Making Moroccan Dreams Come True

Havana; my first solo trip ever and I was wondering how on earth I got to this point. Why did I think I could travel alone, without a husband or family to another country? Was this selfish of me? Can I even afford this? What if I’m kidnapped? These were the thoughts going through my head while anxiously awaiting departure.

I am a former flight attendant, but working the flight and arriving with a full crew via a big black van to the safety of our hotel wasn’t the same. When I arrived in Cuba, there would be no black van waiting to whisk me away to a fancy hotel—not even close.

In fact, I landed in Varadero and caught a local bus, ‘The Viazul’ at the airport for $10.00 US dollars and a very scenic few hours later I was in Havana. Then a frighteningly bumpy rickshaw ride and I was at my Airbnb in the middle of beautiful Old Havana.

By the time I arrived at my apartment, it was dark. Although my rickshaw driver was super kind I was a little culture-shocked to be somewhere so far away from home, on my own. However, within a day or two I was wandering the old streets like a true ‘world traveller’.

I enjoyed an outdoor patio with live music, got lost in a residential area near an old white church, and strolled along the Malecón — Havana’s boardwalk.

My trip to Havana was one of the most significant events of my life. This marked my independence at the age of 40 something. My children were older and I knew they wouldn’t miss me… too much.

Before I was married I had never travelled, at least not alone; while I was married travelling without my husband and children was unheard of, now I’m divorced and yes… I can travel alone.

Another solo venture — Amsterdam

Havana gave me the courage to begin my solo adventures. I’ve now been to many places alone, but my dream destination is Morocco. I’m currently bringing this dream to fruition, and I’ve booked my ticket.

I’m going to Morocco…

I’ve booked my flight to London Heathrow, I’ll stay in this adorable neighbourhood called Brick Lane for one night.

Brick Lane is located in the East End of London. It’s well known for street art/mural paintings and vintage shops… now this is the type of layover I love. I’m staying in a female-only hostel for $32.00 CAD, which for London is an incredible deal.

I’ll have over a day there and then I’ll ‘flix bus’ to Gatwick for my flight to beautiful Marrakech.

Imagine… this Steeltown girl from Hamilton, Ontario travelling to Marrakech.

Can I afford this? Absolutely not… am I doing it anyway? That’s a resounding yes.

I’ve written plenty on how to save for travel, now it’s time to follow my own advice. I can work extra hours and bypass coffee shops when I return.

A little street in Puerto Morelos, Mexico

I’ll spend one night in Marrakech in a single room just outside the Medina for approximately $20.00, The next day I’ll bus for 3.5 hours to Ouarzazate, a little town in south-central Morocco.

Ouarzazate is a place known for filming ‘Lawrence of Arabia, Game of Thrones and Gladiator’ plus much more. It’s called ‘The Door to the Desert’ and for good reason, it’s a small city in the desert with sand-coloured buildings lined with date palms. I’ll be staying in a kasbah which is essentially a fortress in the desert for only $130.00 CAD total.

It’s called Monstera for a reason… Manoa Falls, Honolulu

Once my time is done in Oarzazate I’ll be travelling by bus over to a village called Skoura. This little desert oasis is just South of the High Atlas Mountains and further into the mystical desert.

This alluring palm-filled gateway to the Southern Moroccan desert is a 45-minute drive from Ouarzazate and about a further 6 hours to the stunning Saharan dunes in the desert town of Merzouga.

My 4-night stay in Skoura is also a carefully selected place mid-range in price at CAD 130.00 total… not per night.

An evening in Honolulu

One question many would ask is if I plan to ride a camel. I won’t be as it takes a certain amount of physical ability to get on the camel which I don’t have, and I’m not fond of the ruthlessly hot direct sun of the desert. Riding a camel in the desert would be a nauseatingly terrible form of torture for me. The shade of a palm grove in the middle of a desert oasis is perfect.

I’ll spend my days enjoying mint tea and Arabic coffee daily at lovely cafes and restaurants I hope to find. I’ll take a tour through the palm groves and roam through the kashbah, dreaming of how life must have been long ago.

I’ll always remember a book I read when I was a teenager. I don’t remember much of it except a woman sitting poolside in Cairo wearing large sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat who travelled solo through Egypt back in the 1970s. I remember then and there that I wanted to be just like her and valiantly travel alone to exotic destinations.

I’ll think fondly of my first solo trip to Havana, and I’ll sit proudly on my small balcony in awe with tea in hand at how far I’ve journeyed into the surreal and beautiful Moroccan desert.

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This post was previously published on Globetrotters.

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