Cities: Marrakesh Casablanca Meknes Rabat Kenitra Fes Agadir Essaouira Dakhla (Western Sahara) Zagora Nador Tetouan Chefchaoufen (missed mentioning on first version of post due to jetlag) Tangier (missed mentioning on first version of post due to jetlag) Places seen: Palmeraie Djemaa El-Fna The Souks - Marrakesh Koutoubia Mosque The Secret Garden The Heritage Museum Tin Mal Mosque El Bahia Palace Jbel Toubkal Summit and back (46 kms in 17 hours) Tizin’Tichka Pass Ait Benhaddou Ouarzazate Film Studios Essaouira - Sqala du Port Agadir - Casbah Ourika Valley Agadir Souk Hasan 2 Mosque Mahkama Du Pacha Mohammed V Square Rick's Cafe King's Palace Old Medina Palais Akaaboune Kasbah Tomb of Ibn Battouta Teatro Cervantes The Kasbah Museum Cave of Hercules Cape Spartel Hassan Tower Mohammed V Masoleum Alruah Porch Door Bab Oudaya Bastion des Larmes Holy Resurrection Russian Church Fes El Bali Bab Boujloud Medersa Bou Inania Al-Andalus Mosque Medersa el-Attarine Chouara tanneries of Fes Qaraouiyine Mosque Royal Palace's Gate in Fes el Jedid Bou Jeloud Gardens Volubilis Moulay Idriss City walk in Chefchaoufen White Dune and fancy road sign in Dakhla, check out kite surfing Total Budget: 6K USD Travel Type: Solo Fun: 1 (lady backpacker in Marrakesh) Accommodations: 3/4/5 star hotels/riads with good wifi Transport: Self-drive car, flights, trains (normal + bullet/Al-Boraq), tabbing on my own feet Work-Life Balance Travel morning hours from 0500 - 1600 daily in Morocco for some days (usually ended by 1300) , online for SF hours from 1700 - 0000, sleep the remaining Visa Type: Tourist Visa through the NY embassy Gear: 1 backpack with laptop etc 1 duffel with climbing, scuba gear # of photos: 1200+ Next stop: Colombia or Fiji or Portugal or Russia or wherever I want to go Previous posts https://www.teamblind.com/post/[AMA]-remote-worktravel-during-covid-lockdown-i3SSTGCr #travel #workcation
Is English commonly spoken/understood? How about French? Is it worth visiting neighboring African countries from there (I think Mali lies to the east?)
English is only understood by the younger generation. French and Arabic are standard everywhere. I downloaded offline languages on Google translate to get by. I'd say yes to other countries to be visited. But also depends on your typical travel profile (adventure/danger vs comfort/luxury vs solo/family etc). I plan to hit Algeria, Mali, Mauritania within the year to see the Ahaggar mountains, visit Timbuktu and take the night iron train across the Sahara in Mauritania .. see interesting photo from Zagora about 52 camel days to Timbuktu - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sign_Timbuktu_52_Days.jpg - was not able to upload my own dusty photo of the same here
Thank you, you're quite the inspiration. I'm now even more convinced so-called hybrid is just a ruse on part of companies who really have no clue about what's right for themselves or their employees and are basing inflexible policies around WFA on vague ideas on loss of control and productivity. 2 questions: -what are your travel research and flight booking sources. I use wikitravel, tripadvisor and skyscanner in the main but would be willing to know more -how is your sleep affected and is it a concern. In particular, how will you manage it with mismatched timezones? Please keep the series going!
You were able to pack all those cities, things to do, AND "fun" within 3 weeks?
I was traveling alone, prepared my schedule down to the hour, accounted for spare time and changed things on the go as needed. 'Fun' was 2 sessions and NOT a relationship - more like "me bored and want to play, you want to go to the Kashbah and back to my riad in the Medina"?
How much time was each session?
Russia might be a bit difficult, at least don't bring weed or vapes.
Why didn't you see Tangier? It was my favorite in Morocco.
I did see Tangier (because wanted to see the city where Bourne fights Desh and the Kasbah quarter for writers, rolling stones etc) - see from the list of places above - I forgot mentioning the city name (edited now): Palais Akaaboune Kasbah Tomb of Ibn Battouta Teatro Cervantes The Kasbah Museum Cave of Hercules Cape Spartel
You mentioned "Tourist Visa through the NY embassy". What country are you a citizen of?
Let's just say a developing country which does not fall under the visa-free entry list for Morocco.
Would you mind sharing which specific country? I was more curious about how individuals of your ethnicity are treated by people in Morocco.
Be safe, Don't get monkeypox
Thanks - I've never caught anything so far .. so hopefully that continues.
How easy is it to have “fun” with the locals??
Very very difficult. They even restrict local couples from staying together in the same room without a marriage certificate - this rule does not apply to foreigners though.
And if you are caught?
Congrats on the fun
thanks much
I'm 5/10 looks wise would I be able to have "fun" travelling? Fit but bad face
I missed the genetic lottery and hit every branch on the way down - #reachercreature Having fun is a function of competitive options, resource signaling and similar life beliefs. Poor backpackers are so attracted to successful techies who can afford to stay in significantly nicer places than a ramshackle hostel with cockroaches and patchy wifi and can buy ornamented lamps worth 1000 MAD each without batting an eyelid.
How did you get confident while traveling and talking to strangers?