why morocco

in black and white . . .

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I have been sitting at my desk this week with a to-do list as long as my arm, involving flights, hotels and on-line bookings, dates and decisions . . . and at moments it has felt a little overwhelming.

I love travelling and moving about,

 but sometimes I feel like taking my rocking chair (if I had one) and finding a place where I can anchor it soundly for the rest of my days,

 while I simply read good books and drink good coffee  - and possibly the odd Moroccan mojito?

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On the home front,we are in one of those murky in-between periods,

 and as I explained when I first started tea-in-tangiers,

 one of the reasons behind the blog  is my attempt to shift the balance of our lives,

 to make morocco a base and a home rather than the vacation.

 So putting it in black and white and out there for you to read helps me to focus on the end vision.

I try to make my posts visual and enticing, nothing too serious . . .

but today I decided to write this somewhat more wordy post to remind myself why we are doing this.

Why I feel so strongly that is something both I and We need to do,

and that it is a journey begun and one we need to continue

 until I am content in that rocking chair gazing at my olive trees in the countryside of northern morocco!

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So, "why morocco?" I frequently get asked

That question always takes me back to a very specific moment . . .

Our first holiday as a family (I had spent months planning an epic three week trip that took us on a long triangular road trip around the country), was full of memorable moments from the madness that is Marrakech to the perfect quietness of the desert,

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There was one  moment that is etched in my memory, not because it was grand or spectacular but because it felt like we had found that missing piece of the jigsaw.

First let me remind you that we were, at the time, living in the UK, amidst the green  (and damp) rolling hills of Wales and we were missing  sunshine, as well as other less quantifiable things.

 On our way out of the desert and down the coast to Assilah we were a little lost - the kind of lost when you think you are heading in the right direction but uummm not sure whether to go right or left at that stop street .  A moment of indecision as we consulted the map.

It was early evening and  there was a lot of traffic going in every direction just to confuse us more,

 when a taxi/van pulled in front of us.

 The music was loud and the doors and windows were all open as a couple of young men ran off the pavement into the traffic,and jumped onto the rear bumper in one fluid movement,

 precariously holding on to what they could where they could, to get where they needed to be.

Mark and I looked at each other and smiled . . . 

it might have been right on the northern edge, but we were back in Africa and it felt good!

So there it is , in black and white.

 The realisation that we were in a place we felt comfortable in,

 but one that was still foreign and exciting. 

Since then we have met some lovely people, seen beautiful places ( as well as some not so beautiful), eaten good food, and of course planted our olive trees.

 But quite honestly that moment is always my answer to the question

 "why morocco" 

 It just feels right
&
we need to remember that.

sunset at Assilah