If you have been following Culturally Ours for any length of time, you know how much we love exploring the world – especially from the eyes and words of our readers and followers. Today we take a virtual tour around Morocco which serves as a gateway to Africa and is a country of dizzying diversity with ancient cities, desert and mountains. From Saharan dunes to the peaks of the High Atlas Mountains, Morocco is a magnet for traveling looking to explore this region and its culture.
Photographer and illustrator Chiara Anceschi shares a visual log of her travel adventures exploring Morocco. Her images give us a glimpse of this beautiful and culturally rich country that we cannot wait to explore.
From Chiara,
My memories of Morocco are vivid. They encompass all my senses. Years later, I can still feel the texture of the traditional rugs under my fingertips and smell the pungent odor of the tanneries. I can savor the mint tea in my mouth and hear the call to prayer resonating through the narrow alleyways of its medinas.
Morocco was a magical encounter for me. I find it almost impossible not to be fascinated by it – you immediately find yourself absorbed in a swirl of color, life, and history, and the spell is quickly cast. From its vibrant pulsating souks to its celestial desert sky, Morocco holds such a variety of wonders that it can meet anyone’s taste. Add to that the renowned hospitality of its people, and you’ll be counting the days to your next trip to this extraordinary land.
My love story with Morocco started in Fez, the oldest imperial city of the country. Home to ancient palaces, mosques, and madrasas ornated by the finest craftsmen of the time. I got lost in its souk, a maze of passages cramped with vendors selling anything from chickens to copper. I filled my eyes with the tones of the leathers, tapestries, and pottery on display, and quenched my thirst with freshly squeezed orange and pomegranate juices. I tasted anything, from tagine to pastilla, and by the end of the first day, I knew Morocco would always hold a special place in my heart.
Then came Chefchaouen, with its blue-rinsed alleys, the artsy vibe and the tranquility of a mountain village. In this soothing atmosphere, among the peaks of the Rif hidden in the clouds, I spent a drizzly afternoon patting a cat crouched on my lap, just listening to the raindrops and my thoughts.
Later I woke up in Merzouga amid the majestic dunes of the Sahara to discover an unparalleled starry sky. I let the golden sand grains slip through my fingers and realized how grateful I was for being there in that exact moment.
Then, sharing a ride with an inconceivable amount of people, I ended up in villages made of mudbricks. I saw nomadic shepherds living in caves and goats climbing argan trees. And finally, I reached Essaouira, where cats and seagulls were fighting over the leftovers by the port, and where the ocean waves were crashing against the fortified walls of the city, crumpled and yellowed by salt. It was the end of a lucid dream and the beginning of my Moroccan state of mind.
Thank you Chiara for sharing a glimpse of this beautiful and majestic country – her people, her culture and everything else in between.
Chiara is a slow-paced traveler with a tireless curiosity for offbeat locations. Her desire for discovery and a fortunate stroke of serendipity led her to live in Italy, Hungary, UK, Norway, and Brazil, and to explore more than forty countries so far. She founded The Folk Guide, a travel site offering insider tips and a curation of the best experiences and recommendations.
{Photo and Words by Chiara Anceschi, Website: www.thefolkguide.com, Instagram: @chiaranc}
Visual Travel Log Of Morocco
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