Fifteen countries and a backpack.
A heavy backpack may I add. I had 4 years of high school Spanish, and a GPS on my phone, and I felt more than equipped to undertake any adventure life threw my way. Turns out none of that was useful.
One week into my year-long excursion, I had zero phone service and was using a paper map in Swahili upside down. Nobody spoke Spanish - anywhere I went, but it turns out a smile and a lot of shrugging can get you from an airport to a hostel at 3 am. By week two, I felt like Bear Grylls.
I've had a lot of crazy experiences, one night in particular that comes to mind a lot. Usually, every time I see the stars or relax by a bonfire, I get transported back to the night I camped in the Sahara Desert.
It took our group about a 7-hour drive through the Atlas Mountains, leaving from a popular and touristic hub that is Marrakech. Ten minutes into our drive, due to Morocco’s excellent road structure, signs, and common sense (sarcasm) we hit a motorcyclist - don't worry he was ok. The next 6 hours and 50 minutes were spent gazing at our death, 3 inches from the edge of the winding, rocky mountain’s edge.
Our 12 person van was filled with all sorts of characters, so rightfully, we played Disney soundtracks the whole way until our driver yelled at us in French (People of Morocco compromise several different dialects of Arabic, and French - which I didn't know until then). A few fellow travelers translated basically to snap out of the almost spiritual trance, that kind of can’t not happen, listening to “Circle of Life” with the surreal landscape around us. So we sat in silence sharing pictures of where we all came from and where our journey has taken us. And it’s a good thing because I made a couple good friends that to this day I still speak with.
The road trip tour on the way to the Sahara was quite packed for being in the middle of nowhere. We stopped along the way at famous film sets which included “Game of Thrones”, “Inception”, and a few others. We had lunch where Leonardo DiCaprio had lunch, and we visited a local shop to see how natural Argan oil was made - which was pretty cool. The next stop was made after motion sickness took the best of a photojournalist from Slovenia. I think that was the only time I heard her speak.
Finally, after our last stop to stock up on water, we made it to the Sahara Desert. We were greeted by a dozen smelly camels, scarves (if we didn't bring them) to wrap our heads with, and Moroccan men with the obligatory insincere smile, that preluded a painful two hours and a camel toe - pun intended.
It just so happened that we couldn’t have chosen a better night. We arrived at our tents to a cloudless view of the brightest, fullest, biggest full moon I’ve ever seen. The camels went to sleep, and we all got together to watch the moon from a sand dune. Tagine, bread, and the most delicious oranges this earth has to spare, were awaiting us for dinner.
After our dinner and meeting the other tour groups, we all sat down by a fire with smiles stretching from ear to ear. The Berber men (pre-Arab inhabitants of North Africa) taught us a few words on their dialects of Arabic, followed by chants, drums, clapping and singing around a campfire, of course, all while passing a cigarette. Around 4 am me, along with a few Berber men and new friends, were the last ones up. I think we all just knew we couldn't say goodbye to the night. The love and peace given from complete strangers under billions of stars is immeasurable.
Overall, I had spent roughly a month in Morocco. I learned to surf, while Moroccan instructors whom I didn't know shared their boards, tips, and enthusiasm to clap and cheer outrageously when I finally stood up. I witnessed the most beautiful sunset I've ever seen. I learned to make the best mint tea and cook traditional North African meals. I fasted (I lasted one day). Painted. Passed up generous edible opium offers. I met strangers who are now considered a few of the most inspiring people I've met. I cliff jumped into blue waters with Arabic chants echoing my decent. I stargazed to hypnotic drum roars. And I learned how to be even more giving through the daily generosity of the beautiful Muslim culture around me.
I will definitely be coming back, Morocco.
