Leaving behind the cold of Norway, we flew to sunny Morocco and spent 10 days bouncing around. We decided to forgo an expedition to the Sahara, as most of the 2-3 day trips involved several hours of driving crammed in a minivan, and not much time spent in the desert, and we’ve spent time in the desert before. Instead, we stuck to a few of the cities and attempted to slow down our pace. As each area is so unique, we’ll use one word to try to sum up the essence of each city.
Chaos. Utter chaos. Cars, bikes, motorbikes, donkeys, horse-drawn carts, cats, and pedestrians all vie for position on the roads. And the motorbikes don’t yield to anything or anyone. 
The maze of streets in the old, walled medina is home to a massive outdoor market (called a souk), where it’s possible to purchase anything from earrings to baskets to calf hooves. Each product has its own section.
For instance, there are a few streets on which only jewelry is sold. Another handful of alleys make up the carpet section. Then, there’s the smelly live chicken area. 
At the heart of this maze lies the main square Jemaa el Fna, which is a teeming with juice stalls, snake charmers, used (stolen?) mobile phone hawkers, and buskers.
The one oasis of calm in the city is the Jardin Majorelles. The garden, once owned by Yves Saint Laurent, is a quiet, peaceful area, with a museum painted in bold colors. 
Marrakech is a maddening city, but it’s exactly what we expected from Morocco, and the reason we came here.
Chefchaouen- Blue
Once a Spanish colony, there is a distinct Andalusian feel to the place. Instead of speaking French like the remainder of the country, the residents are fluent in Spanish, though Moroccan Arabic is their first language.
Located in the northeastern part of the country, the town is among the Rif mountains, which, along with providing scenic trekking trails, is the biggest marijuana growing region of the country (more on that here).
Anxious to escape the city for a few hours, we were eager to do some trekking at Akchour. Reluctantly we hired a guide, as we were warned that we would be hassled by marijuana farmers, and we were glad that we did, as the “trail” was nonexistent.
On our way to God’s Bridge, a rock arch formation, we summoned our inner gymnasts, as we clambered over boulders, tiptoed around ledges, balance beam walked on logs, and hopped across the river on stepping-stones. 
My ballet training failed me, and I fell in the river at one point. That wasn’t a big deal though, as we ended up jumping in the river for a swim later, though it wasn’t nearly warm enough to paddle around for long.
For me, Morocco conjures up images of ancient, crowded streets, and colorful markets. Marrakech definitely contained these things, but they were geared solely towards tourists, and didn’t feel authentic. Fez (also called Fes), with its craftsmen and camel heads, felt authentic. 
So did the medersas, Muslim religious schools.
The tannery was intriguing. After removing skin from sheep, goats and camels, the leather is soaked in pigeon feces for 1 week, then washed in salt water, before being submerged in vats of dye to create colorful fabric. 
Ignoring the pungent odor surrounding the area, it was intriguing to watch this procedure being performed by hand in the center of a large urban area.
Fun fact: the tannery uses 1200kg (2640lb) pigeon poop per week.
The reality is that Casablanca is a huge sprawl of people, trash and once glamorous, now run-down, buildings.
The largest city in Morocco, Casablanca feels fatigued. One would expect it to utilize its prime location on the Atlantic coast to create an appealing seafront promenade. Instead, the main coastal road has few restaurants and sits adjacent to a dirt path.
Even the merchants seem lazy. Unlike the rest of Morocco, where foreigners get chased down the street by merchants, Casablancan retailers didn’t even talk to us. The city’s name carries such a glamorous connotation, and the location is ideal, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the future sees big changes for this lackluster metropolis.
Beer of Choice: Casablanca