Staying Open. Hitchhiking Coastal Morocco

"The art of living is neither careless drifting on the one hand nor fearful clinging to the past on the other. It consists of being sensitive to each moment, regarding it as utterly new and unique, and having the mind open and wholly receptive." - Alan Watts

Every time I travel to Morocco, I feel a little nervous because each trip is entirely different. I don't like to plan it too much because it would build my expectations, and I prefer to be surprised if something happens than be disappointed if it doesn't. I don't know where I will sleep, where I will eat, what places I will visit, what people I will meet, what means of transportation I will take, what business deals I will do, and so on. Because of this uncertainty, it's never easy to leave my comfort zone.

Just before embarking on this adventure, I embraced a new perception of looking at things. I thought to myself that the only thing I MUST DO is to stay OPEN to whatever happens, be it good or bad. If something negative occurs at that moment, I probably won't be able to see the whole picture. I might get angry, sad, or disappointed, but in the end, it will be a lesson sent by the universe that I need to go through – one piece of the puzzle.

And with this new attitude, I embarked on my 7th trip to Morocco. It had been a while since I wanted to try hitchhiking, but somehow it was never the right time or place; I always found an excuse, thinking it might be dangerous. A few days before coming to Morocco, I contacted a guy, my previous Airbnb host, to stay at his place, knowing he also engaged in hitchhiking. I asked if he would like to join me on a trip to a specific place, and he agreed. We met, hitchhiked, and it was amazing. We had so much fun, laughing, sharing, and inspiring each other. Although we initially planned only one destination, we eventually ended up visiting eight places along the west coast of Morocco and became very good friends - travel buddies. Staying OPEN allowed me to live in the MOMENT, forgetting all the potential negatives that could happen.

By sharing my story, I hope to encourage you not to be afraid of the unknown, to accept everything, and to expect nothing. This is when magic happens!

And for those who are planing their trip to Morocco here is a little bit about the places I stopped by:

• Mirleft - One of the region’s most beautiful roads runs south of Aglou Plage, offering wonderful views of the ocean, rugged hills, and the occasional empty cove. I really fell in love with Mirleft; it was a quiet, beautiful, and relaxing place.

• Tiznit - South of the Souss Valley and at the western end of the Anti Atlas, Tiznit is an old walled medina town surrounded by modern development. Originally the site of a cluster of forts encircled in the 19th century by some 5km of pisé wall, it quickly became a trade center. Tiznit remains a provincial capital and a center for Berber jewelry, with a souq devoted to silver items. This slow-paced and authentic spot, with its dusty medina lanes and conservative but friendly inhabitants, is a convenient stop-off between the Anti Atlas and the Atlantic Coast.

• Tifnit - a small fishing village. It's unspoiled and very Moroccan. Tifnit is special because just right behind the village, you can find the Sahara - sand dunes. These dunes are massive and stretch for about 5km along the coast. Tifnit has its own magic...

• Agadir - With a busy port and beach resort sprawling beneath its kasbah, Agadir was completely rebuilt following a devastating earthquake in 1960. It is now the country’s premier destination for sun, sand, pubs, and pizza. Laid out as a large grid of downtown streets, surrounded by spacious residential suburbs, Agadir’s concrete-covered inland quarters are ugly and sterile. However, the city hits its stride on the beachfront promenade, where Moroccan street life comes with a refreshing sense of space. Arching south of the shiny white marina, the sandy beach offers clean water and 300 sunny days a year.

• Paradise Valley - the place that will leave you amazed! Located 20 km north of Agadir, Paradise Valley is a section of the Tamraght River valley in the Moroccan High Atlas mountains. The valley is known for its abundance of rock pools and small waterfalls. People come for picnics, swimming, and chilling in the hot sun!

• Imsouane - Despite Imsouane’s popularity with surfers from across the world, the village is first and foremost home to a bustling fishing community.

• Sidi Kaoki - The constant blustery winds have made it one of Morocco’s top windsurfing and surfing spots. If you aren't a sports fan, there is not much to do there...

• Essouira - so-called the ‘Wind City of Africa.’ Many people come here to wander through the spice-scented lanes and palm-lined avenues of the fortified medina, browse the many art galleries and boutiques, relax in some of the country's best hotels, and watch fishing nets being mended and traditional boats being constructed in the hugely atmospheric port. Essouira is a beautiful and cute little town with a unique ability to inspire.

 I hope you found some useful information and if you need any advice - I am here to help! 

Thank you for reading,

Love, Toma