As the world slowly locked down in March 2020, I watched a long-planned trip crumble away. One of my best friends and I (she’s Aussie and lives in Melbourne; we hadn’t seen each other for 18 months already) were due to go on a tour of Morocco together, before visiting Istanbul. Instead of wandering around Marrakech then spending my birthday at a waterfall, I spent it in the earliest days of our first lockdown, trying to figure out an exercise programme with no equipment (I wasn’t yet a PT either!) and how to while away two weeks off work with nothing to do.
I’m grateful that the majority of people I know have survived, and I’ve steadily recovered elements of my lifestyle as well as moving forward with my business. Part of that has involved joining networking group, Co-Women, and last year a particularly big event was added to the 2023 schedule.
A year of COVID-era trips
If you’ve been here before, you probably know that 2022 saw me jet off for the first time in a long time. I went to Mexico in March, and Italy in October, and as I prepared to depart for Morocco, I realised that it had just about become my third trip, country, AND continent inside a year. I quickly thought back and realised that I’d done three countries in a year previously, but that they’d all been European ones, so this trip suddenly felt even more special.
But was it a culture shock?
Whilst I’m not new to travel, I’ve never been to Asia or the Middle East. And whilst it wouldn’t be my first trip to Africa, I’ve only visited RSA, and northern Africa is very different. As a privileged White Westerner, I’m very used to having a lot of freedom and, whilst I’ve experienced my fair share of sexist behaviour, I knew that Marrakech was likely to be a slightly different deal.
The biggest shock turned out to be going from literal freezing temperatures to low-30s in the space of three hours! None of us could quite believe how short the flight is from Gatwick to Marrakech (it takes longer to get to Athens or the eastern Greek islands), and were so happy to be in the sunshine living a very different life.
Personal safety is something I’m always cautious about, and my tip for Marrakech (and other similar places) for Brits in particular is to change your attitude. What you think of as being “rude” at home will keep you safe in a different culture. It’s ok to ignore people who are trying to tempt you with their wares, and walk firmly away from others. It’s always sensible to be mindful of where your belongings are and to not wave cash or gadgets around unnecessarily, plus to stick to well-lit areas and know your way home, so those things should go without saying.
Other basic advice applies: tap water isn’t safe to drink and bottled is readily available. Leave the animals alone. And if something seems to good to be true, it probably is. I took a variety of clothes so that I could cover up if I wanted or needed to – we didn’t visit any buildings which required this, as it happened, and I also felt comfortable dressing in fitted clothing which showed a similar amount of skin to what I would at home. But everyone is different, so my advice is to make sure you’re prepared and have options you know will suit you. What’s right for me isn’t right for everyone.
Marrakech highlights
Other than the weather and the company? We stayed at a gorgeous riad which we were lucky to have as exclusive use. Our hosts were brilliant, and very helpful. Our group made the obligatory trip to the gardens typically known for having been owned by Yves Saint Laurent – there were a few influencer types around, but the earlier in the day you go, the more likely you are to beat the crowds and the heat. Booking in advance online is now mandatory.
I loved wandering around the souks. Downloading the offline Google Maps page for the local area is a big help here, and again going in with an attitude of being assertive. Behave as you would encourage a child to – don’t pick anything up or touch it unless you have the genuine intention of buying it! Otherwise: enjoy the ride. The sights and sounds are unlike anything you’ll find elsewhere, so soak it up.
What’s next?
I’ll definitely be going back to Morocco. I’ve decided that this trip was a recce, and I’d like to re-organise my original tour with my friend. In terms of where I’ll actually go next, watch this space…