Rome Week 12

Melissa Tait checks in weekly from her study abroad semester in Rome; catch up with her every Wednesday on Trazee Travel.

This past weekend, I had a trip planned for Marrakesh, Morocco. I was excited to visit a different continent, but wasn’t sure what to expect. I went through a tour group to ensure my safety, and they had a lot of activities planned, including tea with a Berber family, a camel ride and hike through Ourika Valley and a tour of the markets.

© Melissa Tait

On our way to Ourika Valley, we stopped to have tea with a Berber family. We walked through their home, which housed sheep, cows and the means to make a living off the land. The women of the Berber family made us their traditional tea, paired with bread and sweet, syrupy honey — mmmmm!

Next, we experienced a 15-minute camel ride. Although the ride was fun, it was not something I would want to do for more than an hour. My favorite part of the trip was hiking Ourika Valley. We stopped by a waterfall with an incredible view of the mountains and ate lunch by the water.

© Melissa Tait

A lot of my time was spent shopping in the markets, which was a little overwhelming. We learned the sport of bargaining and it really is a sport. We were told to negotiate the price to least half of the asking cost. The merchants were persistent though and you have to be willing to walk away. At that point they would most likely run after you, willing to settle for your final price. The goods were artisan crafted and during our tour, we saw many leather and wood products being made. This made it the perfect place to finish my souvenir shopping.

Morocco was one of my most rewarding experiences thus far. I loved learning and being surrounded by a new culture.