Michael, Lucas, Henry, and I set off on a five-day adventure in Morocco. It is just a short flight from Malaga, Spain, where we were staying. Our last family trip was in October 2019, to Jordan. It felt good to get back out on the road and explore a new country. We flew to Rabat, the country’s political, administrative, and cultural capital. It was an early flight, which drew complaints from the boys, but they don’t often have to get up early, so I had no sympathy for them.
One thing we learned is that Morocco has daylight saving time for Ramadan. It starts before Ramadan and ends when Ramadan is over. We landed at 7:30 am in Rabat, and our Airbnb wasn’t ready until 3, so we took our time figuring out the SIM card, withdrawing money from the ATM, and finding the bus into the city.
We always talk to our kids about the travel choices we make. We picked the earlier flight because it was €100 cheaper than the later flight. We found the bus to the city because it was €10-15 cheaper than a taxi. These things may seem minor, but they add up over time. When the boys are off living on their own, knowing how to budget and save will be important.
Our Airbnb host was nice and met us around 10 am to take our backpacks since the place was not ready. He also dropped us off at Rabat Beach so we could start exploring the city. Rabat Beach was full of people (it was Sunday). It was chilly for swimming, but there were still people out there and tons of surfers. The waves were surfable. We had a snack by the water and headed to Kasbah Oudaya, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is known for its iconic blue-and-white Andalusian-style streets and panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean.
We also wandered through the Medina and the old market. It is relaxing to wander through markets when you are not looking to buy anything. I think the vendors can sense that and leave us alone. We had lunch at a local place in the Medina. We all ate for about $10, which has been rare for us recently since we have been traveling in Western Europe.
We were all excited to check into our Airbnb. It is a nice 2-bedroom apartment, centrally located, but not without its quirks. It has two bathrooms, but only one shower works. Michael showered last night, and the shower flooded the bathroom out into the hall. BUT, we have hot water, so we take that as a win! We all had naps in the afternoon and got a great first night’s sleep. I am energized to be back on the road and experiencing a new country and culture.
Day two was a Guru walking tour of Rabat. We like signing up for walking tours when we arrive in a city as an introduction. Our tour lasted three hours, and our guide, Ayoub, shared the history of Morocco as we walked through the city. We visited St. Peter’s Cathedral. It is an active Roman Catholic church located in the city center and inaugurated in 1921. It was made famous by a visit from Pope Francis in 2019. We also stopped at Hassan Tower. This landmark was commissioned by Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Mansur, the third caliph of the Almohad Caliphate in the late 12th century. The tower would have been the largest minaret in the western Muslim world if it had been completed, but Yusuf Yaqub al-Mansur died in 1199, and construction on the mosque stopped. This is also the location of the remains of Mohammed V.
On day three, we took a day trip to Casablanca. Casablanca is an easy one-hour and fifteen-minute train ride from Rabat. It is five times the size of Rabat. Since we only took a day trip, we hit the highlights. We saw the Hassan II mosque, the biggest mosque in Africa and the 7th largest in the world. King Hassan II wanted the mosque to appear as if it were floating on the Atlantic. It has heated floors and a retractable roof, and it cost $800 million to build. A lot of that money came from public donations, which was controversial at the time because many Moroccans donating money to the mosque were poor.
We also walked through the city and along the sea. We saw some sort of production being filmed. There is a beautiful waterfront path with green space, playgrounds, and outdoor gyms. The disappointing thing about the space is that security guards kept telling us to get off the swings and the grass. Apparently, you are not allowed to swing at a playground if you are older than ten. That is a shame. We also spent some time in the Morocco Mall, the largest mall in Africa.
A mystery illness settled in on Day four, at least for me. We went out a little to walk around, but mostly I was in bed or on the couch. We started binge-watching The Good Doctor as a family. It’s been a while since we all watched a show together.
Our last full day in Morocco was the first day of Ramadan. During Ramadan, many retail shops are open, but many shops and most restaurants are closed during the day. We took the opportunity to visit Chellah, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is an ancient, abandoned 14th-century necropolis and Roman settlement that is home to over 70 white stork nests. It happened to be mating season while we were there. We got to witness the storks rebuilding their nests and reconnecting with their partners. We also stopped in at the mall, hoping to find something open for lunch. The only options were Burger King, KFC, and McDonald’s. No vegan options other than fries. The boys said they are officially tired of fast food for a while.
We just had a small glimpse into Morocco, and only the metropolitan parts. We are glad that we made the trip. Maybe someday we will return and explore the rest of the country.
