Think Game of Thrones. Castles. Ramparts. Canons. Then think of Morocco. Essaouira is one of the most interesting cities in Morocco because of it’s unique mixture of European influence and traditional Moroccan design of the port and the nearby Medina.
A one-size fits all approach to travel in general doesn’t work and it definitely doesn’t work in Morocco. It can be one of the most challenging cities to navigate for some people. Doing tons of research is very important before visiting Marrakech because not everyone has the same experience when they travel here. Some people have great experiences and some don’t.
One of the greatest experiences that I’ve been able to offer to my groups is the cooking class in the Atlas Mountains. Just a short hour’s drive from Marrakech through the winding mountain pass and we arrive at the home of a local Berber family. A true hidden gem tucked away in the village of Imlil, you won’t find vans full of tourists or large groups of people here. It’s one of those places that are by special invite only.
Morocco has beautiful mountains in the interior of the country, large areas of desert in the south eastern part of the country and an extensive coastline on the Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. Depending on the the time of year and where you’re traveling while in Morocco, you’ll need the essentials on this list. You can experience all four seasons in Morocco and fall, winter and spring are the best times to visit the desert because the temperatures are very pleasant during the day but are cool at night. It’s hot in the summer with July and August being the hottest months of the year, temperatures can reach 107F (41C) or higher in some cities.
My time in Matera was nothing less than enchanting. I stayed 5 nights in the Sassi and could’ve stayed even longer. Not only was the accommodation beyond my expectations, but the experience of staying in a UNESCO World Heritage site was incredible.
My first introduction to the Sassi di Matera in Matera, Italy was through a search for eco-friendly places to stay in Italy. Sextantio Le Grotte delle Civita was fascinating to me because of the concept. They took a carefully chosen group of caves and restored them using period details and materials that I knew I had to see it for myself.
Most people have never heard of Matera, Italy. It’s one of those places that I found by chance while researching eco-friendly hotels in Italy. I was looking for unique places to stay that I could add to my list of cities that are a must visit. Matera is definitely a must visit.
If you’re going to Naples and expecting it to be pristine, clean and romantic like Rome, don’t. Naples isn’t Rome. It was a bit of a shock to be honest, to see the differences between the two cities and quite frankly all of the other cities that I’ve visited while in Italy. I spent 8 nights there and found some really beautiful things to see while there, you just have to know where to look.
Rome is a huge city full of history, a history that dates back over two thousand years. We all know about the Coliseum, Forum, Vatican, St. Peter’s, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, etc. and yes, if you’re a first time visitor to Rome seeing those places is a must. To not go would almost be blasphemous. But after one or two days of that, then what? Rome is so much more than those few sites. There are so many other buildings, neighborhoods, parks and squares that deserve just as much attention. These are not ”non-touristy” places, just less visited and therefore void of the overwhelming crowds.
Travel is dangerous. Is it safe to travel to (insert country name here)? You shouldn’t travel alone. Those people are (insert gross generalization here). Why do you want to go there? I would never travel to a (insert stereotype here) country like that. We hear these things all the time and most of the people saying these things have never even traveled outside of the state, province or city they live in, let alone their country.
I’d quit a toxic job and walked away from something that I no longer wanted in my life. I’d turned my love of travel into a business and shifted my focus from working full-time in architecture, creating material things to creating the intangible.
Creating Inspired Wandering was not an overnight thing. To give you a little background here, I’ve worked as an architectural project manager for almost 18 years and at first it was great, I loved it. Enjoyed the work I was doing, the people I met and worked with over the years were incredible. The field taught me so much and helped me to develop so many friendships over the years. Then I started volunteering and traveling. I saw that there was this whole other world out there. A totally different way of living, contributing…doing something bigger than myself.
Some people can make it seem like it’s so simple to make huge life changes. “I just woke up one day and quit my job!” And maybe it is that easy for some people. For most though, I would say that's there's a HUGE internal battle that wages. For me, it had been slowly building over the past seven years. The last year and a half was when I really figured out what I wanted to do with this insatiable need for travel and I came up with an exit plan.
When it comes to choosing the right Airbnb it can seem like it’s hit and miss with getting it right. It’s really not. It only takes a little bit of work to find the right place that works for you. Having used Airbnb for the majority of my 7 month trip that I’m currently on, I’ve picked up on a few things that have helped me avoid any uncomfortable or unpleasant situations. I haven't had a bad experience with Airbnb (touch wood) because I follow three simple rules every time I choose a place.
Whenever I start researching flights I always look for the ones with long layovers, taking routes that I’ve never flown before. It’s like buy one get one free, at the start of my most recent trip to Italy was no different. I found a flight from Boston to Rome, stopping in Lisbon for a good price and since I’ve never been to Portugal it’s the perfect place for a long stop.
On my recent trip through Europe I wanted to find eco-friendly hotels to try out so that I can recommend them first hand. Trying to find a hotel in general when planning a trip can be a daunting task, but add eco-friendly to the mix and it can seem even more overwhelming. Ecotourism is on the rise and travelers are becoming more conscious about the way they travel. I have a few tips for finding the perfect place. These are the steps that I take for every trip that I plan, it does take more effort than looking for a regular hotel but it's getting easier.
One of the most important things about travel is the planning, and fortunately for me it’s something that I really enjoy. I know for some of you, that’s the most tedious part because you may not know where to start. It doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Here are the basic steps that I follow for all of my trips.
As you're planning your upcoming summer trips, thinking about reducing your impact on the environment. We don’t always realize that even the seemingly smallest gestures do add up and make difference if we all do it together.
Travel is a way of life for me. Traveling as often as I can, for as long as I can, comes down to how much money I have saved. The quality of my trips are very important to me so I save. A LOT.
One of the things that I absolutely love about Morocco are the people. They’re very friendly, welcoming and have a strong sense of pride and culture. Even though this is true it’s important to make sure that you respect the culture, respect the values and learn simple etiquette. This will hopefully make your experience much more enjoyable and you’ll be able to see the beauty of not only the landscape, but also the people.