Morocco

Treat Yo Self

Love is in the air and Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! B and I decided that we won’t be doing a gift exchange this year, and instead will just focus on each other with a date night, TBD. He’s away for a month-long training, but will be back for the long weekend and I’m pee-in-my pants excited. Okay, okay, I know it has only been a week, but what can I say? I love my man.

If you’re also not on the gift exchange train, I say hop onto the treat yo self express. I hosted a Stella & Dot trunk show last weekend with some of my favorite gals, and I am completely in love with the spring line. Blues, blushes, geometric patterns, and moroccan flair all have a shining moment in the new line, and there is truly something for everyone. What’s there not to love?

Xo,
Jackietara

P.S. Order by 2/8 for delivery by 2/14!

Morocco Part Five: Merzouga

Our second to last stop on our trip was the desert. We arrived in Merzouga in the evening and caught the last few moments of a golden sunset. We stayed in a beautiful auberge with cozy rooms and beautiful views, but the highlight of Merzouga was our early morning camel ride along the sandy dunes.

Morocco Part Four: Journey to Merzouga

Our last stop in Fes was to a ceramic and tile manufacturer. There were so many beautiful colors and ceramic styles… I wanted to be able to take it all home with me, but I settled on two cobalt blue cups (that look purple before heating up in the kiln!) to use for coffee and tea. In Fes they don’t use oil or gas, but crushed olive pits as fuel for fire in the kilns.

After our last stop we all hopped in the car for a long ride through the middle atlas mountains. There were beautiful views of rolling hills and valleys and snow-capped mountains. We stopped in Ifrane – known for its European-style chalets – for coffee (My sister, Natalie, and I ordered our favorite “noos noos” espresso with milk) and later stopped in one of many Amazigh cities we drove through for barbeque. Our final destination before reaching Merzouga was Fossils Erfoud, a factory that excavates fossils and incorporates them into tables and home decor.

Morocco Part Three: Fes

The medina in Fes was a bustling place. Between the carts, mules, and rushing people, it was a wonder we didn’t get run over! We took sanctuary along the corridors of the medina in mosques, workshops, and souks, and the tannery – shoes, jackets, and purses galore! There was a scenic view on the top floor of the tannery, but we needed a sprig of mint to mask the smell of a mixture of cow urine, quicklime, water, and salt which is used to break down the tough leather. The medina is rich with so much history and beautiful craftsmanship – it was hard to pack it all into one day!

Morocco Part Two: Journey to Fes

Happy Friday, friends! I’m sharing a few photos of our journey from Rabat to Fes – with a stop at the Volubilis ruins in between – on this similarly warm and sunny day in D.C. I hope everyone has spectacular weekend plans! Mine involve brunching, working out, and more brunching with mom.

Cheers,
Jackietara

Morocco Part One: Rabat

I can hardly believe it myself, but I’m back from my whirlwind trip to Morocco! We somehow managed to cram 5 cities into 8 days, with 2.5 days of car rides (and one camel ride) in-between. I enjoyed every minute of our week-long trek across the country, so I have decided that the best way to share my trip with you is chronologically… After an 8-hour plane ride from Dulles to Paris, a 4-hour layover, and another 4-hour plane ride to Casablanca, we finally arrived.

Rabat-14

We were greeted by Aziz, who would be our amazing driver for the duration of our trip, at the airport in Casablanca. He had already met up with my sister, Natalie, who had arrived hours earlier from Senegal, so we all hopped in the car to travel from Casablanca to Rabat, our first destination. In Morocco, the hotels we stayed in were “riads,” traditional Moroccan houses/palaces with an interior garden or courtyard. Riad Kalaa, in the heart of Rabat, had a beautiful Andalusian courtyard with stone and marble architecture. The room I shared with Natalie was super cozy and had amazing amenities. It was so cozy, in fact, that Natalie and I didn’t want to get out of bed. Thankfully, Riad Kaala had a filling and delicious breakfast of traditional breads, yogurt, and fresh-squeezed orange juice that tempted us to leave our room.

Our stay in Rabat was a short one, but a great intro to Moroccan culture and hospitality. I would quickly learn that Morocco is home to beautiful medinas, delicious kefta kebabs, and cats – lots of cats.

– Jackietara

Morocco Calling

This blue and white top just screams “take me to Morocco!”, doesn’t it? Little does it know, it will in fact be accompanying me on my journey to the exotic lands of Morocco very soon – Friday in fact! I’m not quite sure how this trip snuck up on me as it did. A few months ago our family vacation to Africa seemed forever away. Now, it’s just a few hours. Crazy how that happens, huh?

My intent was to write a post on “how to pack for an exotic vacation” , but that clearly was a lofty goal as I have not taken photos for or written said post. Instead, you will have to settle for many, many photos from my trip and maybe a note or two on how my packing worked out… or not. I’m actually feeling pretty confident that I packed enough basics and layers (without over-packing, huzzah!).

I have managed to fit 7 days worth of outfits, four pairs of shoes, light camera gear, and entertainment material into one carry-on and a mid-sized suitcase (with room to spare!). I’d call that an accomplishment.

_________________________

South Moon Under Tunic
Vintage Jacket
White Denim | similar
Stella & Dot Renegade Cluster Bracelet
Stella & Dot Rebel Cluster Necklace
Lou Lou D.C. Necklace

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