YOLO in Morocco

My mom and my little sisters came to London for a Smart Sisters trip.  Keith wasn't doing very well so at the last minute Darcee, the oldest and favorite sister, decided to stay home.  We missed her lots but I'm hoping she'll make a European debut at the end of the summer.  I am letting Syd take the lead  in writing about our Sisters trip mostly out of laziness on my part but also because she's so much better at it.  Because Mom and Syd have way more responsiblities (ie children and needy husbands), they headed back to the states after we gained 25 lbs on gelato and pasta in Italy.  Darel on the other hand has no responsibilities so I talked her into a post sisters trip to Morocco. 

In true Smart fashion, Darel taught me a new acronym: YOLO (You only live once).  This was the theme of our trip to Morocco.  When we got lost in our first 10 minutes in Marrakesh and had to pay some street kid to take us back to our hotel, we looked at each other and said YOLO.  When we realized a recently bombed restaurant was our land marker to get back to said hotel, we thought YOLO.  When a man on the side of the road wanted us to ride his camels, we laughed, yelled YOLO and jumped on the camels.  When the women at the Moroccan hammam (spa) insisted we go topless, we whispered YOLO under our breath a million times and just went with the flow. 

To say this trip was an adventure, is a vast understatement. I don't know if it was because Darel was with me and I felt more cautious or we weren't traveling with men, but I felt on guard the whole time.  In the end we had a great time and did a LOT of new things.  Part of the Moroccan experience is to stay in Riyads, a Moroccan bed and breakfast.  Ours was amazing.  It was decorated traditionally and in the evenings we would go to the roof top terrace, read our books, and listen for the evening call for prayer. 

During the days we explored Marrakesh.  We saw snake charmers and monkey whisperers, got heckled in the markets, and visited old palaces and tombs.

One day we ventured out of Marrakesh and spend the day experiencing life like a local.  The Berber people are the indigenous people of the Atlas Mountains.  We visited one of their villages, rode their camels, saw how they make traditional lotions, potions, teas, ointments, and makeup, and hiked to some waterfalls.  It was by far my favorite day.  

Riding our camels Fatima and Nahima

We bought this lipstick from the Berber village and it looks green but goes on pink and seriously is the best lasting lipstick I've ever used.  No need for Sephora!  Plus it only cost 2 Euros a tube.

Our last night, after the traumatizing experience at the hammam, we splurged on a nice meal complete with belly dancing entertainment.  The salads in Morocco are to die for and for dessert they serve sliced oranges sprinkled with cinnamon.  It sounds disgusting but try it and it will change your life.  Except for the fact that we both caught some evil sickness that landed us in bed for a week after our return, it was a great trip.  I love traveling with Darel.  She is so adventurous and up for anything.  I love our hours and hours of conversations and her positive attitude about everything.  This is her last summer as a student as she will probably start internships and jobs next summer, but I'm so glad we squeezed in one more trip.  Let's be honest, she has the best life and it probably won't be the last trip!  Where are we headed next year, Darel??