Translated directly from the original Spanish version
Before dawn, we were already at the entrance to Tangier Marina. It was 5 a.m. Upon disembarking, we celebrated our arrival with the others, thrilled that everything had gone well and that we hadn’t encountered any orcas along the way.
Before being assigned a berth, we had to register our entry into Morocco. We moored at the welcome pontoon, where a marina employee directed us to the police offices to complete our boat’s registration documents. After about an hour, the bureaucratic process was complete, and we only needed customs authorities to inspect our boat. Fortunately, there were no other boats waiting, so the process didn’t take long. By 8 a.m., we were assigned our berth for the two-week stay.
Flotilla waiting at the welcome pontoon to check in.
Once settled and after a few hours of sleep, we decided to explore the old city together. We walked through the Medina and its markets, bought coffee, fresh fruits, and vegetables, and ended the day enjoying a meal to savor Moroccan cuisine.
Enjoying Moroccan food with Ines, Pedro, Heli and Tim
During our stay, we decided to take a break from the boat and explore northern Morocco by car. Since leaving Albania, we hadn’t taken any trips off the boat, so we were eager to explore Morocco and its Arab culture. We knew this journey would be full of new customs and traditions to discover. This was our six-day road trip itinerary:
- Tangier – Tetouan (60 km – 1.5h): In Tetouan, we visited its medina, a maze of narrow streets filled with fruit, vegetable, and craft stalls.
- Tetouan – Chefchaouen (62 km – 1.5h): Chefchaouen, known as the “Blue Pearl” of the north, is a tourist city in the mountains famous for its blue-painted houses. We spent our first night here.
- Chefchaouen – Fez (196 km – 3h 43m): Fez is culturally and historically significant, with one of the world’s largest and oldest medinas, a UNESCO World Heritage site. We bought spices in the medina and visited the Chouara Tanneries, witnessing traditional leather tanning. We spent our second night in a centrally located accommodation near the medina.
- Fez – Meknes (63 km – 1.5h): Known as the “Little Fez” for its similar but smaller and quieter old town, also a UNESCO site. We made a brief stop before heading to Rabat.
- Meknes – Rabat (151 km – 1h 50m): Located on the Atlantic coast, Rabat is the country’s economic capital. We experienced a blend of modern style in the new area with historical charm in the medina and landmarks like the Kasbah of the Udayas and the Hassan Tower. Near the Kasbah, we unexpectedly encountered Brigitte Macron, the French president’s wife, accompanied by a security entourage.
- Rabat – Tangier (256 km – 2h 50m): After a night in a Rabat medina guesthouse, we did some shopping and headed back to Tangier.
One highlight of the trip was the vibrant commercial spirit in each city’s souks. The crowds, mixed aromas, bargaining, and variety of gastronomic and artisanal products left us amazed. All these impressions left us exhausted at the end of each day. The contrasts between modern life in new areas and traditional life in the souks and medinas surprised us, especially in the capital.
Cats of all sizes and colors were everywhere, well cared for as beloved companions in Arab culture, found in shops and on every street corner.
The climate varied greatly from region to region, from below 10°C in the mountainous areas of Tetouan and Chefchaouen to nearly 20°C on the coast in Rabat and Tangier. Despite language barriers, we always felt the hospitality of the locals.
And, of course, we loved Moroccan food. We tried traditional dishes like Rfissa and Pastilla, rich in spices uncommon in Mediterranean cuisine. We were so captivated by these flavors that we bought spices to store on the boat for future crossings.
MORE IMPRESSIONS FROM MOROCCO
