Bhavana Forest Monastery Did you know that West Virginia is a treasure trove for yoga retreats, wellness centers and recreational activities? It must be a combination of affordable land, scenic views and proximity to Baltimore and DC that draws eclectic crowds and unorthodox communities to the area. As I was...
Moroccan Riviera Picture a 90s French Riviera that has been neglected for a couple decades and then add a Maghribi flavor to it: elegant but run down colonial buildings, gritty-chic medinas, vast but littered promenades, white-washed mosques, plastic sit-up chairs under striped parasols, and kilometers of packed sand beaches on...
The Perfect Hub Image 3 Image 5 Kenzi Solazur is the perfect hub for exploring Tangier & the northwestern corner of Morocco. There are numerous coastal villages & towns on the Atlantic and the Med sides of Tangier, which are absolutely worth a visit. Many of them are less than...
If you are googling Agadir, you've probably already picked it out as your beachfront destination for unplugging and soaking up the sun. But, apart from the obvious, what else is there to look forward to in this Moroccan resort? After a six-month sojourn, I’m proud to share my “insider” tips of fun...
Moroccan cuisine is an adventure of its own. I was a fan long before I travelled to Morocco, but being here, took my appreciation to a whole new level. Five months eating my way through the country, and I am still uncovering new ingredients, new foods, new flavor combinations. I've...
International Chess Tournament Poppies & chess are not the first things to come to mind when you think of Morocco, but the first week of May, that was the name of the game in the agricultural heartland of the country. Amidst wild flower fields and tiny Amazigh enclaves, International El...
In the Middle of Nowhere Alpine valleys. Crimson poppy fields. Cascading waterfalls. Winding mountain roads. Switzerland, right? Not quite... Beachless & duneless, the Middle Atlas and its “gateway” Beni Mellal commonly get overlooked. Truth be told, I only discovered it myself, as I was attending an international chess tournament near...
The Village A beach snob that I am, I’m always hunting for remote resorts and virgin beaches in the area. In my latest pursuit, I stumble upon Tifnit – a tiny fishing village in the midst of Souss Massa National Park, about 45 km south of Agadir. Pink seashell gravel,...
TWO DIFFERENT LANGUAGES Before coming to Morocco, I make a point of completing the first level of Pimsleur’s Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) course. My thinking is that I want to learn the most “common” language and adjust to the local dialect when I am in the country. After all, most...
What's So Special About Aix? La Bravade Calendale - ancient Provençal holiday celebrating the winter solstice with traditional dance, music and street performance. It is the little things I am relishing the most while living in Aix this fall: the sounds of the markets, cathedral bells and street musicians; the smells...
