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 in being sensitive to each moment, in regarding it as utterly new and unique, in having the mind open and wholly receptive" - Alan Watts

Every single time I am traveling to Morocco I am feeling a little nervous... and it is because every single trip is totally 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 dissapointed 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 its never easy to leave my comfort.

Just right before I went for this adventure, I accepted a new perception of looking at things. I thought to myself that the only thing I MUST DO is to stay OPEN. For whatever happens. Good or bad. If something bad happens at that moment I probably won't be able to see a whole picture, I might get angry, sad or disappointed but in the end it will be a lesson sent by the universe which I need to go through. One piece of the puzzle. 

And with this new attitude I went on my 7th trip to Morocco. Its been a while I wanted to try hitchhiking but somehow it was never a right time or a place, I always found an excuse that it might be dangerous. A few days before coming to Morocco, I contacted a guy, my previous AirBnb host for staying at his place and I knew he was doing some hitchhiking as well so I asked if he would like to join me to travel to one place and he agreed.. We met and we hitchhiked and it was amazing. We had so much fun, laughing, sharing, inspiring each other.. We planned only one destination but eventually ended up visiting 8 places along the west cost of Morocco and becoming very good friends - travel buddies. Staying OPEN made me live in a MOMENT forgetting all the bad things that can happen. 

Telling my story I wish to encourage you to not be afraid of unknown, accept everything & 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 quite, 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. It was originally the site of a cluster of forts that were encircled in the 19th century by some 5km of pisé wall. It quickly became a trade centre and remains a provincial capital and centre for Berber jewellery, with a souq devoted to the silver stuff. 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 Atlantic Coast. 

- Tifnit - a small fishing village. Its unspoilt and very Moroccan. Tifnit is special because just right behind the village you can find Sahara - sand dunes. These dunes are massive and go 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 which 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 on the hot sun!

- Imsouane - despite Imsouane’s popularity with surfers from across the world, the village is a 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 sports fan there is nothing 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 beautiful and cute little town which has 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