On a whirlwind family adventure through Morocco, one writer watches as her childrens horizons broaden.
And so, we decided upon afamily tripto Morocco.
Working with Michael Diamond of Cobblestone Private Travel, we put together an itinerary.
From left: Fishing boats in Essaouira; looking down on the Marrakesh medina from Café des Épices.Alex Crétey Systermans
There were activities pitched to the interests and attention spans of our children.
There were afternoons for swimming and relaxing.
I made packing lists and researched the cities and attractions we would be visiting.
From left: Jardin Majorelle, near the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, in Marrakesh; making tea at Dar El Bacha, a palace and museum in the medina.Alex Crétey Systermans
Luckily, our kids are young enough to live almost entirely in the present.
The day before our departure, I carefully packed our suitcases and went through my list one last time.
Swim goggles, extra masks, sunscreen, childrens Benadryl the list of a person ready for any contingency.
Motorcyling in the Palmeraie, a palm grove outside Marrakesh.Alex Crétey Systermans
My five-year-old observed me solemnly.
Tomorrow, I replied.
Excitement flooded into her face.
From left: The old fortified city of Essaouira, on the coast of Morocco; a family enjoys an architectural lesson at Ben Youssef Madrasa, an Islamic college in Marrakesh.Alex Crétey Systermans
My nine-year-old gazed out the window, eyes still bleary from the flight.
Beside him, his sister was lightly snoring.
He continued to stare out the window, doggedly fighting off sleep.
From left: A guide with his camels in the Agafay Desert; overlooking the High Atlas Mountains from Kasbah Bab Ourika hotel, in the Ourika Valley.Alex Crétey Systermans
I cant tell if Im dreaming or not,he muttered, and rubbed his eyes again.
The Koutoubia Mosques soaring minaret came into view.
The children were humming with delight, chitter-chattering back and forth from their respective camels.
Djemaa el-Fna, the main square in the Marrakesh medina.Alex Crétey Systermans
He knows everyone, my son whispered.
Many of the stalls have been passed down through generations, Badr explained.
These elements draw people together, he said.
They provide everything you need.
You eat, you bathe, you learn, you worship.
One striking aspect of the medina is how rapidly it moves between noise and silence, public and private.
More to their taste was the motorcycle sidecar tour.
We donned helmets and hunkered down in the sidecars, and soon we were speeding through the medina streets.
We stopped outside a small school, where Hussein pointed to its sign.
Do you see how its in three languages?
Arabic, French, and Tamazight, he said.
Tamazight is the language of the indigenous Amazigh population.
Now the well is a barren gash in the soil.
Thekhettarahas collapsed, Hussein explained, because of intense urbanization.
But first, our journey was broken up by lunch in theAgafay Desert, some 45 minutes outside Marrakesh.
We were, at least on this trip, firmly in the latter camp.
Its much higher than I expected, he squeaked.
Theyre much taller than I thought from the pictures.
My daughter and I were next, and after a little prodding our camel rose to its feet.
I turned to look at my son.
Youre right, I said.
Its higher than I expected, too.
The hotel is nestled in the Ourika Valley geographically, culturally, and economically.
The valley is dense with growth, in part because of an irrigation system dating back to the Romans.
He took us to one still in use, where a solitary man raked high piles of salt.
A melange of European and North African architecture, Essaouira is blindingly beautiful.
Blue fishing boats bobbed in the port, and a busy fish market was in full swing.
Between meals, we wandered the city.
Numerous films have been shot in Essaouira, and obligingly, a shoot was in progress in the medina.
A small crowd had gathered to observe, but the children were keen to move on.
We had one final day back in Marrakesh before our departure.
Chief on the agenda was a family drum-making session with a local instrument maker.
Drums and stringed instruments of all sizes hung from the wall.
Once dried, the finished instruments would make a pleasingly resonant sound.
After the lesson, the children explored the instruments hanging on the wall.
Soon, he and the shop owner were digging through bins.
He paused a little self-consciously.
They make you feel small and insignificant.
But not necessarily in a bad way.
Its true, I thought as I put my phone in my bag and prepared to board our flight.
We travel not just to see the world, but to understand our place in it.
Family-friendly Morocco
Marrakesh
La Mamounia:A storied hotel with beautiful grounds.
The Pierre Herme Tea Room offering excellent macarons and memorable pastries is a highlight.
Azalai Urban Souk:This hidden gem of a restaurant turns out excellent dishes that combine global influences.
Ceramics and other household goods are also for sale.
El Fenn:The stylish rooftop restaurant of the popular El Fenn hotel is known for its cocktails.
Order the Moroccan-style fish-and-chips for the kids.
Le Marocain:Housed inside La Mamounia, this restaurant offers traditional Moroccan cuisine, perfectly executed.
The dress code is on the formal side.
La Table Madada:This restaurant serves sophisticated, contemporary cuisine, such as sea bass in salt crust.
Its also accommodating toward families, with a childrens menu and patient staff.
Taros:Fresh, unfussy dishes with breathtaking views of the sea.
michael@cobblestoneprivatetravel.com; 646-434-1394.
