October has felt like a very discombobulating month for me: the first two weeks were spent travelling, the next week was spent preparing for and celebrating my husband’s birthday, and this past week was all about getting back into the swing of things. It feels like a lifetime ago that I was enjoying myself in Morocco, and so this month’s Favourite Things is dedicated to that incredible trip, and also this heart-shaped leaf.
Nicole’s Favourite Things: The Morocco Edition
Beast of Burden
There were many highlights of the trip, but The Highlight would have to be riding camels into the Sahara Desert. It was such a sensory experience on all levels: the sights, the sounds, the feel and smell of the camels. I looked around me at the vast desert and felt how very lucky I was to experience such a place in such a way.
Incidentally, I am sure this hat has made it into my Favourite Things before: it’s completely foldable and squishable, and has a UV brim to protect my face. It really made a difference in terms of keeping me cool, and it also has a chin strap to prevent it from flying off.
Camels are ubiquitous in Morocco, and not just for carrying the likes of me around; they are an important part of the economy, and sometimes they like to block off traffic.
There’s lots of sheep around too; we spotted this herd just walking along the sidewalk, completely unsupervised. The best part is the shop they are in front of.
And let’s not forget about the donkeys! Donkeys are still used in many places, particularly rural villages and in the narrow streets of medinas where vehicles are not allowed.
Midnight At The Oasis
The night we spent in the Sahara was absolutely magical; we watched the sun set and the full moon rise, along with the sunrise the next day. It was all incredible.
Also incredible were our accommodations. We stayed in a “tent” that had air conditioning, wi-fi, a king sized bed, and hot showers, and we had a five-course meal for dinner and a beautiful breakfast buffet. Camping, Nicole-Style.
Rock The Kasbah
I really wanted to see the famous kasbahs of Morocco, and I was not disappointed! Our tour took us down the Road of a Thousand Kasbahs, and it was everything my kasbah-loving heart could want and more.
I find it fascinating that structures built hundreds of years ago have withstood earthquakes and weather, and are able to keep their inhabitants warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Some of the adobe walls are two feet thick! The desert and the Atlas Mountains can get quite cold in the winter, and the summers see temperatures in the 40s, so those thick walls are very important.
Funky Cold Medina
The word medina simply refers to the old part of a city, but it is ubiquitous with Fes, which has an absolutely incredible medina that, if you got lost, you may never find your way out of.
Most of the medina in Fes is covered, giving much-needed relief from the sun, but I still opted to wear this UV protectant poncho that I purchased from Solbari, an Australian company. The Australians know what’s what when it comes to sun protection. It served two purposes: UV coverage and also coverage coverage. Morocco is a fairly conservative Muslim country, but they do not expect tourists to adhere to any particular standards of dress. That said, my feeling is that when I am visiting a country, I want to show respect for local culture and not draw unnecessary attention to myself, and so I kept my shoulders and knees covered at all times in public. This poncho was perfect, as I could wear a tank top underneath for comfort.
As you can see, some of the doorways to some of the side streets were pretty small.
Many of the side streets were also very narrow, as you can see by my shoulders nearly touching the walls.
Much of the medina is filled with shops, some that are more for tourists, and some that are essentially shopping centres for locals. This is a touristy one.
Dancing Queen, Feel the Beat of the Tagine
The food in Morocco was so good; while travelling, I am always a bit concerned if vegetarian food will be available and, frankly, tasty. I was not disappointed! There were so many good options at every meal, and I am still thinking about what is called Moroccan salad, which is a variety of dishes with cooked vegetables of all sorts. Our hosts at one lunch made these incredible flatbreads – rghaeif – filled with vegetables, and at another there were giant, flavourful bowls of white beans and lentils. One host made vegetable pastilla just for me, and at a restaurant run by a women’s collective, the ladies made me a noodle dish topped with almonds, raisins, and cinnamon that sounds insane, but is just insanely good. I did not go hungry, let’s put it that way. Moroccan people are noted for their generosity and hospitality, and there was always so much food everywhere we went.
One of the things my husband and I were dreading, that ended up being an incredible and fun experience, was a cooking class. This class took place on a little farm outside of Marrakech, and was run by a women’s collective created to employ and empower women in the area. I figured that this would be a dull thing, but nothing could be further from the truth: when we got there the young women started playing music, including ABBA, and I couldn’t help but dance as we created our salads and tagines.
It was, as you can tell by my expression, very fun. The tagines we made were delicious too – the traditional Moroccan dish is often made with just vegetables, and it is wonderful with couscous.
When I went to sign their guest book, I noticed this in the frontispiece:
Cooking is love made visible! I feel seen.
Outfit of the Month
I was chatting with my friend Nicole (HI NICOLE), and she asked what the temperatures were like, since she couldn’t tell from my clothing choices. Well, it was hot! It wasn’t as hot as it was two weeks prior to our trip, when it was 45 degrees in Marrakech and even the THOUGHT of that makes me melt, but it was still plenty hot. The order of the day was light, loose clothing. This outfit consists of the lululemon dance crops, a tank top with what is actually a bathing suit cover-up over top, and Skechers shoes.
I also often wore the silk scarf I painted with my friend Sandi (HI SANDI) over my hair when I felt it was necessary.
That same scarf served me well in Paris, for a little pop of colour when we were visiting the works of Monet.
Tomorrow is Halloween, and I’m feeling pleasantly nostalgic for the years when the kids were small and my husband competed with the neighbour for the best house on the block (anyone remember CHAD I WIN?). Our house was a destination, one that allowed for me to live out my best Fancy Lady Dreams by giving out full-sized chocolate bars. These days we only have the two neighbour boys visit our house, and since we are going out, I think I will drop off the bags of goodies I have for them. Naturally there are full-sized chocolate bars involved, as well as bottles of pop, which my son informed me are hot commodities among the Trick or Treat crowd. I am looking forward to seeing all my friends’ posts – both in the social media world and the blog one – of their dressed-up Halloweenies! And after that – it’s Tiny Secret Festive Season! More about that on Monday. Happy Halloween, friends! Enjoy a treat or several. xo
Lovely photos. It looks like you had a great trip. Happy Halloween!
Thanks Steph!
I love all the photos, but especially the ones of you in the cooking class- you definitely look like you’re having fun! Thanks for answering my question about where you stayed in the Sahara- I think i asked if you stayed in a tent, or are there hotels??? Obviously- you stayed in a “tent-hotel!” That would be my kind of camping as well. I can see why that adventure was your favorite- it looks and sounds INCREDIBLE. It must have been astonishing to see camels all over the place, and those sheep in front of the barbershop… hee hee.
I’m excited for Tiny Secret Festive Season!!! We get to hear about it on Monday? I’ll be here!
Jenny, there were actual camps too – some people rode camels in and then slept under the stars. NO THANK YOU. I liked my situation!
The camels and sheep and donkeys were so fun to see, and all the animals looked healthy and cared for. You would love it – there are cats everywhere! People don’t keep them in their homes as pets, but villages set food out for all the cats. They don’t have a rodent problem, let’s put it that way!
Wow! What an experience. It looks beautiful. Funny, a friend of mine just got back from Morocco too! Must be getting to be a popular destination. ..and you’re right..that’s my kind of camping and roughing it! Happy Halloween!
Thanks so much Judy! Happy Halloween!
Paul loves this camel joke: “What do you call a camel with 2 humps? Pregnant!” It’s from Zootopia and has been used a lot in our house. I had to share after seeing your camel photos which are gorgeous! I especially love the photo of the shadows of your camels!
Also it’s fascinating that there are Moroccan-inspired pop culture lyrics! Thank you for sharing your favorite parts of your vacation. It looks like a magical place to visit. And I love seeing the water lilies painting as well – that must be from l’Orangerie! I love that museum as it’s smaller/not overwhelming. d’Orsay is my absolutely favorite but l’Orangerie comes in 2nd! The 360 degree water lilies painting is just so very incredible!
I’ll be sure to share lots of Halloween pics with you. Plus we have 2 day-after parties! One is at 10 am, hosted by a PK friend of Will’s; the other is 4-6 and is hosted by one of Paul’s classmate’s families! It will be nice for the kids to have more chances to wear their costumes and play with friends/run off some of the candy-fueled energy.
Hahaha Paul, I love it!
Yes, Lisa, we were at l’Orangerie! I loved the water lilies so much, what a beautiful exhibit.
I cannot WAIT to see your boys in costume!!
THAT is the only kind of camping/glamping I will ever do. My question from now on about camping will be “Is there A/C and a chandelier?” Because if there is not, I am not camping.
Your photos are wonderful. And all the food sounds exactly like what I want to eat.
I really respect and share your philosophy about how to dress in other countries/cultures. It’s a small thing, really, and not so hard to do.
Hahahah YES EXACTLY! THIS is what camping should be!
I agree – it is not a huge thing to be respectful to other cultures, so why not?
I love the “tent”! That’s my kind of camping too! What was the bathroom situation like? What a beautiful place to visit. I love all the photos, especially the one of you riding the camel. And I love your clothes. The sun protective poncho is a brilliant idea. I always wear a sun protective jacket, hat, and gloves during the summer. (Ugh – I hate them, but it’s necessary.) I think I’ll add a poncho next summer! The beautiful scarf you made was perfect for many occasions. I’m sure it’s discombobulating to come back home after such a trip. The jet lag would probably do me in!
Michelle, each tent had a full bathroom – flush toilet, hot shower, sink! I mean, camping does not get better than that.
I am new to UV protective clothes and I am a convert! I used hardly any sunscreen (other than on my face!) through the whole trip.
This was so fun to read! You look like you are having the BEST time, and the joy radiates off of you in every photo. The pictures of your desert adventure are stunning, like something out of a movie. What a magical experience! That TENT. That is 100% the only camping I would endure, Nicole. HOT SHOWERS. Omg.
I love your sun protective clothing. Very cool. I think some people in my life could use those as holiday gifts!
I know it is probably opposite the spirit of this post, but I am curious about how Ms. NZ handled the camel and the tent?
HOT SHOWERS! I mean. It doesn’t get better than that!
You know what, Ms NZ was GREAT with the camel and tent! Absolutely no complaints. Isn’t that odd?
Odd and strangely disappointing! Although I’m sure it was FABULOUS to get a break from her antics.
Your song titles are epic! Sadly, I fear Gen Z would not understand most of them! Their loss. Your photo of the shadows while riding the camels and the one of the camels at sundown are nothing short of AMAZING!!!! What a cool experience. I’m surprised you weren’t looking forward to the cooking class, though?
Thanks Bijoux! I know, I kind of thought the class would be dull, and it was just so much fun!
Those pictures are stunning, especially the desert ones. And that tent! That would be the only kind of camping I would do. I love the hat. I too have a floppy hat that travels well, but mine doesn’t have a chin strap and now I want one like yours. Where did you buy it?
Eeep I’m a bit sheepish to say I bought it on Amazon three years ago or so. It has been on many trips with me and it washes well too.
The photo of you on the camel really sums up your trip – your are having a blast! It’s interesting when an itinerary item turns out to be better than expected (the cooking class), as sometimes the oppositive is true. A place/activity you are really excited about doesn’t quite measure up. That’s the adventure of travel. I agree with you wholeheartedly about respecting the norms of other cultures.
Thanks Jacquie! It was just such a magical trip, and I felt like my face was going to crack from smiling! I truly thought the cooking class would be dull and I could not have been more wrong!
Such great photos! Whenever you mention your temps, like 45, my USA brain thinks: THAT’S COLD. Then I have to google, to convert from Celecius to Fahrenheit.
The dessert does look magical and I agree, that is MY type of camping: comfortable!
I do remember your house at Halloween—-and the competitions. Such great memories.
Hahaha yes that would seem cold to you! I promise it wasn’t!
Isn’t it lovely to think back on those memories of when the kids were small?
What an incredible trip; creating a lifetime of memories! Thanks for sharing them with us. I could/would camp Nicole-style too.
Thanks Gigi! The camping was so great!
I loved getting to live vicariously through you. I’m adding riding a camel to my bucket list. And I am so down with glamping.
OMG you would LOVE Morocco!!
Glamping is DEFINITELY the way to go! I like your philosophy about how you dress in different cultures, it’s best to be respectful.
I rode a camel once, it was amazing. I cannot believe the beauty of your photos, they are wonderful.
Camels are so funny – I rode one in Egypt 25 years ago but I found this experience much more fun. I don’t think I could ride for longer than I did though (45 mins each way) because it’s quite tiring and bumpy!
Great photos and insights on Morocco!
I absolutely love how thoughtfully you adjusted your clothing to respect local customs. You look effortlessly put-together, and every item is so well chosen: a foldable UV hat with a chin strap, a UV-protective poncho, and that elegant silk scarf…and somehow you managed to fit it all into a SINGLE CARRY-ON! Pure genius!
Thanks so much Catrina, that’s so kind of you to say! I try to make it a bit of a challenge to make nice outfits with limited items!
that tent looks so luxurious! and the hat, yes, I have one of those that I take everywhere.
The hats are so handy – and I was surprised at how I was instantly cooler (like, temperature, I don’t know about vibe) the moment I put it on!
Well Nicole, Morocco just moved waaaay up on the “travel list”. The pictures are stunning. What an experience. I’m not surprised the cooking class was fun. After we did one in Florence it’s something I wan to add to every new city we visit. Thanks for sharing.
It’s so funny, I had it in my head that the cooking class would not be a fun thing to do at all. I was so wrong!
I’m loving learning more about the places you visit through these posts! Magical. You fully enjoyed your trip. I love it. 💜
Happy Halloween, my friend!
Thanks so much Kari!
OMG, I love all of this. What a great trip you had. The Sahara looks magnificent. We have had some holidays where we’ve glamped, and it is so much fun. I love doing cooking classes when we’re travelling. We’ve done one in Vietnam, French desserts in Paris and Pasta making in Bologna.
Oooh we are going to Vietnam next year – maybe I’ll try one there! I just cook so much at home that I never thought I’d like a class. But here I am, thrilled!
A cooking class in Vietnam would be a must-do for me. We visited an organic herb farm, went to the market and cooked a big banquet. Pho, rice pancakes, salad etc. the company was Red Bridge in Hoi An.
oooh thank you so much!
I don’t know what I love more – riding camels in the Sahara, that super fancy tent life, or the pictures of you dancing with the biggest grin on your face! This post is so joyful and I love it. <3
Thanks so much, Stephany, it was an absolute dream vacation.
You look so darn cool in your scarf and poncho
Thanks Sarah!
How perfect was that cooking class for you?
I rode a camel in Morocco on the beach. I rode a camel in Mexico – his name was Denny and he was kind of an asshole. Also, I am older and more brittle.
I really have to go glamping some time. All my camping is relentless un glam, and it is bullshit, quite frankly.
Lol, that was my FIL’s name!
My camel didn’t have an official name, so in my head I called him CaMel Torme.
All the colors in this post–leaves, sun, sand, your scarf, Monet, and Morocco are really calling out to me this week, Nicole.
It’s so lovely to hear and dream with your travel stories
Thanks so much Maya!
Wow, the pictures are beautiful and I think I would love that cooking class. Maybe you could recreate for us that yummy sounding noodle dish with the almonds and cinnamon?
Oooh I wonder if I could. It sounds unhinged. Like, spaghetti noodles should not be with raisins and cinnamon BUT HERE WE ARE.
What an absolutely incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience, Nicole. The sunset photos with the camels on the dune is insane! (BTW, I have been on top of a camel on the Canary Islands before. It’s a rocky trip. 😉
Lol, you’re right, it’s definitely rocky!
What a spectacular trip, Nicole. I love how you embraced every bit of it – even the cooking class that you were (understandably, from my POV) reluctant to participate in. Your pictures are amazing! Thanks again for taking us with you. <3
Thanks so much Anne!