In the fall of 2018, I took my first steps onto the African continent, choosing Intrepid's 13-day 'Morocco Uncovered' group tour to give me a sampling of this friendly and fascinating country.

 

The tour wound through big cities (Casablanca, Meknes, Rabat, Fes, and Marrakech), small villages, mountain scenery, even a night of camping under the stars in the Sahara. While the pace of the tour was sometimes grinding and the transportation sometimes uncomfortable, I can think of no better way to get a little sampling of the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and culture of this kingdom of contrasts than by seeing a good chunk of it.

 

Fortuitous airline connections gave me a chance to spend a relaxing three days in my favorite European country, Portugal, before heading home and back into the grind.