“See You in Morocco”

“So I’ll see you in Morocco then, right?”

These words came out of my mouth today and it was an absolute dream come true. Although I’d wanted to go to Morocco desperately, I’d been advised by multiple people back in the States that I should not go alone. This frustrated me, but I accepted it as fact, vowing that if I found a buddy who was game to go I would. It just so happens that I found a buddy.

Jessica is Australian and has been traveling solo around Europe for nearly the entire year. And get this: she bought a van in Sweden (she’s fluent in Swedish) and built herself a little home in the back, complete with a bed, kitchen, tiny table – everything. The girl is a real badass and I feel very lucky to have her as a new friend/traveling mentor.

This morning at breakfast, whilst planning her next move, she looked up at me and asked, “Have you ever been to Morocco?”

“NO BUT I’M DYING TO GO!!” I shouted, a bit too enthusiastically.

Now that I think about it, she may not have been inviting me so much as just inquiring about my traveling history. But before I knew it we were typing away on our computers, researching flights, and purchasing tickets. So now, on Sept. 29, I’ll be flying from Lisbon to Marrakech! Jess leaves Lisbon by bus tomorrow to head to Spain and I’m in country for another week. So tonight, after celebrating our next pending adventure over beer and tapas, we hugged goodbye and said we’d see each other in one week’s time to wander around spice markets, eat tajines and experience the sights, sounds, and smells of Morocco – just like I’d dreamed.

And can I just say, this is EXACTLY why I didn’t plan my trip too much or too far in advance. You have to leave room for spontaneity (in traveling and life in general). When someone hints at the idea of going to a country you’ve dreamed of visiting, you need the freedom to say, “I’LL GO!“