At the beginning of our trip, we took a walking tour with a local guide. He told us Morocco was a country of contradictions. And as we explored for a few weeks....I realized this was so true. The king is very interested in climate change and is taking huge steps to position Morocco in a good place with solar power, banning plastic, and not wasting water. Women have had the right to vote forever, but have just recently been granted the right to divorce their husband..traditionally, in Islam, it was the man who decided. Now, in Morocco, the woman can
get alimony and child support and the right to keep her children with her until they are 18. Food is good in Morocco...healthy, plant based...but some meat. No one is overweight. There are no Costco’s or premade food places. People generally just cook what they grow or can buy daily at the markets. Dessert is usually fruit. Muslims don’t drink, but there was alcohol for the tourists. I found Morocco a VERY tolerant nation. If there were any other religions...I never saw any. People were kind and friendly, and hard working. Health care is free, as is school AND college...but the problem arises that highly educated people leave because they cannot find work with well paying jobs in Morocco. So the brain drain is a big problem. Guns are illegal, except for hunting...and then there is extensive background checks for the whole family. Crime is low, except petty crimes of pickpocket, etc.I felt completely safe everywhere.
My favorite part was the southern area, although it was very hot...it was peaceful and beautiful and had more black Moroccans than the North, which is heavily influenced by the French control. The Berbers of the Mts are proud and tribal, and even that is changing, as they usually don’t have a chief any longer and kids are becoming more educated and wanting to leave their villages and not farm or herd like their parents.
I would go back in a heartbeat..maybe do some hiking in the Atlas Mts. And more camel riding! Haha
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