The past week went by much too fast.
My study abroad program gave us a week off for Spring Break, and I took FULL advantage of these 11 free days. I explored several cities in the exotic land of Morocco. I hiked through a uniquely beautiful park in Croatia. I even had time to relax on the charming Isola di Capri off the coast of Naples.
My one goal for the trip was to get lost. To absorb myself in an array of new, rich cultures. My entire break was planned from an extremely wanderlust perspective. I yearned to explore areas that were unfamiliar and romantic. Morocco, Croatia and Capri seemed to fit the bill perfectly.
Before I left, I had a conversation with a Benedictine monk (studying at the Benedictine monastic college Sant’ Anselmo on the Aventino hill) who said “I have all day to get there and nowhere to go.” What a way to think, a way to live. I kept this slogan in the back of my mind throughout my trip.
Morocco: First I explored the “blue city” of Chefchaouen. A majority of the buildings in the village are painted a breath-taking turquoise and/or baby blue color in order to keep bugs away. I bought a hand-made artisan blanket from a woman named Suara, and two paintings from a local artist named Abdellatif. For dinner we had traditional Moroccan cuisine (meat, couscous etc.) and were entertained by a belly dancer. In Tangiers we rode camels, discovered the hidden Grotto of Hercules (the supposed cave where Hercules stayed), which has an opening in the shape of Africa. We took in the view from Cabo Spartel and then headed to Asilah, a quaint white-washed town on the northwest tip of the Atlantic coast of Morocco.
Croatia: From crystal clear coastal waters to cascading waterfalls, Croatia truly is a hidden gem. Our hostel was in Split, the second largest city in the country and home to Diocletian’s Palace (a retirement home for the infamous Roman emperor, Diocletian). After laying out on the beautiful Bačvice beach, we decided to explore the island of Brač located off the coast of Croatia in the Adriatic Sea. We ate traditional, dalmatian-grilled fish at a provincial restaurant for dinner and had drinks at the local hipster bar, Ghetto. The highlight of the trip was seeing the famed Skradinski buk waterfall at Krka National Park.
Capri: What struck me most about Capri was the sweet scent of lemons permeating the island air. I bought a bottle of Carthusia perfume (a unique Capri citrus scent first created in 1380) to forever remind me of the island. Although it was rainy for a few hours, we were blessed to see a double rainbow spread wide across the marina after the shower. The Giardini di Augusto provided splendid views of the sparkling blue water, and we ended our trip by indulging in some lemon gelato!
This incredible journey was unforgettable. I loved every second of it, and feel very blessed to have experienced life in these different countries. But now, it is time for me to return home. Roma awaits.
A Year of Adventure 