royalty

I was nervous. It would be my first time setting foot on the continent of Africa.  A place I've heard about all my life and always wanted to see. I didn't know what to expect of Morocco. I knew it would be nothing like Kenya or the Africa that most of us imagine when we hear that word. No elephants, giraffes and lions, just lots of people.  I didn't know how people would treat us or whether I should cover my hair. Then, the US Navy told me I couldn't announce on the internet where we were going because 007 was going there on a mission. So, I got nervous.

We were greeted by several members of the Moroccan Navy and led through the airport like royalty. We were loaded on to a nice, new van and escorted by a police car and two motorcycles. The drivers risked their lives swerving into crowded intersections, holding up their hands, and stopping traffic for us.

We arrived to a lovely hotel in the heart of Casablanca where everyone smiled and took our luggage and kissed our babies. We were given a room with a view and a four-course meal. It felt like a dream. Not the Morocco I had envisioned.

 

The next day, we were loaded onto a shiny bus with a tour guide and escorted through town and allowed inside the third largest mosque in the world.

 

 



After the mosque, we were guided through a typical market. Every person we encountered was kind and welcoming.



 

After a day with the tour guide, I was excited to venture out on my own with the kids while 007 attended to his mission during the week.
 


And that is where I'll leave you for now.

To be continued...