We travelled to Nador in the Riff mountains in the north-east of Morocco to join Marc-André to meet our future daughter-in-law’s family. We transfered via Brussels and were able to take the train into town for a quick visit in between connection.

Jihane’s family live in a beautiful home and were very welcoming people!

They took us to the nearby beautiful boardwalk by the Mediterranean.

And we stopped at a nice café on the boardwalk with her sister, Sofia. They then took us to a seafood restaurant where we really enjoyed the food! Back home, her mother prepared an excellent couscous dish.

And they gifted ne a beautiful marocan dress!

The next day, we decided to visit Melilla – Spanish territory on Moroccan land besides Nador. Moroccan need visas to enter so we go only with Marc-Andre. We need to show our passport 4 times, it is quite the crossing.

On the other side, we start walking towards the beach but are surprised by the amount of garbage laying everywhere. Once at the beach it is pristine – europeann arrive by ferry, not via the passport control…..

It is really a stunning sandy beach with many Spanish cafe along the road.

We make our way to the fortress and take in the view.

The next day, we go to a local beautiful resort where we had booked a 2-night stay. We spend time on the beautiful beach and decide to walk the 8km there and back to make it to the centre of town and the Nador sign. We gave reserved a 2-night stay for Marc-André and Jihane as a mini honeymoon.

While Marc-André and Jihane continue all the procedure and paperwork to finalize their Moroccan mariage, we leave the family to go on our 5 day road trip. We first fly to Rabat where our driver will meet us for our drive west via Meknes, Volubilis, Fes and Ifrane.

We land early and start the day with the traditional eggs with Khlie (cured beef) in Rabat before meeting our guide.

He takes us to the compound where there is one of the kings palace, governement building and the guest house for leaders of other countries.

We walk by many many beautiful doors! I will learn that Morocco is the land of magnificent wood doors every where we go.

We also visit the mausoleum of Mohammed the V who is much beloved in the country as he liberated them from the French without a war. His grandson Mohammed the VI is now on the throne. Of note his mother was an Amazight – known as the native people – and he married a commoner. He is fighting to eliminate polygamy amongst other things by now requiring the consent of the first wife.

Rabat is beautiful with an amazing waterfront on the Atlantic. Miles and miles of sand beaches enjoyed by the locals.

We have dinner at a typical local Maroccan restaurant and of course again, Maroccan mint tea – we are addicted.

We take in the beautiful sunset along the beach watching the tides

Onwards to Meknes.