The R12s of Sidi Mokhtar are a special breed. Always on some kind of tilt or another, they all look like they’re on their last legs. Slow driving, often with up to 8 occupants, the last of which is often seated on the lap of the driver, the R12 of Sidi Mokhtar sputters along. The driver, sporting a ‘hoods up’ djellaba, is always on his phone. To add to the already oversubscribed occupancy, 9 times out of 10 there will be a bushel of something-or-another tied on the roof, enhancing the already careening chassis.

Verbal communication has always been one of my strong points. Or has it? I’m beginning to wonder now after four years in Morocco where my native tongue, English, is reserved pretty much for conversations with Aziz, my husband, and a few English speaking friends. The rest of the time I am listening and occasionally contributing to conversations in darija, Moroccan Arabic, and French, neither of which I’m proficient.

Adding Moroccan touches to your home is very easy. Read here to find out how!

Living in the Moroccan countryside means bringing the outside in. Little by little bleached and dried animal bones have been creeping into our interior decor as we channel our inner Georgia O’Keeffe.

We moved to Essaouira, Morocco three years ago and have been living with scorpions ever since. But we wouldn’t swap out our life for anything.