This whole week, people have been trying to figure out what sort of trips they'd like to take during this semester. Some of those offered by the school included trips to Tuscany, Poland, Sicily, Tunisia, and many others. A lot of the people I know, if not most, have signed up for a trip or two with the school. Along with these trips, people are also planning independent weekend trips to France, Germany, Turkey, and many other places.
I, on the other hand, can't afford to do the trips with the school. I have to be a little more conscious and critical of the trips I can possibly take. A lot of the trips hosted by the school range from 200€ for a weekend trip to 800€ for the week-long Spring Break trip to Tunisia. Along with that, just airfare alone to other European countries such as Germany, Austria, England, and Spain cost around 200€-300€. I can't afford to spend that much for one trip. Especially, considering the fact that I want to experience a trip that is personal, raw, and unique, the trips offered didn't really fit the criteria. So instead of doing any study trips through the school, I intend to do all my traveling plans on my own. The major one I've decided and booked my flight for is Morocco.
Yes, I have booked a round-trip flight to Morocco and I will be staying there for ten days. Who will I be traveling with? Just myself. Yes, I will be traveling around a new, unfamiliar country on my own, which I know nothing about, for ten days. Sure, it's kind of scary thinking of how no one will know where I will be for those ten days other than myself and the people I come across. Anything can happen, which is the scariest and most exciting part about it.
Some people have been critical of my plans asking, "What can you do in Morocco for ten days? Why there?" Mind you, dear reader, Morocco is not merely a city but a country. I simply reply by saying that I want to travel to several Moroccan cities and not just stay in one. Perhaps that's what makes my trip seem even more adventurous, risky, and exciting at the same time. I don't plan on staying in one city. Instead, I plan on staying in a different city for about two days; Marrakesh, Fes, Tangier, and Casablanca perhaps? I don't know what I will find, but I'm quite certain that it will be an interesting journey.
A friend of mine worries that it will be pretty lonely traveling on my own for ten days. Especially considering the fact that I am a novice traveler. However, I think that's it's a much needed journey. By experiencing the new and the unknown, we come to find and/or develop a part of ourselves we can never fathom of being. To get lost in an unfamiliar city, whose courage and capabilities can I depend on other than my own? A lot of people can say that they went to Rome, Paris, London, or Berlin. On the contrary, how many people can say that they traveled around an exotic country such as Morocco by themselves for ten days? Especially a traveler who has never ventured out of their home country on their own?
I don't know what to expect from my trip to Morocco other than a sense of growth. What will I learn? What will I see? Who will I meet? Frankly, I don't know. All I can really do is stay open to the possibilities. That is what learning and being worldly is about. Certainly, I can learn just as much by going on the study trips hosted by my school. However, my trip to Morocco will be a very personal venture that will definitely be priceless.
"By experiencing the new and the unknown, we come to find and/or develop a part of ourselves we can never fathom of being." Damn, I love this. I know you'll have an amazing time.
ReplyDeleteHi there, KC
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a great time in Morocco. It will be a different country, a different culture, a different continent, from where you are now, let alone where you have come from. It's also probably the safest and most welcoming part of the Arab world for westerners at the moment.
As for trips elsewhere in Europe, I would suggest you try booking online with budget airlines like Ryanair or easyJet. The flight experience may be fairly spartan, but their fares are often a lot lower than the range you have found. As an example, a quick search of the Ryanair site shows a Rome - London return for the middle weekend of March of about 80 euros. You might also like to think about using the train - for journeys within Italy, at least, it can be quite cheap.
Take care
Mark
LoL. Yes, I did book my flight with RyanAir. Along with my flight to France in two weeks. Well an 80€ flight to London, one-way, still seems a little steep for me since I was able to book Paris for 80€ round-trip. lol
DeleteHi there
DeleteSorry: "return" (British) = "round-trip" (American). Those London flights I found were about the same total price as your Paris flights. As Oscar Wilde said, "two nations divided by a common language".
Take care
Mark
In the old days the gays used to say, with a wink, that Morocco was famous for it's 'boys' lol. I don't know if times have changed or not. Do stick to the safer tourist areas and don't get too far off the beaten track cos every country has it's share of nefarious people. Hope it is warmer where you are cos I'm getting tired of winter here. - Wayne :)
ReplyDeletePeople talk a lot of trash about RyanAir but it's really not that bad. People just get caught up making fun of it because, well, it's fun to make fun of it. I've been on some hairy airplanes and traveling agencies and RyanAir is just fine.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I think traveling alone is a necessity.
Sure, it's "more fun" (sometimes) with friends, and yes, it will get a little bit lonely, but there's something about traveling by yourself and just your thoughts that's absolutely thrilling and worth experiencing. And this is coming from a guy who's alone most of the time anyway.
I can't quite put together non-cliche words about it but traveling by yourself is almost like traveling into yourself...that was a bit hammy and heavyhanded, lol, but it's about doing what you want when you want it, and not having to argue where to eat or where to go for the night (this perturbs me to no end when I'm with a group of people). It sounds really simple and worth overlooking but being able to go where ever you want, especially in a foreign country, certainly exotic by Western Standards, feels like freedom. No matter how free we actually are, how often do we feel free? Rarely, I'd imagine.
I certainly didn't regret my solitary European travels for a month, I don't think you will either of your awesome, positive attitude.
Well, considering the price, I think that RyanAir is a relatively decent airline. I don't think I would book my flights with anyone else while I'm here for the next three months. Except for when they don't offer flights to my desired destinations, of course. Overall, my flight to and from Morocco came out to be 130€, which isn't bad.
DeleteAnd I totally agree with you. I think that this will be a much needed trip, and I know that deep inside. Sure, it will be somewhat scary, but I think it's a risk I *must* take if I want to truly advance myself and my consciousness.