And, besides, why have one city break when you’re able to make it five?
Plus, it let me get a real taste of daily life and interact with locals.
Tangier
Perched at the tip of Morocco,Tangieris the gateway to the country from Europe.
Credit:Ella Benson Easton
Here, whitewashed walls change tones with the sun, and a sweet sea breeze slips through the streets.
To settle in for the show, wander along toCafe Hafa.
Established in 1921, it resembles an amphitheater tumbling down the cliff edge.
Ella Benson Easton
Its hardly a well-kept secret, so finding a spot may take some time.
(Amedinais a historical part of a city.)
Stop off for food or coffee and watch life unfold around you.
Ella Benson Easton
Here, get on the train towards Fes.
From this point on, first-class seats are in compartments, while second-class seats are airline-style.
In both, vast windows open up on the landscape that flurries past.
Ella Benson Easton
In the summer, temperatures can reach 70 degrees and there is almost no one around.
The town encourages visitors to adopt the Moroccan pace of life.
Take the morning slowly, and definitely dont rush out into the midday heat.
Ella Benson Easton
As the weather cools down, life starts to stir on the otherwise sleepy streets.
Its more than a few steps up from the cities earlier on this itinerary.
The city is set in a valley, with the souk rising and falling through narrow alleyways.
Ella Benson Easton
The close architecture contributes to its bustling nature and the city rarely opens out into squares.
The most renowned attraction?
The leather tanneries have been integral to the citys economy for centuries.
Ella Benson Easton
After all the chaos in the markets below, its a grounding close to the day.
Rabat
Back along the coast, the next stop is the capital.
Rabat has been the Kingdoms capital since its independence from France in 1955.
Ella Benson Easton
The architecture preserves this history from the medieval Islamic Kasbah of the Udayas to the Colonial-era neighborhoods and beyond.
Themedinaitself is charming, but its really the museums that stand out in the capital.
From here, wind back through the maze of themedinaand simply embrace getting lost.
Admire the shops laden with antique teapots, Berber jewels, and various colorful ceramics.
Instead, head for Marrakech via direct train, which is just under four hours away.
