Blog 14: Shukran (Thank you) to the Wonderful Morocco! Part 2

Blog 14: Shukran (Thank you) to the Wonderful Morocco! Part 2

            There have only been a few moments when my breath has been taken away. Sitting on a sand dune watching the setting sun over the Sahara was definitely one of them. My heart was fluttering against the walls of my chest. My lungs could not seem to take in enough air. I couldn’t believe where I was and what I was seeing. But I’m getting ahead of myself aren’t I? Lets rewind.

            After leaving Fes, we continued our way south to the gateway of the Sahara. We stopped for a night in Erfoud and already I noticed a dramatic change in the geography. Not a cloud was in the sky. The land had flattened and now only a few bushes and lone trees were able to survive the harsh climate. At our hotel, I tried Moroccan food for the first time. There was couscous (steamed semolina aka wheat granules), tanjine (slow cooked chicken and vegetables) and Khobz (a thick, loaf Morrocan flatbread). I love the way Moroccan food is so hearty, healthy, and satisfying. My inner foodie was very, very happy as I gorged on my second loaf of Khobz. But if I had really wanted to ‘go Moroccan’, I should have ditched my fork and ate with my right hand. We also saw a beautiful carpet shop in the town of Rissani, which is near Erfoud. Weaving carpets is considered an art form in Morocco. The patterns and colors were so intricate and delicate. I loved what the shop owner told me. He said “here in Morocco we put our hearts into carpet weaving…it’s our art form.” I wish they weren’t so expensive (though they were rightfully priced) because I fell in love with them. How cool would that be to have a tiny Moroccan carpet in your dorm room? Well, then again I think I wouldn’t want people stepping on it…ever.

Sunrise over Algeria

            Finally we made our last trek to the Sahara. And we did it in style. We took 4x4 SUVs and drove through the terrain to the desert. Yes it was as epic as it sounds. Imagine staring out the window at the emerging sand dunes on the horizon. I felt like I was flying. We were driving maybe about 70mph with the driver literally weaving through brush and trees. He blasted Arabic music and at one point (of course he slowed the speed first)  he JUMPED out of the car and ran along side of us. It was crazy! Then three hours later we were suddenly we there. I had made it to the Sahara.

            We rode on camels for about an hour during the sunset to our tents in the middle of the Sahara. We were lead by local tour guides. Camels are much taller than I thought, and they move so that you are whipped back and forth. I felt like a yoyo and I’m not going to lie it was a little painful at times. But riding on a camel through the endless maze of sand dunes was like living in a dream. What shocked me the most about the Sahara dunes is the absolute peace and simple beauty it holds. Be silent and stare around you. The dunes rise and dip like the humps of the camels. The only sound is that of blowing sand. It was so surreal. As the sun began to set, we dismounted the camels to watch the sunset. I kicked off my shoes and buried my feet in the warm desert sand. I was sitting on a sand dune in a state of complete serenity, watching the sunset over the Sahara when I heard a noise. Our camel guide suddenly whips out a cell phone from his robes and we all stare at him like he just pulled out a grenade. And I’ll never forget his amused smile as he said to us “technology in the desert.” Only in the Sahara.

            That night, as we slept in tents in the desert, I saw the brightest, most beautiful stars and moon. They were as clear as a National Geographic Photo. I couldn’t help but think of the star of Bethlehem because they were so brightly painted against the canvas of black. That night our camel guides played on Moroccan drums and we danced around a bonfire. Writing about my trip now makes me realize how lucky I was to go on this incredible journey. I think the Sahara will be a memory I will hold close to my heart forever. Shukran Morocco!

This little guy is called a sand fish...and they eat them