Video Recap: The Southern Excursion

Hello again, everyone. Today, the J-Squad returned from our weeklong excursion around the southern part of Morocco. I thought that the long bus rides were a great time to start compiling footage that I’ve taken since I arrived in this crazy country, so I did. Below the video, you’ll find brief descriptions of the footage marked by the time of appearance, but as always, I can answer any questions in the comments section. Enjoy…

0:00 Rabat. The first week or so. Random video includes a time lapse walking through the souks in the medina, hanging out on the terrace of the CCCL, and taking a walk down to the beach.

1:09 The night of Chellah Jazz Festival, drinking wine on the patio at Hotel Balima, one of our favorite local spots. Then, the festival itself, which took place at the Chellah ruins near Rabat.

The J-Squad in the Sahara.

2:00 Southern Excursion begins.

2:18 Fez. Footage includes the medina, a room at the Univeristy of Al-Qarawiyyin, the oldest still standing university in the world, and a man weaving fabric on a loom.

2:34 The cedar forest at Azrou. We didn’t see any monkeys, but apparently they’re there.

3:16 Lunch in Rissani at the Panorama Restaurant. Khobza Medfouna, or Buried Khobz, is bread stuffed with meat and vegetables and cut like a pizza.

3:29 Visit to local NGO “Hassi Labiad”

Just me on a camel. NBD.

3:43 Saharan excursion. In Land Rovers, we caravanned into the desert to our camels, which we rode for about an hour towards camp. Footage includes Sarah rolling down a dune, and eating dinner at the camp. We stayed in tents for the night, but I’m hesitant to call them tents because they were furnished with beds, sinks, showers, and a western toilet. We were also lucky enough to hear a traditional Gnawa music group play. We watched the sunrise from the top of a dune the next morning, and then rode our camels out of the desert.

4:35 Visit to Association Tishka, a girls’ dormitory in Ouarzazate. We were greeted with a couscous dinner and some of the girls’ songs and chants.

4:52 Jardin Majorelle (Majorelle Gardens) in Marrakech, a beautiful oasis where Yves Saint-Laurent lived for a short period of time.

5:18 Tour of the Marjana Women’s Co-Operative project near Essaouira, wear they produce argan oil and products derived from it.

5:43 The ports and beaches of Essaouira, a very liberal and beautiful coastal city tailored to tourism.