I am also averse to tourist rides on depressed animals. I am known in my family for talking to them instead - to the point where once a nice Bactrian camel trotted after me to the consternation of the owner. 😊 I wasn't overwhelmed by Morocco and much preferred Tunisia but that was a long time ago and no doubt all has changed.
Thanks for responding to my question, I can see why you would not want to return if you didn’t enjoy the food because for me food is 75% or more of the pleasure of traveling.
Felt similarly about Morocco. Food and haggling in particular. Just returned from Budapest, a fairy tale feast for the eyes in architecture. Food not my best but I found a variety of options that were non meat based. Highly recommend!
Always wanted to visit...and also will never return. My arms were bruised from shoves and pulls into stalls, where I was trapped and harangued, prices plummeting the more I resisted. "Please, stop talking...I can't think about anything with you shouting at me", I would plead. I had longish strawberry blonde hair, which I should have covered, and this made me a target everywhere. Food was good to mediocre, no matter how expensive the restaurant. I almost drowned during the Turkish bath. Alleys filled with waste; the stench of animals butchered streetside. Friends had better times....by staying outside the walled cities in sanitized resorts. Poverty, noise, smells assaulted our senses. We also refuse to ride animals who are abused for tourism purposes. We were delighted to return home, to Portugal.
We are planning to spend late November- December in Portugal and Spain and in mid January we were going to head to Morocco. We are not planning in advance....so going as the spirit moves. I'm dubious now. (We will be in Europe through the end of February). (we have to come back in March to ready our home for the market in May). We don't really care where we fly home from other than making sure we like the airline.
We are not tryiing to check countries off a list but we love to try new food (we became very tired of the food in Instanbul and Athens). We are foodies for sure and LOVE big food markets. Too many meatballs on a stick and no way would I eat Sharma. Giant stacked meat under a light bulb for days is not my idea of anything but a petrie dish of bacteria.
I assumed we would ride the camels and spend the night in the dessert in a luxury tent for the experience and Chefchaouen looks stunning. A trip into the Atlas Mountains was on the list as well, and I rather fancy a roof top lovely meal with authetic food in Marrakesh completing our forray into Africa with a trip to Tunsania. (after all this route just makes sense).
We didn't even bother going to the Bazar in Instanbul as we are trying to rid our home of stuff...not add to it and other than original art that speaks to me. I'm adverse to haggling. I've spent my entire life working in a sales/interior design world and know that what is between my ears is worth every cent of my fees. I like nice things but fewer items is my new motto.
I do love architecture and history. We prefer guides in small doses rather than long tours.
If you ever get the chance to try shawarma again, you should try it. It's a little different everywhere but in Jordan, it's fantastic--beef and chicken both! I've eaten it in different countries at least 100 times and never been sick. I wish I could find a shawarma place here in Phoenix!!
I spent two winters, Dec-Feb 1972-73 and 1973-74, surfing in Morocco mostly around the Tarazhout (Agadir) area, but also in Kenitra and Safi areas. Some of the best days of my life. Back then they would not let you in if you had long hair. The 1st time I had cut my hair before trying to cross the border in Ceuta, but my passport photo was of me with long hair. The border agent said "Hippy, no entry". We had to pay him about $10 to get him to let me in. My wife and I have been meaning to go there since we moved here in 2020 and I am sure I will be disappointed around the changes 50 years later. I've seen videos of the spot we spent about 4 months at, Anchor Point, and where there would be about up to 10-15 guys in the line-up back then there are now more than 50.
It was good to hear about your Morocco trip and learn that things really haven’t changed much in 50 years. We spent 6weeks traveling/camping in Morocco in 1975. At that time the only thing you didn’t have to bargain for was bread. The price was fixed by the government. The bread was some of the best we have ever had, which is saying a lot after living in Spain for 3 years.
Many of the people I know who went to Morocco have said the same thing. The stunning poverty, the constant sense of being taken advantage of are overwhelming. Add to that the almost certain results of eating there, and…erf. No thanks!
I have lived and traveled around the world and found the Moroccan desert to be one of the most magical places I have ever been - and I’m a water person. Perhaps it’s the wave-like nature of the dunes, perhaps the vastness, but I felt a deep spiritual connection.
I didn’t ride a camel - when the rest of the group did so I walked the dunes and took photos in solitude. Perfect.
In contrast the Marrakech Medina was an assault on my senses and couldn’t wait to leave - and I’m originally from NYC!
Essaouira was also wonderful - I was solo and kept extending my time there. Fabulous vegetarian food, too.
I actually really enjoyed this post and the honesty conveyed in it. I can see ALL of that not being "the cat's meow." Like you, I don't side with animals being utilized for tourist satisfaction nor for the owner's monetary gain.
Now, no offense meant when I say this, but karma is a b&*$%. All of that taking 500%-700% profit from tourists is sure to come back to you. What we put out there is sure to come back to us at some point, right? LOL 🤷♀️
Thanks for a great, short post that meant something and was informative!
I too, am not a fan of Marrakesh. Having worked in law-enforcement my entire career, I immediately felt the sense of desperation when I landed in the city. The aggressive sales pitches, and the obligation to haggle also is not my jam. And to top it off, I got robbed by two guys on a motorcycle who used their handlebars in the Medina to bump into me and hook the strap of my small Crossbody bag, and dragged me until the buckle snapped from the shear force. I lost all my documents as we were getting ready to leave for the airport. So I had to stay an extra three days and make my way to Casablanca to get an emergency passport to be allowed on a plane back to Portugal. Good times! Also, having lived in Jordan for three years, my bar is very high on desert lifestyles and food.
Your way of expressing your dissatisfaction is very entertaining.
I played the golf course outside of Marakesh. Comparable to an okay muni course in the States, though perfectly flat. Didn’t look at the rental clubs till the first tee: two 8-irons, maybe a three- and five-wood, a putter and a very short-shafted kiddie club.
At first I found the call to prayers disturbing, eventually it was the only thing I enjoyed about our stay there.
The hotel room was freezing at night. The bathroom floor and shower were dangerously slick. The seat on the toilet… was not attached.
Last May my wife and I spent eight days in Marrakesh, with side trips. I absolutely loved it, thought the experience was a real feast for the senses and a designer's mecca. I agree about the food - a week of tagines lost their appeal and good beer was hard to come by - which would be a deal killer for lots of us. If I were to go back, it would be on one of Sandy Clinton's deep dive cultural and design tours - check her out on FB.
Thanks for sharing your experience. While we don’t plan to make a trip, I’m curious how my wife and I would be viewed as a lesbian couple since homosexuality is a crime there.
I am also averse to tourist rides on depressed animals. I am known in my family for talking to them instead - to the point where once a nice Bactrian camel trotted after me to the consternation of the owner. 😊 I wasn't overwhelmed by Morocco and much preferred Tunisia but that was a long time ago and no doubt all has changed.
Thanks for responding to my question, I can see why you would not want to return if you didn’t enjoy the food because for me food is 75% or more of the pleasure of traveling.
Felt similarly about Morocco. Food and haggling in particular. Just returned from Budapest, a fairy tale feast for the eyes in architecture. Food not my best but I found a variety of options that were non meat based. Highly recommend!
I really would like to visit Budapest but refuse to support an economy under Orban's control.
We visit Budapest this week...and feel the discomfort of Orban.
Always wanted to visit...and also will never return. My arms were bruised from shoves and pulls into stalls, where I was trapped and harangued, prices plummeting the more I resisted. "Please, stop talking...I can't think about anything with you shouting at me", I would plead. I had longish strawberry blonde hair, which I should have covered, and this made me a target everywhere. Food was good to mediocre, no matter how expensive the restaurant. I almost drowned during the Turkish bath. Alleys filled with waste; the stench of animals butchered streetside. Friends had better times....by staying outside the walled cities in sanitized resorts. Poverty, noise, smells assaulted our senses. We also refuse to ride animals who are abused for tourism purposes. We were delighted to return home, to Portugal.
We are planning to spend late November- December in Portugal and Spain and in mid January we were going to head to Morocco. We are not planning in advance....so going as the spirit moves. I'm dubious now. (We will be in Europe through the end of February). (we have to come back in March to ready our home for the market in May). We don't really care where we fly home from other than making sure we like the airline.
We are not tryiing to check countries off a list but we love to try new food (we became very tired of the food in Instanbul and Athens). We are foodies for sure and LOVE big food markets. Too many meatballs on a stick and no way would I eat Sharma. Giant stacked meat under a light bulb for days is not my idea of anything but a petrie dish of bacteria.
I assumed we would ride the camels and spend the night in the dessert in a luxury tent for the experience and Chefchaouen looks stunning. A trip into the Atlas Mountains was on the list as well, and I rather fancy a roof top lovely meal with authetic food in Marrakesh completing our forray into Africa with a trip to Tunsania. (after all this route just makes sense).
We didn't even bother going to the Bazar in Instanbul as we are trying to rid our home of stuff...not add to it and other than original art that speaks to me. I'm adverse to haggling. I've spent my entire life working in a sales/interior design world and know that what is between my ears is worth every cent of my fees. I like nice things but fewer items is my new motto.
I do love architecture and history. We prefer guides in small doses rather than long tours.
Should we rethink our plans????
If you ever get the chance to try shawarma again, you should try it. It's a little different everywhere but in Jordan, it's fantastic--beef and chicken both! I've eaten it in different countries at least 100 times and never been sick. I wish I could find a shawarma place here in Phoenix!!
Thank you for your response. I'm sure I will get the chance.
I spent two winters, Dec-Feb 1972-73 and 1973-74, surfing in Morocco mostly around the Tarazhout (Agadir) area, but also in Kenitra and Safi areas. Some of the best days of my life. Back then they would not let you in if you had long hair. The 1st time I had cut my hair before trying to cross the border in Ceuta, but my passport photo was of me with long hair. The border agent said "Hippy, no entry". We had to pay him about $10 to get him to let me in. My wife and I have been meaning to go there since we moved here in 2020 and I am sure I will be disappointed around the changes 50 years later. I've seen videos of the spot we spent about 4 months at, Anchor Point, and where there would be about up to 10-15 guys in the line-up back then there are now more than 50.
I won’t put Morroco on my bucket list. Would definitely not like the food. Thanks for interesting post.
It was good to hear about your Morocco trip and learn that things really haven’t changed much in 50 years. We spent 6weeks traveling/camping in Morocco in 1975. At that time the only thing you didn’t have to bargain for was bread. The price was fixed by the government. The bread was some of the best we have ever had, which is saying a lot after living in Spain for 3 years.
Many of the people I know who went to Morocco have said the same thing. The stunning poverty, the constant sense of being taken advantage of are overwhelming. Add to that the almost certain results of eating there, and…erf. No thanks!
I have lived and traveled around the world and found the Moroccan desert to be one of the most magical places I have ever been - and I’m a water person. Perhaps it’s the wave-like nature of the dunes, perhaps the vastness, but I felt a deep spiritual connection.
I didn’t ride a camel - when the rest of the group did so I walked the dunes and took photos in solitude. Perfect.
In contrast the Marrakech Medina was an assault on my senses and couldn’t wait to leave - and I’m originally from NYC!
Essaouira was also wonderful - I was solo and kept extending my time there. Fabulous vegetarian food, too.
I actually really enjoyed this post and the honesty conveyed in it. I can see ALL of that not being "the cat's meow." Like you, I don't side with animals being utilized for tourist satisfaction nor for the owner's monetary gain.
Now, no offense meant when I say this, but karma is a b&*$%. All of that taking 500%-700% profit from tourists is sure to come back to you. What we put out there is sure to come back to us at some point, right? LOL 🤷♀️
Thanks for a great, short post that meant something and was informative!
So many wonderful places to visit, so little time......
I too, am not a fan of Marrakesh. Having worked in law-enforcement my entire career, I immediately felt the sense of desperation when I landed in the city. The aggressive sales pitches, and the obligation to haggle also is not my jam. And to top it off, I got robbed by two guys on a motorcycle who used their handlebars in the Medina to bump into me and hook the strap of my small Crossbody bag, and dragged me until the buckle snapped from the shear force. I lost all my documents as we were getting ready to leave for the airport. So I had to stay an extra three days and make my way to Casablanca to get an emergency passport to be allowed on a plane back to Portugal. Good times! Also, having lived in Jordan for three years, my bar is very high on desert lifestyles and food.
Sorry to hear about your experience.
Your way of expressing your dissatisfaction is very entertaining.
I played the golf course outside of Marakesh. Comparable to an okay muni course in the States, though perfectly flat. Didn’t look at the rental clubs till the first tee: two 8-irons, maybe a three- and five-wood, a putter and a very short-shafted kiddie club.
At first I found the call to prayers disturbing, eventually it was the only thing I enjoyed about our stay there.
The hotel room was freezing at night. The bathroom floor and shower were dangerously slick. The seat on the toilet… was not attached.
I hope you weren't charged a lot for the rental clubs.
Last May my wife and I spent eight days in Marrakesh, with side trips. I absolutely loved it, thought the experience was a real feast for the senses and a designer's mecca. I agree about the food - a week of tagines lost their appeal and good beer was hard to come by - which would be a deal killer for lots of us. If I were to go back, it would be on one of Sandy Clinton's deep dive cultural and design tours - check her out on FB.
Thanks for sharing your experience. While we don’t plan to make a trip, I’m curious how my wife and I would be viewed as a lesbian couple since homosexuality is a crime there.
Our driver was okay with us...but of course he worked for a tour company that had let him know.