The Mystery of Morocco: Itinerary
Rock the Kashbah: Nov. 6-13, 2010
The art deco and Moorish styles seep into the corners of Marrakech. Founded at the confluence of an ancient trade route, Marrakech invokes magic around every corner. Evenings are spent at the nightly carnival of El Fan — a pulsating hub of snake charmers, food vendors, and fortune tellers. By day, we explore the leather tanneries and bazaars. The Kasbah's spindly finger beckons us to wind through its labyrinthine alleys to discover treasures of old.
Next we visit Morocco’s indigenous people, the Berbers, tucked beneath the Middle Atlas Mountains. We learn how to cook tangine and bread in a clay pot and dance to the drum beats of the desert.
Passing olive groves and grazing donkeys, we then head to Essaouira — the kind of place one first hears about in a yoga class, discussed in heated whispers between sun salutations. Essaouira —a tiny white-walled port city on Morocco's Atlantic coast with a laidback attitude, artsy atmosphere, and sandy colored ramparts — beckons us to wander through the animated fish market and listen to the seagulls’ cries occasionally silenced by the muezzin’s call to prayer.
We end our tour in Casablanca with a dinner at Rick’s café!
As part of our Moroccan Journey we have created a daily optional practice called Explore Within with Colorado native Suzi Potratz. Suzi embraces and offers a unique practice in mindful movement. Each day will bring the mystery of Morocco as well as the power of the amazing being you are. This artistic, imaginative and playful combination of yoga and acupressure is created to enhance and balance the mind, the muscles and the meridians. The practice will incorporate teachings from various modalities — including Hatha Yoga, Anusara Yoga, Iyengar Yoga , Kundalini Yoga, Partner Play, Accu-Yoga, Laugher Yoga, Yoga Therapy, Thai Massage and Acupressure —and allow us to co-create on this exciting journey through Morocco
Magic Carpet Ride: Nov. 14-21, 2010 (OPTIONAL EXTENSION - pay as you go)
Our journey begins in Asilah where the sound of the ocean crashing on the rocks compliments the pristine white buildings tucked snugly into one of Morocco’s most charming villages. Barbary pirates and Riffian rebels found Asilah’s dense map of ancient alley ways, arches and passages to be perfect for landfalls and hide-aways. Today we set off like ancient wanderers with a torn treasure map!
Chefchaouen, a magical town reminiscent of a thousand and one nights, is tucked between two peaks of the Rif mountains. White washed buildings and doors as blue as the sky will lure you toward its ancient streets to explore the routes of traders long past.
We next explore Fez, a medieval labyrinth of Arabesque architecture. Standing in the bazaar, you pick up a lamp, rub it and watch for the genie to appear. A whirlpool of people, donkeys, goods, and food surround you. Your senses are assaulted with the richness of this vibrant city.
After a dusty drive through the Sahara, we arrive at our riad — with carved stucco, colorful tiling, and hand-woven rugs. The owner of our beautiful home-away-from-home, greets us with a cup of mint tea, a warm smile and promises of a tour of the city that few foreigners witness. "Do you eat everything?" asks our cooking instructor. “Tonight we were going to feast!”
We end our tour in Casablanca with a dinner at Rick’s café!
Upcoming Dates:
Nov. 6-13, 2010
Nov. 14-21, 2010
"Eighteen days of not having to think. Each day was all mine! The joy of being with others who share a similar mindset and approach to life! The freedom that came with leaving my worries behind and embracing adventure."
~Jenifer Mahanes, Jan. 2007