can't come 257 00:13:36,680 --> 00:13:39,480 from this lack of grass and shrubbery, 258 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:41,920 they have the ability to climb trees 259 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:43,960 and eat the fruit from the trees. 260 00:13:43,960 --> 00:13:47,100 Goats also have the agility and balance 261 00:13:47,100 --> 00:13:49,040 to be able to make it happen. 262 00:13:49,040 --> 00:13:52,760 Most people would never be able to actually picture this 263 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:55,820 since in the US and for the majority of Europe, 264 00:13:55,820 --> 00:13:57,760 that is just not a sight you see. 265 00:13:57,760 --> 00:14:01,280 You don't casually walk outside and see goats eating fruits 266 00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:04,720 from trees and standing on the branches all over the tree. 267 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:06,960 It's an interesting phenomenon 268 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:10,240 and one that is very special to Morocco. 269 00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:12,640 The first time that I saw goats in trees, 270 00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:14,480 I was so mesmerized. 271 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:18,220 This second thing is actually a little bit more innocent 272 00:14:18,220 --> 00:14:21,920 and not nearly as wild as goats in trees, 273 00:14:21,920 --> 00:14:23,360 but at the same time, 274 00:14:23,360 --> 00:14:26,840 it's still really through my friends and I for a loop 275 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:28,160 when this happened. 276 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:31,680 My couple of friends and I were at a restaurant for lunch. 277 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:35,640 We looked at the menu and we wanted to order apple juice. 278 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:38,840 It sounds very simple, apple juice. 279 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:41,880 So in French, we asked our waiter, 280 00:14:41,880 --> 00:14:44,400 can we please have apple juice? 281 00:14:44,400 --> 00:14:47,960 The waiter takes our order and says, yes, no problem. 282 00:14:47,960 --> 00:14:49,200 I have you covered. 283 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:53,680 He comes back and gives us apple juice. 284 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:56,000 And when I say apple juice, 285 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:59,080 I mean it was literally a milkshake. 286 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:00,920 This was not apple juice. 287 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:04,640 What we understood was it was apparently apple juice 288 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:06,480 with milk in it, 289 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:10,800 which at least for most Americans and Europeans that I know, 290 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:12,440 I have not seen that. 291 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:13,940 And not only that, 292 00:15:13,940 --> 00:15:17,100 but this milk was very frothy at the top. 293 00:15:17,100 --> 00:15:19,080 So it was almost like foam. 294 00:15:19,080 --> 00:15:21,120 You would never have imagined 295 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:26,120 that there was any remnants of apple taste in this thing. 296 00:15:28,460 --> 00:15:30,640 Our French was not perfect, 297 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:34,840 but I really do believe that we said apple juice 298 00:15:34,840 --> 00:15:38,400 clearly enough to be able to ask the waiter 299 00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:40,440 to bring us apple juice. 300 00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:43,960 But instead we got this drink that looked like a milkshake. 301 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:48,040 If for whatever reason you want to drink apple juice, 302 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:53,040 or if you see apple juice on the menu of any Moroccan place, 303 00:15:53,220 --> 00:15:57,880 be aware that apple juice is apparently something different. 304 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:01,640 It is apparently a frothy milkshake like drink 305 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:04,700 with a little bit of apple taste. 306 00:16:04,700 --> 00:16:07,760 I don't know who needs to hear this information 307 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:11,280 or how that would be useful to any Moroccan trip, 308 00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:14,160 but I'm just sharing the knowledge. 309 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:18,280 This next memory from Morocco involves Mahakesh. 310 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:21,160 And there are two key things from Mahakesh 311 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:23,840 that I specifically remember 312 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:27,480 and can very much share and educate you on. 313 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:32,480 If you have never been to Mahakesh, let alone Morocco, 314 00:16:33,480 --> 00:16:38,360 let me tell you that Mahakesh is insanely chaotic. 315 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:42,480 At least for me at this point in my life six years ago, 316 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:45,400 when my friends and I first walked 317 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:50,400 on the streets of Mahakesh, we were so confused. 318 00:16:50,540 --> 00:16:52,800 Along a very narrow street, 319 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:56,600 it was totally not uncommon to see a horse, 320 00:16:56,600 --> 00:16:59,080 then a car, then a person, then a bike, 321 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:04,080 going all in the same tiny little narrow alleyway, 322 00:17:04,460 --> 00:17:07,360 trying to get to where they need to go. 323 00:17:07,360 --> 00:17:10,920 And it was constant, constantly trying to navigate 324 00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:13,540 around traffic, so to speak, 325 00:17:13,540 --> 00:17:15,620 without getting hit by a motorbike, 326 00:17:15,620 --> 00:17:17,720 by not getting hit by a horse, 327 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:20,000 not running into another person. 328 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:24,400 That alone was just, wow, welcome to culture shock. 329 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:28,120 That is just the way it goes when you are in Mahakesh. 330 00:17:28,120 --> 00:17:30,040 So be aware of this. 331 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:32,440 It is a little bit crowded. 332 00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:36,000 My second most vivid memory of Morocco, 333 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:37,800 and if you are on Instagram, 334 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:40,680 there is a good chance that you have seen this reel 335 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:43,700 that I made on this very situation. 336 00:17:43,700 --> 00:17:47,580 When I was in Mahakesh, I got Hannah 337 00:17:47,580 --> 00:17:50,200 and I got scarred from it. 338 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:54,000 My friends and I were shopping at one of the local bazaars 339 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:55,440 or one of the local markets, 340 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:58,480 because that is just what you do when you're in Mahakesh. 341 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:01,280 You shop for spices, you shop for clothes, 342 00:18:01,280 --> 00:18:04,120 you shop for some very good quality stuff, 343 00:18:04,120 --> 00:18:07,740 especially when it comes to cuisine and lights, 344 00:18:07,740 --> 00:18:09,680 like lantern lights. 345 00:18:09,680 --> 00:18:12,280 It was at some point in time that I had really wanted 346 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:14,520 to get Hannah on my hands 347 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:16,960 because this is just the traditional ink. 348 00:18:16,960 --> 00:18:20,520 This is the traditional thing that many girls get. 349 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:23,380 And I wanted to experience and immerse myself 350 00:18:23,380 --> 00:18:26,760 in this very custom as much as I could. 351 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:30,200 My friends were very supportive of this idea 352 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:32,960 and we went around the market square of Mahakesh, 353 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:36,680 trying to find a shop or a place or somebody 354 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:38,680 who could do Hannah. 355 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:42,440 Well, we didn't find somebody immediately, 356 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:47,140 but I knew and was determined to find somebody somehow. 357 00:18:47,140 --> 00:18:51,120 My friends and I did find somebody eventually, 358 00:18:51,120 --> 00:18:54,440 and that turned out being a whole other experience. 359 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:57,400 I got Hannah from this lady on the street 360 00:18:57,400 --> 00:18:59,680 who claimed that she did Hannah 361 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:02,400 and was asking for 40 euros. 362 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:04,760 40 euros for Hannah. 363 00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:08,280 Welcome to tourist country again. 364 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:11,160 It was really overly priced, 365 00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:14,440 but at the same time, my friends and I had looked 366 00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:16,640 for I don't know how long that day 367 00:19:16,640 --> 00:19:18,140 for somebody who could do Hannah. 368 00:19:18,140 --> 00:19:19,880 And I was just impatient. 369 00:19:19,880 --> 00:19:21,680 I didn't wanna look again. 370 00:19:21,680 --> 00:19:24,640 This was seemingly perfect in the market square 371 00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:26,120 where the tourists were. 372 00:19:26,120 --> 00:19:29,020 It had to have been good quality, right? 373 00:19:30,120 --> 00:19:31,800 Well, think again. 374 00:19:31,800 --> 00:19:33,480 I got the Hannah done. 375 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:37,960 And what I wish I would have known that I learned later 376 00:19:37,960 --> 00:19:41,200 is if you ever get Hannah done, 377 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:45,060 the ink that goes on your hands or anywhere 378 00:19:45,060 --> 00:19:47,760 should not be black. 379 00:19:47,760 --> 00:19:49,960 It should be a brownish color, 380 00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:53,820 like a greenish or orangy brownish color. 381 00:19:53,820 --> 00:19:56,560 This type of Hannah is safe. 382 00:19:56,560 --> 00:20:00,840 The type of Hannah that I got was black. 383 00:20:00,840 --> 00:20:02,480 And I was not educated. 384 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:05,140 I had no idea that there was a difference 385 00:20:05,140 --> 00:20:08,520 between black Hannah and brown Hannah. 386 00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:10,880 So I got this black Hannah done. 387 00:20:10,880 --> 00:20:13,240 It did eventually fade to brown, 388 00:20:13,240 --> 00:20:16,800 but then I noticed that after a few weeks 389 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:21,800 that this Hannah had left some scars on my left wrist, 390 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:27,240 which even if I were to show them on camera again, 391 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:30,200 you would not really be able to see them. 392 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:33,980 But me looking at my own arm myself, 393 00:20:33,980 --> 00:20:38,980 I still see the scars from six years ago. 394 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:41,400 When the Hannah first faded, 395 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:45,160 it looked like a bunch of brown freckles 396 00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:47,760 all up and down my wrist. 397 00:20:47,760 --> 00:20:52,480 And I was like, was it the Hannah that actually did that? 398 00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:54,200 Oh, wow. 399 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:56,680 I honestly didn't think that much about it. 400 00:20:56,680 --> 00:21:00,040 And I honestly, frankly, wasn't bothered 401 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:03,880 because to me, this was like my souvenir of Morocco. 402 00:21:03,880 --> 00:21:06,260 But just in case you want to get Hannah, 403 00:21:06,260 --> 00:21:10,320 or if you ever travel with somebody who does want Hannah, 404 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:15,320 please be aware and keep your eyes peeled for black Hannah. 405 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:20,000 Do not fall for it. 406 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:21,680 When you get the Hannah done, 407 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:25,220 make sure that the ink used is not black. 408 00:21:25,220 --> 00:21:27,760 I wish somebody would have told me that. 409 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:30,600 My next memory of Morocco took place 410 00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:35,040 in a French coastal city in Morocco called Esowera. 411 00:21:35,040 --> 00:21:38,440 One of the two friends and I went to Esowera 412 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:43,160 for a few days just to experience the coast of Morocco. 413 00:21:43,160 --> 00:21:46,160 I know that typically when most of us think of Morocco, 414 00:21:46,160 --> 00:21:49,200 we think of desert, we think of camels, 415 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:51,280 we think of chaos if it's Mahakesh, 416 00:21:51,280 --> 00:21:53,360 we think of Chefchaouen, the blue city. 417 00:21:53,360 --> 00:21:58,360 We think of all of these sort of oriental type environments 418 00:21:58,420 --> 00:22:03,180 and landscapes, but we don't really associate the coast, 419 00:22:03,180 --> 00:22:06,360 at least most of us don't anyway, with Morocco. 420 00:22:06,360 --> 00:22:09,640 I can definitely tell you that Esowera 421 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:14,200 is basically like a Moroccan Dubrovnik in Croatia. 422 00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:17,320 It also has Greek Santorini vibes 423 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:19,480 because there are many buildings there 424 00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:23,120 that are white and blue like you would see in Santorini, 425 00:22:23,120 --> 00:22:26,440 and it just feels so low key. 426 00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:28,440 It feels so relaxed. 427 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:33,440 For me personally, one of the most beautiful sunsets 428 00:22:33,440 --> 00:22:38,440 on the beach that I have ever seen was in Esowera. 429 00:22:39,620 --> 00:22:42,400 I cannot recommend this place enough 430 00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:47,400 for any sort of sunset, majestic to say the least. 431 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:51,180 I remember when my friend and I were in Esowera, 432 00:22:51,180 --> 00:22:54,780 there was this one day when we were walking along the beach 433 00:22:54,780 --> 00:22:56,700 and there were camels on the beach. 434 00:22:56,700 --> 00:22:58,860 So you had camels walking on the beach 435 00:22:58,860 --> 00:23:00,460 and then out of nowhere, 436 00:23:00,460 --> 00:23:04,440 there was this random Moroccan dude on a four-wheeler 437 00:23:04,440 --> 00:23:08,660 and out of nowhere, he came up to us and specifically me, 438 00:23:08,660 --> 00:23:12,700 again, because I looked Moroccan and he asked me, 439 00:23:12,700 --> 00:23:14,660 do you want a ride? 440 00:23:14,660 --> 00:23:16,860 And I had to think about it for a second 441 00:23:16,860 --> 00:23:19,120 because I didn't wanna leave my friend. 442 00:23:19,120 --> 00:23:20,700 I didn't feel like a good person 443 00:23:20,700 --> 00:23:24,380 just taking this random ride on the beach with camels 444 00:23:24,380 --> 00:23:26,700 and leaving my friend there, 445 00:23:26,700 --> 00:23:30,100 but somehow in the end she seemed to be okay 446 00:23:30,100 --> 00:23:32,900 and I took this random four-wheeler ride 447 00:23:32,900 --> 00:23:36,160 with this random dude and we went all around the beach 448 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:38,060 and we swept by the camels 449 00:23:38,060 --> 00:23:40,980 and we were literally riding all up in the sand dunes. 450 00:23:40,980 --> 00:23:44,900 It was so fun and that actually was free. 451 00:23:44,900 --> 00:23:47,580 I kinda thought I was gonna get scammed again. 452 00:23:47,580 --> 00:23:50,160 I still don't know if I would recommend 453 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:53,820 trusting random Moroccans on the beach 454 00:23:53,820 --> 00:23:57,000 and four-wheelers offering to take you on a ride. 455 00:23:57,000 --> 00:23:59,540 I probably wouldn't do that to this day, 456 00:23:59,540 --> 00:24:03,200 but back then, again, I was in my YOLO season 457 00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:06,920 and I was just all up for any opportunity and I did it. 458 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:09,820 The point of this little story is once again, 459 00:24:09,820 --> 00:24:12,800 be careful, but be adventurous 460 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:15,780 and if you have the opportunity to take a four-wheeler 461 00:24:15,780 --> 00:24:19,240 or a motorcycle on a beach with camels all around, 462 00:24:19,240 --> 00:24:20,460 you should do it. 463 00:24:20,460 --> 00:24:24,660 Last but not least, one of my most treasured memories 464 00:24:24,660 --> 00:24:27,500 that I have of Morocco even to this day 465 00:24:27,500 --> 00:24:31,140 when I look back on that trip is having the opportunity 466 00:24:31,140 --> 00:24:35,300 to take a camel ride on the edge of the Sahara Desert 467 00:24:35,300 --> 00:24:37,740 in a place called Marzouga. 468 00:24:37,740 --> 00:24:39,980 When most people think of Morocco, 469 00:24:39,980 --> 00:24:44,200 most people tend to think of the desert and camels 470 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:47,180 and the head wraps, the whole shebang. 471 00:24:47,180 --> 00:24:52,180 Well, what I can say is my friends and I 100,000% 472 00:24:52,340 --> 00:24:54,940 experienced that to the fullest. 473 00:24:54,940 --> 00:24:59,940 I remember my friends and I had to take a 14-hour taxi 474 00:25:01,140 --> 00:25:04,620 and private driver to even get to the desert 475 00:25:04,620 --> 00:25:07,380 from Mahakesh where we had left from. 476 00:25:07,380 --> 00:25:10,100 I don't even know what all we did 477 00:25:10,100 --> 00:25:15,100 and how we survived that 14-hour drive to the desert, 478 00:25:15,100 --> 00:25:18,780 but we did and I know you may be thinking, 479 00:25:18,780 --> 00:25:22,900 well, Mary Grace, why did you not just fly? 480 00:25:22,900 --> 00:25:25,980 Oh, believe me, we would have flown 481 00:25:25,980 --> 00:25:29,260 if that could have been an option, but it wasn't. 482 00:25:29,260 --> 00:25:32,420 I am not sure about present day 2025, 483 00:25:32,420 --> 00:25:36,860 but I do know that in 2019 when my friends and I 484 00:25:36,860 --> 00:25:40,220 went to Morocco, there was no airport 485 00:25:40,220 --> 00:25:42,660 in the area around Mahzouga 486 00:25:42,660 --> 00:25:45,340 and around that beginning of the Sahara Desert. 487 00:25:45,340 --> 00:25:50,180 The only way we could have gotten there was by car. 488 00:25:50,180 --> 00:25:53,900 Ironically enough though, it was actually really 489 00:25:53,900 --> 00:25:58,060 not that expensive to take 14 hours to the desert. 490 00:25:58,060 --> 00:26:02,460 I am pretty sure that we spent only about $100 491 00:26:02,460 --> 00:26:05,140 for that entire car and that driver 492 00:26:05,140 --> 00:26:08,340 to be able to go to the desert one way. 493 00:26:08,340 --> 00:26:11,980 All in all, 100,000% worth it. 494 00:26:11,980 --> 00:26:15,580 We basically went glamping for two days. 495 00:26:15,580 --> 00:26:17,940 I actually really am happy we did that 496 00:26:17,940 --> 00:26:21,940 because in a place like the Sahara Desert, 497 00:26:21,940 --> 00:26:25,700 the temperatures when it comes to the night temperature 498 00:26:25,700 --> 00:26:29,100 and the day temperature, those two temperatures 499 00:26:29,100 --> 00:26:33,780 are so starkly different from each other. 500 00:26:33,780 --> 00:26:37,260 It can be super, super hot during the day 501 00:26:37,260 --> 00:26:40,700 to the point where you have to walk in the sand 502 00:26:40,700 --> 00:26:45,100 with some sort of shoes in contrast to the nighttime 503 00:26:45,100 --> 00:26:47,660 when you need to bundle up in a jacket 504 00:26:47,660 --> 00:26:49,860 because it is so freezing. 505 00:26:49,860 --> 00:26:54,860 The desert really doesn't retain heat that well at all. 506 00:26:55,960 --> 00:27:00,240 So just be aware if you have not had a lot of exposure 507 00:27:00,240 --> 00:27:02,900 to desert climate at all. 508 00:27:02,900 --> 00:27:06,380 Being able to actually get up on a camel 509 00:27:06,380 --> 00:27:09,100 and literally look all around you 510 00:27:09,100 --> 00:27:12,500 and to just see these orange sand dunes, 511 00:27:12,500 --> 00:27:16,220 just completely untouched, beautiful, 512 00:27:16,220 --> 00:27:20,620 and just being able to see so far into the distance 513 00:27:20,620 --> 00:27:23,460 and seeing all of the dunes in front of you 514 00:27:23,460 --> 00:27:27,060 while you are literally riding a camel, 515 00:27:27,060 --> 00:27:29,060 you are literally in a movie. 516 00:27:29,060 --> 00:27:32,380 It is so undeniably special. 517 00:27:32,380 --> 00:27:35,660 And I couldn't recommend this enough also 518 00:27:35,660 --> 00:27:38,140 to anybody who goes to Morocco. 519 00:27:38,140 --> 00:27:40,820 Like, have you really been to Morocco 520 00:27:40,820 --> 00:27:43,780 if you haven't ridden on a camel? 521 00:27:43,780 --> 00:27:48,780 I can very confidently say the answer to that is no. 522 00:27:49,420 --> 00:27:53,460 Even if you happen to be scared of riding a camel, 523 00:27:53,460 --> 00:27:56,540 believe me, especially if you go through 524 00:27:56,540 --> 00:28:00,980 an Airbnb experience or an agency like we did, 525 00:28:00,980 --> 00:28:03,340 we went through an Airbnb experience, 526 00:28:03,340 --> 00:28:05,920 those camels and the people involved 527 00:28:05,920 --> 00:28:08,100 will take very good care of you 528 00:28:08,100 --> 00:28:09,500 and you don't need to worry 529 00:28:09,500 --> 00:28:11,660 because they do this all the time 530 00:28:11,660 --> 00:28:13,820 and you have nothing to worry about. 531 00:28:13,820 --> 00:28:18,220 All in all, even though Morocco is not perfect, 532 00:28:18,220 --> 00:28:19,580 like any other country, 533 00:28:19,580 --> 00:28:23,140 it is so astoundingly beautiful 534 00:28:23,140 --> 00:28:27,380 with its many luscious landscapes, architecture, 535 00:28:27,380 --> 00:28:30,900 many long roads that are just waiting to be driven on. 536 00:28:30,900 --> 00:28:33,240 The cuisine is incredible. 537 00:28:33,240 --> 00:28:36,720 It's not only couscous, you get more than just that. 538 00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:39,540 If you go to Morocco, you need to try tagine, 539 00:28:39,540 --> 00:28:42,020 which is a signature dish of Morocco. 540 00:28:42,020 --> 00:28:45,900 Tagine is the type of pot that the dish is cooked in 541 00:28:45,900 --> 00:28:48,180 and you can have vegetables and meat 542 00:28:48,180 --> 00:28:52,220 and other delicious foods steaming hot and cooked in here. 543 00:28:52,220 --> 00:28:54,500 It really hits the spot 544 00:28:54,500 --> 00:28:58,260 and I simply just encourage you to take some sort of taxi, 545 00:28:58,260 --> 00:29:01,260 even take your own car if you're able to do that 546 00:29:01,260 --> 00:29:04,280 or even a bus, whatever you can do, 547 00:29:04,280 --> 00:29:08,280 and just take a ride through the country. 548 00:29:08,280 --> 00:29:10,100 Take it through the countryside 549 00:29:10,100 --> 00:29:12,460 because the landscapes and scenes 550 00:29:12,460 --> 00:29:14,340 that you will see outside of the window 551 00:29:14,340 --> 00:29:17,440 are all worth the ride. 552 00:29:17,440 --> 00:29:20,300 You will gain a whole different perspective 553 00:29:20,300 --> 00:29:22,360 of landscape and beauty 554 00:29:22,360 --> 00:29:25,880 once you have taken any of these means of transportation 555 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:27,240 through Morocco. 556 00:29:27,240 --> 00:29:31,380 So those are the moments that comprise of this handful 557 00:29:31,380 --> 00:29:35,620 of all sorts of crazy memories in Morocco. 558 00:29:35,620 --> 00:29:37,740 These are not the only ones. 559 00:29:37,740 --> 00:29:39,660 There are actually some more, 560 00:29:39,660 --> 00:29:42,460 but for the purpose of more brevity for this episode, 561 00:29:42,460 --> 00:29:46,620 I'm going to go ahead and end our Morocco journey here. 562 00:29:46,620 --> 00:29:49,180 If you are interested in a part two, 563 00:29:49,180 --> 00:29:51,740 then please do let me know on Instagram 564 00:29:51,740 --> 00:29:54,340 at onceuponatrip.pc 565 00:29:54,340 --> 00:29:58,060 or on my host account at marygracecroffert. 566 00:29:58,060 --> 00:30:00,300 Feel free to let me know your feedback 567 00:30:00,300 --> 00:30:04,980 and also as always to share any similar experiences, 568 00:30:04,980 --> 00:30:07,740 anything that you particularly have witnessed 569 00:30:07,740 --> 00:30:10,820 in another country that was really weird 570 00:30:10,820 --> 00:30:14,860 or just something that you didn't expect to see yourself. 571 00:30:14,860 --> 00:30:17,380 I really do hope that with today's episode 572 00:30:17,380 --> 00:30:20,980 that you took some new little tidbits away 573 00:30:20,980 --> 00:30:25,260 when it comes to Moroccan culture, people, and environment. 574 00:30:25,260 --> 00:30:27,000 I hope that you enjoyed. 575 00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:30,660 I look forward to being back here with you next week 576 00:30:30,660 --> 00:30:35,660 for another fun, adventurous trip of an episode. 577 00:30:35,660 --> 00:31:01,660 I will see you next Tuesday.