Black Girl's Journey to Morocco
John Hemingway once said, “If I have ever seen magic, it has been in Africa.” I couldn’t agree more. Last weekend, my friends and I took a guided weekend trip with Discover Excursions, to Africa. My first stop on my journey around the World was to Tangiers, Morocco.
From the architecture, to the extensive coastline and the limitless sky, I was astonished. As a girl from New York City (BX All Day!), I am accustomed to skyscrapers filling the sky, and every inch of land being developed into luxury housing. However, in Morocco there is an abundance of open land. Some areas were simple plots of dirt and rubble while other parts are awash in greenery, providing a nurturing environment for wildlife.
As my tour group and I drove through the countryside, I would frequently spot a few wild horses, goats and rams outside the window and screamed, “horse!” or whatever kind of animal I had recognized. In those moments, I experienced a childlike wonder, mesmerized by the reality that not all animals live on farms. Of course, I knew that wild animals exist, I’ve just never seen them. It was nice to expand my encounter with wild animals beyond walking by pigeons on the sidewalk. I remember saying to myself, “Wow! This is what life must have been like before industrialization. Wholesome, as God intended.”
During the first part of my excursion, I journeyed to Chefchaouen also known as "The Blue Pearl" located in the Rif Mountains of northwest Morocco. The city acquired its name “The Blue Pearl” due to the distinctive, blue-washed buildings of its old town. During the tour, I was surrounded by Morocco's inside secrets and cultural genius. I discovered that the buildings are washed blue to keep insects away, which also helps keep the city cool during peak-sun hours. The shadiest part of the city is in the main square of, Place Outa el Hammam, where there is the red-walled Kasbah - a 15th-century fortress and dungeon. Cobblestone streets diverge from this square and are lined with leather and weaving shops.
I truly admired the leather and weaving shops because every item was handmade thus one of a kind. While I was there, I purchased a small square leather bag with a camel engraved in the middle of it, along with two well-embroidered cultural outfits. I was pleased with my acquisitions because I knew that these pieces were authentic; chances are no one else would ever have the same items as me, not to mention I paid a reasonable price for them. According to my tour guide, it is typical to negotiate prices with the merchants. The merchants will ask you what your final price is and if it’s too low they will let you leave (or even push you out the store which happened to a few of my friends), or they will agree to your asking price. This was my favorite part of my shopping experience in Morocco, and it surprisingly reminded me of being back home. It was like Canal Street and Fordham Road on steroids! From the children doing acrobats in the street to the older women doing henna with their babies tied to their backs, everyone in Morocco was a hustler just like folks back in New York City.
During the second part of my excursion, I briefly explored Tangier, Morocco. While there we rode camels by the beach, which was located on the shore of the Atlantic shore. I typically vacation on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean in Fire Island, New York so I was thrilled to have finally experienced both sides of the world’s second largest ocean! How many people can say that! After the camel rides, my tour group and I visited Hercules’ Cave. These caves consist of caverns where Hercules is believed to have inhabited during his adventures, with an opening in the shape of Africa. For me, the shape of this opening signifies the importance of Africa, and how it was blessed by the gods and will forever be the heart of the world, connected to and connection everything.
While I was in Morocco I felt like I was finally home. As I roamed the streets the locals would shout to me, “Hey sister!” accompanied by a big wave and welcoming smile. Although I have not yet traced my ancestry to a specific country in Africa, I felt in my heart that I belonged and that they were undoubtedly my brothers and sisters. My first experience in Africa was incredible.
Will Smith said it best, “It’s really beautiful. It’s like God visits everywhere else but lives in Africa.”