23 Comments
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Iain Mitchell's avatar

Great writing. We (wife and I) love Morrocco and have made it our base (Agadir) after selling up in the UK. Super chilled slightly shy cousin of the other big cities. Second base hopefully is going to be Thailand. All the best

Jo Barnes's avatar

Thanks Iain! I didn't make it to Agadir this time, but I was told it's lovely. I highly recommend Thailand as a second base. I loved living there 😊

Kimberly Anne's avatar

Hi Jo, your trip sounds incredible! Morocco (specifically Tangiers) has been #1 on my bucket list since I was 16 years old and read my first Jane Bowles book. But.... I would be traveling alone as a solo female, no friends, no meeting other people to go with, no travel buddy... and that does still scare me. I've traveled through many parts of the world completely solo (without a travel partner) but would feel better if I had at least one friend or acquaintance to travel to Morocco with, as you did. I'd love to hear your thoughts about this.

Jo Barnes's avatar

Hi Kimberly, as I was chatting about in the post, I highly recommend doing a tour as I did. I was solo through most of the trip & was nervous before I went which is why I booked the tour. It changed the whole experience for me. Gave me some company, a guide and a fab way to immerse myself in the country without worrying about being alone. On the Go Tours & Nomadic Tours - the company I went with, have great & very reasonably priced tours. Then after the tour I was totally comfortable being alone in Marrakesh for the end of my trip. Hope that helps! 😁

Kimberly Anne's avatar

Just checked. It is reasonably priced! 9 days for €1200 🤩 adding it to “next year”! Already saved your post to refer back to. 🙏🏼 Thanks so much.

Jo Barnes's avatar

Brilliant! Yep sounds like the tour I did. Well worth it. So happy to have helped Kimberly! 😊

Kimberly Anne's avatar

Hi Jo that does help, thank you so much!

Narina Exelby's avatar

I'm so glad you didn't listen to The Internet! I spent a month around the High Altas earlier this year, working on books for Lonely Planet, and absolutely loved my time there. I never felt hassled, not for a moment. 'Salam, sister' were probably the two words I heard the most. And I so look forward to returning.

Jo Barnes's avatar

Right? ❤️ A wonderful place that’s for sure! Great to connect 😊

Theresa Wagar's avatar

Morocco has always intrigued me. But like most Middle Eastern and African countries. It was no longer on my bucket list. Thanks for bringing it back. Like the idea of doing a tour.

Safe travels!

Jo Barnes's avatar

Thanks Theresa! Yep I highly recommend it. 😊

Christiana White's avatar

Thank you, Jo. This is exciting and inspiring. I’m flying to Madrid today, open-ended…

Jo Barnes's avatar

Whoohooo! How are you getting on Christiana? Are you having an amazing time?

Christiana White's avatar

So good, Jo! Madrid is a dream. I’m over the moon. Starting to at least entertain the idea of actually relaxing. :)

Katie McCarthy's avatar

Morocco (visited April 2024, celebrated my 54th birthday there with an amazing hammam treatment!) is a country that takes great pride in their culture of hospitality. I got the impression that a tourist having a bad incident would feel like a national disgrace and a stain on their hearts. I would happily relocate there solo, and I know a LOT of people who'd be visiting me if I do. It's disgusting that Morocco is on the new list of 75 countries that all visas have been suspended for. It's a slap in their faces after showing their visitors nothing but graciousness and a lovely time.

Ous Laroussi's avatar

I enjoyed reading your post. As a Moroccan who lived in multiples places abroad (now I live in California), I’ve met a lot of people that experienced the same anxiety when they first started looking for reviews / personal experiences (or even how the media sometimes depicts Morocco).

I am originally from the North, did you get the chance to visit Tetouan?

The truth is, Morocco is a very special and beautiful place.

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page”

Jo Barnes's avatar

No didn't get to Tetouan this time around, but we'll be back! ❤️

Benthall Slow Travel's avatar

Jo, I love this so much – especially the gap between “Morocco as the internet describes it” and Morocco as you actually lived it.

That line about Tesco car parks feeling more threatening than the medina made me laugh, but it also nails the bigger truth: fear is such a terrible travel advisor, especially for women in midlife who’ve been told for decades that the world is out to get us if we dare wander off alone.

We’ve had that same experience again and again with slow travel — the places we were most “warned” about usually end up feeling the most human, the most generous, the most alive.

And your point about being noticed in your 50s? Yes. There’s something unexpectedly lovely about feeling seen again, even if half the interaction starts with, “Would you like to buy…?”

As for places that surprised me most: probably Belize and North Wales, in totally different ways. Both softer and kinder than their reputations, and both places I’d go back to in a heartbeat.

Also now I’m low-key plotting a 2030 World Cup Morocco detour…

💛 Kelly

Jo Barnes's avatar

Yes! Let’s meet there if not before! 🥳

Madeleine Limardo's avatar

This is so inspiring; thank you!!

Jo Barnes's avatar

Thanks Madeleine! Honestly, every time I travel somewhere new my mind broadens even further. ❤️

Erin, Nomad Life's avatar

Love seeing your joyous photos, Jo! 😍 Morocco is a spectacular place.