When the Trip Didn’t Go as Planned
My trip to Morocco was not very successful, and I left the country earlier than planned. Although I experienced several unfortunate situations and encountered aggression, I can still see the great potential of this otherwise beautiful land.
I always try to broaden my horizons and remain open-minded, even when I do not fully understand certain traditions. I respect other cultures, but Morocco put this openness to a difficult test.
It is hard to ignore the fact that Morocco has developed a difficult reputation among many women travelers, especially after reading personal accounts and comments shared online. Stories about harassment, boundary-crossing, and feelings of insecurity can be shocking, and they are important to consider when planning a trip. This is a destination where awareness, caution, and respect for one’s own boundaries are especially important. At the same time, there is a clear reason why Morocco continues to attract visitors from all over the world — its architecture, colors, scents, cuisine, and landscapes create a place full of contrast, intensity, and undeniable fascination.
Feeling Uncomfortable While Exploring
One of the main challenges I faced was men who followed me for a long time in order to invite me into their shops. I found this behavior more unsettling than welcoming. As a result, sightseeing was not relaxing for me, as I constantly felt uneasy.
Fascinating Shops and Argan Oil
That said, the shops filled with mysterious bottles, herbs, oils, and cosmetics — with the scent of amber lingering in the air — are truly fascinating. Morocco is especially known for argan oil, which became globally popular many years ago and is still in high demand in the cosmetics industry. The Argania spinosa tree is endemic to Morocco and has been used for centuries in both culinary and cosmetic traditions.
Shop owners often invite you for tea, saying it is a tradition and that you cannot refuse. Of course, the tea is very hot, which gives you plenty of time to admire the products and be offered supposedly “the best price” for everything.
Getting Lost in the Medina
I had always wanted to see Moroccan architecture, so I booked a stay in a traditional riad in the old town, known as the medina. It is built like a labyrinth, and if it’s your first time there, it is very easy to get lost — GPS maps are not accurate in this part of the city.
We spent a long time trying to find our hotel, asking many people for help, until finally a young man offered assistance. It cost quite a lot of euros, but we preferred to pay, as the situation escalated. He started shouting and threatening us without any clear reason, and paying felt like the safest solution in that frightening moment. Shortly after, another man arrived and began smoking marijuana. In a country like this, I am afraid even to stand next to such situations.
A Moment of Calm in a Beautiful Riad
Our riad itself was beautiful, and I drank plenty of delicious Moroccan mint tea to calm down.
A riad is a traditional Moroccan house with an inner courtyard or pool, surrounded by rooms and staircases. There are no windows facing the outside — all openings face inward. The interior is often decorated with small, geometric, colorful tiles and many floor cushions, creating spaces for drinking tea from heavy, engraved metal teapots.
Berber Tea and Sweet Surprises
Berber tea, also known as “Berber whisky,” is a special blend of herbs such as wild thyme, mint, verbena, lemongrass, geranium, sage, wormwood, and many others depending on the season. It is delicious, and people drink it even on very hot days. There is a special tradition of preparing and pouring the tea, and drinking it several times a day is a characteristic feature of Morocco.
Another surprise was the enormous amount of sugar added to tea. Whenever I forgot to ask for it without sugar, I was shocked. The same happened with fresh fruit juices, which were also heavily sweetened. If you are not a fan of white sugar, remember to ask for everything without it.
Moroccan Food
The most famous Moroccan dish is tagine, a meal prepared in a clay pot with a distinctive conical lid. There are many varieties, with olives, colorful herbs, and spices. One of my favorite soups, harira, is also a classic dish in this part of the world.
Leaving Morocco Earlier Than Planned
After visiting Agadir, Marrakesh, Rabat, Fez, and the blue city of Chefchaouen, we decided to leave earlier than planned. There were no convenient flights available, so we took a night train, where the entrances were locked overnight with thick chains, which made us feel uneasy.
Later, we traveled to Tangier to take a ferry to Cádiz in Spain. The ferry journey was also difficult — the waves were huge, many people got sick, and I felt unwell too. After a while, I had to focus simply on staying in my seat.
We had not planned to visit Gibraltar, but since it was on the way to Málaga, we decided to see this tiny country as well.
Final Thoughts
This journey was difficult for me in many ways, but there were also beautiful moments — the unique blue city, Berber tea, oils in mysterious bottles, and many powerful impressions. I do not regret the experience. I hope that next time it will be better.
To this day, I still love drinking Moroccan-style mint tea — just without sugar.
Malvina Dunder 
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