Unexpected Adventures : Lisbon & Marrakech
Travel day 1: Lisbon stop-over
Our flight got delayed so we missed our connection, and the next flight wasn't until the next day...so our airline paid for our hotel and food and we got a small pit stop in Lisbon !! I went to Lisbon a few years ago, but was more than glad to take on the city another time:) We only had the evening to explore, but went to Baixa chiado, stopped by the water to watch the sunset and ate the amazing, Portuguese pastry called pastel de nata :) Yum !!
Marrakech, Morocco :
Morocco is not like any place I've ever traveled to. So unknown, so different, so exciting. It made my trip that much more thrilling. It was way too short and I really want to go back, inshallah !
Even the airport was foreign. We had a stop in Casablanca; as we traveled down the escalator, we saw men dressed in traditional garb staring at us, a group of 5 young women (we made sure to dress extra modest). After reading many travel blogs to prepare, I knew to expect the catcalling, the stares and attempts at trying to swindle us especially at markets...all which are true. I had a vendor invite me to a communal lunch among the shops near by, another invited me to tea and my favorite, one asked me to meet his mother - haha ! Some might mistaken this as friendliness (which it may well be) but be careful ! *Tip : You have to be stern when saying no ! Be direct.
Don't let that scare you though and take away from the gems of this beautiful country.
The Souks :
We started the day shopping in the huge market called the Souks near Jemaa El Fnaa Square. All the pottery, traditional clothing, scarfs and carpets, decorations, leathers, etc. were all strewn across the market filled with detail, color and beauty. With a bit of bargaining and finding the right shop owner, I was able to get 2 pairs of haram pants for 130 dirham (about 13 euros) and a beautiful traditional tunic for 100 dirham (about 10 euros) !
With that being said, bargaining can be draining. After spending only a few hours there and having to bargain in EVERY shop (most don't even list the price) it can be tiring...but worth it !
I would say it's very helpful to know French at least, if not, it seems they try to take advantage of you. We spoke in French, and I also used my Arabic and I think that helped get us some bargains !
I haven't practiced my Arabic in a while and to have them understand me, have conversations, and them be impressed with my level; it was really cool ! I think it allowed me to connect with the locals as well, because they saw I was attempting to communicate with them.
Camels !
I finally got to ride a camel and it was great ! My camel was named Chou chou (basically meaning "sweetie" in French). Our guide Youssef was so nice, and we all joked around the whole trip. Half way in, we stopped at a berber's house (indigenous ethnic group in North Africa that make up 40% of Morocco's population) and had traditional Moroccan tea/snacks. The best part was the noises the camels made and how stubborn they were ! Once our guide got the first few camels to sit down, the first camel would stand back up and they would all follow ! :)
Another must ? Fresh juice for less than 1 euro in the market square ! ^^ On our way to the hostel or any activity, we stopped every time for a fresh cup of juice:) It was delicious !
Tip : When choosing your fruits, make sure to choose ones with a peel ! The water isn't very safe to drink and fruits without a peel are often washed first.
I loved every moment of being in an unknown culture and world; being pushed out of my comfort zone the whole trip. I've never been to a country so different and so unique. It was beautiful in unusual ways.
It is now definitely one of my new favorite places !
Next stop ? Another first, middle Europe ! ^^
Ma'a salama,
Lyndi
Not done reading? Check out my other blog posts on the right side of the page! Then click the follow button up at the top to get more recipes, travel tips, and adventures right to your inbox - bisous!
Our flight got delayed so we missed our connection, and the next flight wasn't until the next day...so our airline paid for our hotel and food and we got a small pit stop in Lisbon !! I went to Lisbon a few years ago, but was more than glad to take on the city another time:) We only had the evening to explore, but went to Baixa chiado, stopped by the water to watch the sunset and ate the amazing, Portuguese pastry called pastel de nata :) Yum !!
 |
| Trying to catch a ride on a graffitied funicular on Rua da Bica de Duarte Belo ! |
 |
| A Portuguese must : Pastel de nata ^^ |
Morocco is not like any place I've ever traveled to. So unknown, so different, so exciting. It made my trip that much more thrilling. It was way too short and I really want to go back, inshallah !
Even the airport was foreign. We had a stop in Casablanca; as we traveled down the escalator, we saw men dressed in traditional garb staring at us, a group of 5 young women (we made sure to dress extra modest). After reading many travel blogs to prepare, I knew to expect the catcalling, the stares and attempts at trying to swindle us especially at markets...all which are true. I had a vendor invite me to a communal lunch among the shops near by, another invited me to tea and my favorite, one asked me to meet his mother - haha ! Some might mistaken this as friendliness (which it may well be) but be careful ! *Tip : You have to be stern when saying no ! Be direct.
Don't let that scare you though and take away from the gems of this beautiful country.
The Souks :
We started the day shopping in the huge market called the Souks near Jemaa El Fnaa Square. All the pottery, traditional clothing, scarfs and carpets, decorations, leathers, etc. were all strewn across the market filled with detail, color and beauty. With a bit of bargaining and finding the right shop owner, I was able to get 2 pairs of haram pants for 130 dirham (about 13 euros) and a beautiful traditional tunic for 100 dirham (about 10 euros) !
 |
| Top: Spices in the market, bottom: beautiful, detailed pottery and shoes hanging on the shop wall |
I would say it's very helpful to know French at least, if not, it seems they try to take advantage of you. We spoke in French, and I also used my Arabic and I think that helped get us some bargains !
I haven't practiced my Arabic in a while and to have them understand me, have conversations, and them be impressed with my level; it was really cool ! I think it allowed me to connect with the locals as well, because they saw I was attempting to communicate with them.
Camels !
I finally got to ride a camel and it was great ! My camel was named Chou chou (basically meaning "sweetie" in French). Our guide Youssef was so nice, and we all joked around the whole trip. Half way in, we stopped at a berber's house (indigenous ethnic group in North Africa that make up 40% of Morocco's population) and had traditional Moroccan tea/snacks. The best part was the noises the camels made and how stubborn they were ! Once our guide got the first few camels to sit down, the first camel would stand back up and they would all follow ! :)
Another must ? Fresh juice for less than 1 euro in the market square ! ^^ On our way to the hostel or any activity, we stopped every time for a fresh cup of juice:) It was delicious !
Tip : When choosing your fruits, make sure to choose ones with a peel ! The water isn't very safe to drink and fruits without a peel are often washed first.
 |
| Left: street on our way to the Souks, middle: our henna tattoos, right: our daily fresh juice - yum ! |
It is now definitely one of my new favorite places !
Next stop ? Another first, middle Europe ! ^^
Ma'a salama,
Lyndi
Not done reading? Check out my other blog posts on the right side of the page! Then click the follow button up at the top to get more recipes, travel tips, and adventures right to your inbox - bisous!
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