Morocco Day 1: Deep into the Atlas Mountains

There was a family that moved into our central London ward, great people with kids the same ages as our kids. And funny enough our paths had also crossed years ago during university. We were so happy to have them and looked forward to becoming better friends! Shortly after their arrival, however, we moved back to the US, sad that our paths in London hadn't joined for a longer stretch. Bummer. Fast forward another year, and we are getting caught up with these friends at a holiday party. Before we knew it all 11 of us had plane tickets to Morocco. Planning this trip with them went so smoothly and so quickly (we seemed to be on the same page at every step) that I knew it was going to be a good one. And it was better than I could have imagined. Sharing this trip with them, as families, was such a special and fun experience. Everyone had a buddy and got along so well. And there was very little moaning and groaning from any of the kids who were too happy hanging out with each other to have much to say to us. Halfway through the trip I was already mentally planning our next joint family holiday.



Only a half-hour into the plane ride (Morocco is only two and a half hours from London) and the kids were already having a blast.


On the mini-bus that, for better or worse, would be our second home for the next five days. It was great fun riding all together during this adventurous first half of the trip through the Atlas Mountains and into the Sahara Desert, but several of us fell victim to the windy mountain roads. Funny how we shared a similar percentage of motion sick vs. non motion sick people in each of our families. And a big thanks to Becca for having the foresight taught by experience to bring all the barf bags!




The teen party row in the back of the bus. This row was all about movies, iPods and video games.


Our first glimpses into the rugged mountainous countryside of Morocco




Too cool for school






Our first authentic Moroccan meal, back when couscous and chicken kabobs were novel and interesting


Kabob swords


Veggie couscous


One of many roadside shops


Making Argan oil




Windy at the summit! Col du Tichka, the high mountain pass in the Atlas Mountains on the road from Marrakech to Ouarzazate




Moroccan doors are beautiful






Reached our first overnight destination at Aït Benhaddou


Our rustic, but charming riad in Aït Benhaddou. "Rustic" can be defined as faulty/no air-conditioning in 45° (113° F) temps.














All 7 kids enjoying the first of many pools on this trip. Even though their level of cleanliness could be debated, thank goodness for the pools!


Cannonball contests




Beautiful Becca




















Trevon always making friends. With our guide at Aït Benhaddou to tour the ancient fortified city.




These two little darlings were inseparable the whole trip. They are adorable!






The whole group at Aït Benhaddou






















All the kids making a pitstop




















Emma



This next series of shots may be my favourite of the whole trip . . .































Dusk over our riad at Aït Benhaddou.


Having risen at 3:30am to catch our flight to now watching the sunset in the Moroccan Sahara Dessert, we are ready to turn in. What a day!