Riads, Train Tickets and Ferries

I had a great conversation with Nabil Kahn last night regarding Morocco - what to do, where to go, who to meet up with. Lots of very useful information, I only wish that he could join me for this adventure. I also contacted a fulbright(er) and heard back where they will be while I am in the region. I am hoping to cross paths while there and see another side of the country that otherwise might have remained hidden from an english speaking short term travel.

Where to stay is the big question. I have looked into hostels, hotels and riads. While the latter portion of my journey I plan to be more free, I am constrained in time with Morocco and so I am trying to get the most out of it. Riads look amazing, and expensive. If anyone has suggestions, please send them along.

Fes and Marrakesh are both on the list, but I also want to see a smaller town, that hasn't been as over run with tourists. There is a musical festival I learned from writing to SG in Essaouira next weekend that she and another college friend will be attending. Would be fun to catch up with them there, experience that and see a smaller town.

As for getting to Madrid, I had the amex concierge look into things. For the first time, in a long time, they gave me reliable and useful information regarding the ferries and trains. They strategically planned a few different options for me to arrive in time for program and site orientation, maximizing my time on the other side of the Strait of Gibralter.

Meanwhile, looking ahead I emailed my aunt, who is known for writing cookbooks in the Mediterranean region, about things that I must do / places that I must visit during my travels. Reading through the introductions of her books, especially the one on Couscous, is the underlying reason I had the strong urges to include Morocco in my travels and booked my flight to spain through North Africa.

She suggested lonely planet as a jumping off point, and then sent me an article on a place to eat in Istanbul. The title alone was mouth watering, Çiya: Loquat Kebabs and Mesopotamian Truffles at Istanbul’s Culinary Shrine, and I realize already this trip is going to have a sweet and delectable ending.