Financial Times Editor Explores Morocco’s Rich Cultural Tapestry and Scenic Wonders

"Morocco is one of the countries I know and love the best. There is something in its cultures, both Arab and Berber, that is deeply captivating: both elusive and full of heart. I have slept in forgotten villages and tents in stone deserts, and watched the rising sun set the snowy peaks of the High Atlas ablaze. From El Jadida to Guelmim, I have tried (and failed) more times than I can count to bridge the camaraderie gap with my mediocre French and my five or so words of Arabic," recounts Maria Shollenbarger, in an article published in her newspaper.

Maria and her mother made a vow to visit "both" Morocco, after the editor-in-chief of the American newspaper’s visit to Marrakech 13 years ago, where she filmed the "adhan", the call to prayer in Morocco, and sent the video to her 80-year-old mother living in California. In this article entitled "Morocco through the eyes of Maria Shollenbarger, editor-in-chief of HTSI Travels, accompanied by her octogenarian mother", the journalist recounts with love and affection her stay with her mother in the alleys of the medina of Marrakech, the "Red City", a city that can fascinate at any age, she writes.

After the ochre city, the journalist and her mother visited the hinterland, crossing the ancient souks to reach the Atlas mountains. "A few hours later, as we descend into the desert plain, my mother is captivated by the changes in scenery: the orange earth blending with the sand, steep slopes giving way to modest plateaus, some covered with a thin layer of greenery. Beyond, the stone desert stretches to infinity," Maria details, describing with great emotion the sensations felt by her and her mother during this journey.