Our travel to Morocco goes to a country known as Al-Maghrib – “The West” or “The Land of the Sunset”. It is a country in northwest Africa bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Mediterranean Sea to the north. Its neighbors are Algeria to the east and Mauritania to the south.

Morocco is known for its ancient history. Its rich and vibrant Medinas and Souks. The Sahara Desert. Its unique architecture of Zellige tilework, carved wood, and traditional Moroccan households of riads and dars. A fusion of Amazigh (Berber), Arab, and French influences that shaped the Morocco today.

Our travel to Morocco started the moment we landed at Spain’s Madrid-Barajas airport. Our layover before the final flight for entry into Casablanca, Morocco.

We remember this airport. This was our port of entry the first time that we were in Spain. Back then, we were feeling so excited! So excited that we didn’t waste time in exploring the Gran Via of Madrid as soon as we settled down in our hotel. We wish we had enough time to walk Gran Via again.

The airport was just as busy, as we remembered, with all the travelers moving from gate of entry to gate of exit. There was also something different. The presence of security officers were prominent. They did not appear threatening but their presence was simply noticeable.

We had four hours of waiting before our connecting flight and our first priority was to feed our empty stomach. The airport did not disappoint us. There were restaurants and fast food joints all over the place. We’re not even talking about the duty free shops yet that were positioned at strategic places before reaching the pre-departure gates.

Eventually, it was time to board our flight to Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport (CMN). The flight was not full. It was thankful enough because the plane was smaller. The flight was international but felt more like a regional flight.

Revised: May 12, 2026