Morocco

We're in the process of writing entries for Morocco. In the meantime, check out Sherry's posts from Otts World:

[singlepic=1248,200,,,right]It's a Dry Heat and a Dry Country - Morocco
For the last week in addition to my 50 lbs of luggage, I’ve been toting around eye drops, lip balm, and alcohol – welcome to Morocco. It’s dry here…the orange ground begging for water, the sun burning brightly every day. My eyes are thirsting for liquid as are my lips and my skin. The sun beats down on us every day as it climbs into the high 90’s F. You have a constant, unquenchable thirst…for something cold…very cold. I honestly haven’t seen a single cloud in the sky since I arrived here. Read More

[singlepic=1249,200,,,left]Sand in Every Orifice - The Sahara
We had been driving for about 4 hours when we turned off the bumpy road onto the flat expanse of desert. You could see for miles – it was totally flat. There were no roads, just a few tire tracks and a bunch of signs sticking in the sand advertising various hotels that were nowhere to be seen. I was anxious – similar to the feeling I had when I first turned into a game park in Kenya for my first safari. I was entering a world in which I had only previously seen on television and movies. A world that I never thought I would experience in my lifetime. A world that was unthinkable to me.
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[singlepic=1250,200,,,right]The Grand Puba of Morocco - Fez
Prior to 10 months ago, the only time I had anyone utter the word fez was on Happy Days. I’m sure that you all remember Mr. Cunningham and his Grand Puba group – as a member of the Grand Puba, he had to wear a fez hat which depicted his membership into the group. That image of the red hat and the tassel had stuck in my head for my lifetime…one of my few experiences with the exotic Arabian culture to date.
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[singlepic=1251,200,,,left]Goats in Trees!
Since I really didn’t have a book about Morocco, I was learning things as I was experiencing them, as well as learning about things through my other travel partners that had ample books on Morocco. After the first week, someone in my group mentioned in passing something about the Moroccan goats that climb trees.“What?, What did you just say?” “In southern Morocco there are goats that climb trees to eat the fruit. Wouldn’t that be cool to see?” They proceeded to show me a picture in their travel book of about 14 goats hanging out high in the branches of a tree.
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[singlepic=1252,200,,,right]Turning down the volume…Tangier, Essaouria, and Chefchaouen
The last week of travel through Morocco was when I finally hit my groove…I had started to get really comfortable with ‘real’ travel again. When I first arrived in Morocco – I was rather tense, on guard, and untrusting. Marrakech was a crazy place full of grime, strange people, strange culture and religion – it was a shock to my system. However – after about 2 ½ weeks, you get used to it – you acclimate to the environment around you. The people don’t seem scary and dangerous anymore – instead they are intriguing and you work your best to try to get through that initial exterior shell so you can see their real personality.
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[singlepic=1253,200,,,left]Moroccan Rainbow - Final Thoughts
I’m sure you might be surprised that I didn’t use the obvious title choice for this Moroccan send-off post – Rockin’ the Kasbah… I did actually think about it, but that’s not what I think of when I examine my parting thoughts about Morocco. From the moment I started journeying around Morocco – I was struck by the color…brown. I kept imagining that if the world were a painting palette, Morocco would represent the brown splotch of paint.
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Other comments

9 Comments on "A Year in Paris"

  1. Leah on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 8:12 am 

    I really enjoyed reading your post. I am thirty-two soon and have itchy feet that are ready to try out foreign soils.
    It is a fear of leaving the security of the day to day grind of paying the bills and living a safe and non-challenging way of life that has put me on hold for some time.
    I hope (as it has I) your post will inspire others to go and follow their bliss – Leah 🙂

  2. Patricia GW on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 8:54 am 

    Travel and experiencing a new culture really has put it into perspective, and filled that void with purpose (and joy).

    In three weeks I’ll be moving to Paris myself for one month. I have the same feeling – the incredible surreal realization that I’m going to be living there…. it’s thrilling!!

  3. Abby on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 2:11 pm 

    Oh, Jenny! Escargot isn’t palatable — it’s delicious! I love your writing style; it’s so fun and energetic. Can you believe how far we’ve come? Everyone, Jenny and I were in the exact same industry and have known each other online and via work emails for years and years. But we’ve only met once, many, many years ago. And one of those jobs she was sleeping next to her BlackBerry for was one I’d just left. And now she’s 33 and living abroad, just like I was last year. Kindred spirits. Jenny, you’re a true inspiration — I can’t wait to see how your adventure unfolds!

  4. Debbie Beardsley on Mon, 6th Jun 2011 3:22 pm 

    Your life in Paris sounds ideal. It is nice to read about people who follow their dreams instead of wishing they had! Enjoy the rest of your journey.

  5. Terriaw on Tue, 7th Jun 2011 1:40 pm 

    Wow, fabulous and well said! I love your new outlook on like. After experiencing career burnout and feeling a little lost and purposeless lately, you have encouraged me. I look forward to seeing Paris someday!

  6. Jenny on Tue, 7th Jun 2011 6:50 pm 

    merci for all the sweet comments! @abby we are soooo kindred spirits! well except when it comes to our differing feelings on escargot…;) and congrats patricia on the move! thrilling indeed!

  7. shawna on Thu, 9th Jun 2011 1:32 am 

    you’ve reawakened my travel bug. must. return. to. france. (someday.) eat a croissant for me!

  8. Weekly Travel Blog Links — LandingStanding on Mon, 13th Jun 2011 6:16 am 

    […] how badly I want to go to Paris… If only we could afford living there for an extended period of time during our travels!  Any […]

  9. G. Michael Schneider on Sun, 19th Jun 2011 3:36 pm 

    I am a firm believer in living and working overseas, just as you described. However, many of us actually like our jobs and our homes and are simply looking to renew and refresh our lives, not change it. However, you can have the same type of cultural experience without having to reach into your own wallet and without having to quit your day job–by taking what I call a “working vacation.” My wife and I have done this 15 separate times, from Australia to Zimbabwe, Turket to Tibet, Mauritius to Mongolia. I describe how to do it in my blog otherguysdime.wordpress.com and via Twitter at @otherguysdime. Learn how to have fun without having to have burn any of your bridges behind you.

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