Moroccan house built around an interior garden or courtyard. This soothing
riad had a small pool in the center surrounded by lit candles, floating rose petals,
and two orange trees. Our rooms were all facing this center pool area. The staff
waited formally with folded hands in burgundy and gold braided jackets. A few
minutes later we were being served a hot and deliciously laid out dinner. The
dessert had orange blossoms in it.
Nightfall turned out to be full of angst. Several of us were sick with perhaps sinus
infections? Colds? Coronavirus? My cold (no fever, thank goodness) was keeping me
from breathing/sleeping well and so I opened up my cell phone to read a little. The
news had just posted that our President had closed all incoming flights from Europe
into America! I knew two of us had European flights home scheduled. I started to have
anxiety and decided to leave the room and walk about a bit. It was 3 am. I noticed a
light on in my friend, Alana’s, room. She had read the same
news and was having the same thoughts as me—we need to
cut the tour short and go home as soon as possible. We stayed
up the rest of the night researching for any outgoing flights.
SUDDEN EXIT PLANS
As soon as Addi came down for breakfast, she and I told
him our thoughts. He quickly agreed that circumstances
were getting too dire and called our airline on his phone.
We were able to schedule the group to fly out within two
days. We were sad because we knew we were going to
miss the ocean part of our trip but also relieved that there
was a “plan.” All of us got confirmation in our phones
about this change. We all breathed a sigh of relief.
Marrakech Hotel Room -
Photo by Katia
Jamaa El-Fna Square - Marrakech Medina
In the
Marrakech
Medina
In the Marrakech Medina - Spices
In the
Marrakech
Medina