The Travel Hustle: From Morocco to the United Kingdom and Back!

I finally have time to jot down some of my thoughts and most recent experiences. Since the September 14th 2014 posting on the Transcendent Explorer Facebook page it has been nothing but a journey.

Post by Julian Robles Photography.

We left beautiful Aouchtam at the start of this journey and I have lived in not one, but two different apartments, visited some cities in Morocco including Chefchaouen (twice), Martil and even traveled all the way to the United Kingdom and back!

When I first left the United States to begin my world travels I only knew that my next stop was going to be Morocco. From that point forward I had absolutely no clue what would be in store for me, and still don't really besides that I am now documenting my adventures through my photography. I also started offering prints of my work through my etsy shop.  As I mentioned previously I have met countless new individuals, whose stories could easily fill a few volumes of on a bookshelf Their stories become a part of me once our paths cross, and many times even before so.

What I do know is I now live in Tangier, a famous port city in Morocco, in a lovely apartment with my partner, Justin and roommate Debbi. Life here is a stark contrast to what it was in Aouchtam, but at the same time it brings me a familiarity as I have lived in many other port cities during my life.

In Aouchtam I would be woken by the sounds of cows, roosters and Tony (the resident dog) rummaging through every bush and moving object. Here in Tangier, I am in the middle of a city that could easily be mistaken for a European one. The sounds of motorcycles, taxis and sometimes even a scuffle in the streets can be heard here. Most certainly the smell of burning trash - a cultural way to be rid of waste. Fire cleanses, they say.

The feel I get from being here in Morocco is one of what 1950s America must have been like. A growing and modernizing civilization. Old looking cars, animals in the streets, farmers here and markets there while large Windmills harvesting energy tower over the city in the mountains. Tangier is filled with modern conveniences; supermarkets, liquor stores, and electronic boutiques amongst other things.

Conveniently theres many public ways to travel and visit all of Morocco. Whenever I have traveled it has always been a trifecta; Buses, Taxis, and Trains. Ok sometimes by plane but thats only to leave Morocco. When I travel from city to city I almost always take a bus; the cheapest way. You mainly see locals traveling that way, making it an experience. Every now and then you will see a group of tourists as well.

Most buses do not have air conditioning, most housing or office buildings don't either but the majority of the time it isn't necessary. I have almost always met a new friend on the bus as you have plenty of time to pass while traveling and most Moroccans are very friendly, especially when you speak one of the languages they know. They always want to practice, as they say.

Through the chaos of moving and finding the right place to call home I also had an opportunity to visit my friend in the United Kingdom, as well as his new project. I met Dave here in Morocco as he had come to visit the community and to see the QEG. Since, we traveled to ChefChaouen a few times to visit the mountains laden with immense marijuana fields in search of new projects and this gave us time to connect. Though he is always working on something new, most recently he has begun to renovate some old buses as well as a horsebox. His goal is to have a touring company operated with old style buses through the Rift mountains, while having a traveling home in the horsebox.

The Marijuana Fields

The Horse Box

I was invited to come visit the current progress and see things for myself, as Justin and I may play a large part with the buses in Morocco.

Just an Example!

Simply getting into England was an adventure not to mention traveling by National Express (a local bus company) throughout the night. My bus ended up being late which in turn made me late for my connection. I arrived about two hours behind and to find my ride freaking out since they had no way to contact me.

I only spent a few days there but was highly inspired by the touring bus idea. That story will have to wait for another blog post.

The Perfect Strangers

I do want to share a story of compassion I experienced as I was leaving the UK. This was my first experience taking a train in England and had no idea that they had security features on their doors preventing them from opening beyond the automatic set time. Once the doors close, they aren't opening again.

I discovered all this on my way to the Reading train stop. My normal practice is to wait for the bustling crowds to leave the train car and casually leave. And as I did just that two girls stepped in and the door closed behind them. I frantically tried to open the door to no avail.

Trains

Let me interject here with a few photos from two different lands. Train stations in Morocco and in the U.K.

Train Station in Morocco

Bristol Train Station, U.K.

Ok so, the two girls who sealed me took one look at me and knew there was nothing that could be done. I would have to get off at the next stop and travel back. They began to talk to me and actually helped me figure out what steps I would need to take to get back on track before I missed my flight, only a few hours away.

As we were discussing the best route another man overheard our conversation. He ran over with his iPad and showed us exactly what I had to do to get to Gatwick in time for my flight. I was so relieved, and then surprised to hear these two ladies I had just met we're going to accompany me all the way to my last station; Victoria London. The perfect strangers.

I was traveling alone at the time and it is indescribable the sense of calm and relief I felt getting things sorted, as they say here, with the help of two individuals I just happen to meet.

I had no idea how to get where I needed to go after deviating from my plan, but with the help of these two ladies I got to my train and plane ahead of schedule. Whilst getting an incredible opportunity to meet two amazing people. A HUGE THANK YOU TO THESE ANGELS!

Here is the photo they took on their phone and sent to me:

Back to Morocco

Once I got back to Morocco I was now in my new apartment with Justin and Debbi. I had been invited to a birthday party in Martil that same weekend but my friend Ayoub was still in Chefchaouen. The bus to Chefchaouen from Tangier is only 30 Dhs, thats less than $5. So I purchased a ticket and decided to visit the Blue City yet again but this time with a local friend. I spent 2 nights at Hostel Souika, then visited Martil for the birthday. I have thoroughly enjoyed these journeys but after all that travel in such a short amount of time I needed to get back to my own bed.

Me (Left) describing some of the wording
on my American Passport to Ayoub (Right)

Some shots of inside my living quarters:

On Another Note

After a little settling of things in Tangier I began looking through my online store. Many of the prints now available will be ending in early November, at that time there will be a different selection. If you have not seen the store yet, but love my photography, please take a look before time runs out on the Moroccan prints!

VISIT MY ETSY STORE

Also I recently met a beautiful Russian woman who is a movie producer in Russia. She absolutely loved my photography and has offered to help showcase some of my work in a gallery! Seems as though I may visit the Russian landscape in the near future and I am very excited about this potential.

Photography has been the way I make my living and continue my travels, without the help and support of everyone I could not do what I do. For this I am immensely grateful to you all...thank you!

...

"Like" me on Facebook by clicking on the image below.

http://www.facebook.com/julianroblesphotography