In Love with Life: My lover Morocco

Salam,

I am a romantic soul. I fall in love easily, and often from the first sight. It happened again, this time with a new country- Morocco.

I don’t even know from where to start. But I will try to put it to words.

Like every relationship it started with butterflies in my stomach. After 50hours in a ferry, me and my two friends arrived in Tanger. New port, new feelings, new excitements. I was so happy to reach this exotic land. It’s Africa for goodness sake. I have never touched this land before and an adventurer in me was jumping from happiness like a little child.

My friends left and I was just on my own. 4 am me, my backpack and a ukulele lost in the streets of the old town in Tanger. Small narrow streets, dark looking men sitting on the steps with their hoodies on watching a lonely lost girl wondering on the streets. Should I worry? Should I be scared? Is it really dangerous here? Many thoughts passed by but I decided to stick to my old and trusty travelling philosophy, to look confident, trust my intuition and open my heart. And like always it worked. Greeting people in their language made me look interested I their culture, made them feel that I trust them too.

My travels started like that. Next day I was all dizzy from this new love. New smells, new colours, fresh food everywhere, beautiful patterns, craftmen working on the street, cats chilling in the warm and bright sunshine.

Every day I lived in spontaneous existence. I had no plans, I moved where I felt that moment. I opened my heart completely, I let the world unroll in front of me, I let go of my control and just surrendered. I know it sounds super hippy but that’s exactly what happened.

Travelling as a solo female helped me a lot. Yes, I did receive quite a lot of attention and my self-esteem and probably ego grew big. But somehow it opened some doors. Sometimes it was tiring but most of the time I met amazing people on my travels, I had countless great conversations, I made friends, I loved and lived. I got chatted by some of the most handsome men, what a flattering feeling. I got treated like a princess, I drank countless glasses of Moroccan tea. I stroked and held many street cats and dogs. I ate and ate and ate. I drank more fresh orange juice than water. I probably ate the most gluten I ever did in my life. I got some amazing tempting opportunities for some epic travels or living in the country. I was accepted by locals and picked some Arabic words and phrases that made me in love with Arabic language.

My goodness, it’s pretty emotional. Morocco completely stole my heart. The country, where the mountains, the desert and the coast attract so many people. Where people still mostly buy fresh food and have very few supermarkets packed with crappy plastic food. Where people have time to stop, to prey, to get to know you.

I know, life is hard in Morocco. People work hard. And a lot. Put any European in their shoes, and I’m sure they will get some depression or fatigue symptoms prescribed by the doctor. But at least they start their working day late. I loved walking on the streets in the mornings when towns and villages were still asleep. I walked and asked myself a question, can I live here? Or am I dulled by the perfect climate, perfect nature picture? Am I being too romantic again?

I fell in love with Islamic culture. I did miss meeting women though, and I often felt a bit sorry for them. Perhaps, there is nothing to be sorry but it’s just my own matter of opinion.

I watched Moroccans dream about leaving their country to explore the world and it hurt my heart because most of them will never have that opportunity. Why us Europeans have to be so unwelcoming? Moroccans let us explore their country, they take care of tourist ( yes, I know, a lot of it is because it brings a lot of money) so why can’t we be so welcoming?

I am leaving Morocco with open heart, with stories, with love. I am sure I will be back here again. I’m persistent with my lovers. Sometimes.

I could go on forever, but I leave the rest untold. I will remember it all.

Till soon my sweet lover, Morocco.

With a lot of emotions,

Ligita

P.S. Many pictures are taken from my great slovenian friends Eva and Andraz!