Morocco 2019

Somehow it's been over a month since our trip to Morocco.

Be forewarned, this post does not do the trip justice - which I think is why I put off writing it for so long. I gave up trying to express everything and instead used the Foto Friday format with limited captions.

The number one reason for the trip was to see and know the place Husband's sister and her husband call home right now and to visit with them. The second reason for the trip was to get another stamp in our passports, show our babies that there are other people in the world and other ways of life, and show ourselves that traveling with babies is not actually that difficult. Missions accomplished!

Here we are having made it to Morocco where our lovely sister slash tour guide picked us up. Well, some of us.

The rest of us waited awkwardly with the rental sales lady for some important papers to arrive (which never did) before we could follow our tour guide slash sister to her house. When the sales lady gave up on the papers ever coming, we went back inside the airport to download directions to the US Embassy since our tour guide slash sister had long since driven home. But on our way there, we got stopped by the police who wanted to see said important papers which never arrived. Thankfully the police gave up trying to communicate with English-speakers and Sister called with the pass code to unlock her phone (aka GPS) and we finally made it to her house, which was so lovely we forgot all of the trials we'd just been through.

When sister slash tour guide tells you they live in the yellow one, but they're all yellow...

Oswald's favorite part of the lovely house was the electric blinds on all the windows.

Some really old ruins

(if you want to travel with someone who retains historical significance, don't take me)

Pro Tip: Travel with other adults that your kids enjoy and that enjoy your kids.

Cute family + cute ruins

so so so many stray cats.

In the background is a group of school children. There were several groups there that day, all of which passed us in single-file and kissed our children on their cheeks as they went by. I expected my kids to frown and run for cover, but they just stood there and taking it all in and came running to me giggling afterwards! Overall, I was impressed with how much people seemed to appreciate children, but it was pointed out to me that it may be because my children are blonde(ish). 🙄

Note the stork nests

Exploring ruins with Auntie Sus.

I really loved the low table and cushioned seating at Dar Naji (the restaurant we went to on Friday to get cous cous which apparently they only make on Fridays!?).

The beach was a big hit.

Lots of beach soccer going on 🙌

The sunrise bullet train we took to Tangier for the day.

Cruising along at 200 mph.

A quick Google search of Things To Do In Tangier results in a list of a few slow and simple pleasures: Stroll the beach promenade (check)

✔ Get lost in the Medina

✔ Visit St. Andrew's church

✔ Enjoy a freshly squeezed orange juice

✔ Relax at the Grand Socco

Some picturesque winding streets before we got lost in the Medina (old town)

Enjoying a delicious mint tea with a great view because I needed a rest after walking for two 👇

Little Lu was quite sick, but wouldn't have been any more comfortable sitting at the house so we didn't slow down our tourist-ing pace! The K'Tan baby wrap is a champ! 💪

Can you spy the stack of bread as high as a wall?

Officially lost in the Medina.

our parade

Found some little shops all of which had the "best price," "good quality"

Quite picturesque - even with the satellite dishes

I like orange trees :)

The way the shops are set up reminded me of Chile. Lots more spices here though (blue bags)

Lunch on the Grand Socco (basically the town square) included that freshly squeezed orange juice listed in the Top Things to Do in Tangier. It was delicious.

Wasn't Lucy sick, you ask?
Yes. We laugh in the face of dangerous germs.

To get back to the train station, we needed to take a taxi, but they only take 3 riders and we had 9 people. So each couple took one of our children 😰

and tried to a) catch an open taxi and b) communicate to the driver where they needed to go.

It felt a little like the Amazing Race. We won.
I got to talk to the taxi driver in Spanish - Tangier is just a ferry ride away from Spain.

Fancy train station. Escalators are the best part of any trip.

Sister hugs outside some guy's tomb with Moroccan flags in the background

Teaching Dutch Blitz to the next generation.

Not pictured, Clue--which the adults played almost every night.

We cancelled our 3 hour drive to Fez and went to the local beach instead. Lots of pretty whole shells.

A very small section of a very big market in Rabat

I did pack her some other clothes that would have blended in more with the surroundings, but she only liked this outfit and wore it almost every day. On the up side, she's standing on her own two legs...!