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My parents try to go to Tunisia every year for vacation, and I joined them again in 2024. I met them in La Marsa, explored Al Ahmadi Mosque, and enjoyed the view.
Kobbet El Haoua, an abandoned building once used for events. It housed the private chambers of the Bey.
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The last leg of our trip was spent in Fes, a city I consider my home away from home. It was quite gloomy and rainy most of the time we were there, and then I got violently sick on my last day. But until that point, it was lovely to be back in Fez, despite it all.
The view on the way to Fez. Very dry; I think they were having a drought?
After settling in our Airbnb, and enjoying nearby cafes and restaurants, we went to the Old City, one of my favourite places in the world, to visit a few maqams (mausoleums of saints) and to explore.
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Our roadtrip around Morocco continued with a stop in Salé (to visit the mausoleum of Sidi Bin Achir) and a sleepover in Tangier in a riad, a traditional Moroccan home.
Salé
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After Umrah, we went to Morocco for about a week, where my mom joined us. Our first stop was Casablanca and Hassan II Mosque, as per usual.
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After our Umrah, we took the bullet train to Medina, shelling out a little extra for the class of seats that would get us food and tea and Arabic coffee.
Everyone fell asleep along the way, while I stared out the window and admired the desert views, our speed, and my niece as she cuddled in my lap.
It was a very convenient way to travel but such a contrast to what must have been a really intense trek from Mecca to Medina, and it truly put the magnitude of the Hijra—the migration the fledgling Muslim community undertook due to the persecution they were facing in Mecca at the time—into context.
It was also, weirdly, freezing. The AC was cranked up so high. What a problem to be having...
Everyone fell asleep along the way, while I stared out the window and admired the desert views, our speed, and my niece as she cuddled in my lap.
It was a very convenient way to travel but such a contrast to what must have been a really intense trek from Mecca to Medina, and it truly put the magnitude of the Hijra—the migration the fledgling Muslim community undertook due to the persecution they were facing in Mecca at the time—into context.
It was also, weirdly, freezing. The AC was cranked up so high. What a problem to be having...
When we arrived, it was nearing sunset and we marveled at the markedly balmier weather, as compared to the searing heat of Mecca. We hurriedly made our way to our hotel, which was a two minute walk from the Prophet's ﷺ Mosque, dropped off our bags, and rushed to pray Maghreb with the congregation.
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We decided a bit abruptly to do the mountain ascent to the blessed Cave of Hira, where the Prophet ﷺ first received prophecy. Looking back, if we get the chance to do it again, I'd rather go far, far earlier in the day, to avoid ascending/descending in the noon heat. But it all worked out!
I vividly remember driving over to the mountain in a taxi, marvelling at how far it would have been to walk there from Mecca. And then...we saw the mountain. And the closer we got to it, the taller it appeared, and the smaller the people ascending it looked.
I was very daunted. I'd had no idea it was a mountain mountain. I think I'd been envisioning a tall hill or something but wow. We gathered our courage, were grateful we'd packed water, sunhats, and sachets of electrolytes, and parked.
I vividly remember driving over to the mountain in a taxi, marvelling at how far it would have been to walk there from Mecca. And then...we saw the mountain. And the closer we got to it, the taller it appeared, and the smaller the people ascending it looked.
I was very daunted. I'd had no idea it was a mountain mountain. I think I'd been envisioning a tall hill or something but wow. We gathered our courage, were grateful we'd packed water, sunhats, and sachets of electrolytes, and parked.
...On a hill leading up to the mountain, with a slope so steep you almost had to use your hands to ascend! You can see in the picture how slanted the cars were. After sharing a few nervous giggles...we began.
It was a serious hike, and the height was dizzying, even for me, and I don't have a strong fear of them. Steps had been cut/built into the mountain, zigzagging their way up, with railings...usually. There were vendors selling fruit and water at intervals, under tents and awnings. We passed all sorts of people. Elderly folk, children, babies. (We were so glad we'd left my niece at the hotel with her grandma).
I marvelled at the footwear and outfits people had donned. We hadn't been prepared, sure, but we were far more prepared than some others, who I felt really bad for. I remember a vendor taking another climber's young child on his back while his dad focused on just getting himself up the mountain.
I marvelled at the footwear and outfits people had donned. We hadn't been prepared, sure, but we were far more prepared than some others, who I felt really bad for. I remember a vendor taking another climber's young child on his back while his dad focused on just getting himself up the mountain.
Me and my sister-in-law decided early on that we would be taking our sweet time climbing, so as not to quite literally pass out. So while her brother and sister-in-law raced ahead with all the vigour of people way more in shape than either of us, we climbed one step at a time, taking breaks to catch our breath and aggressively fan and hydrate ourselves and enjoy the beautiful view.
It was, I must say, a far longer climb than it looks, and it already looks like a serious climb. Every time we thought we'd reached the top, we'd round a bend and see...more mountain. I won't lie, it got a bit despairing, but no way were we giving up when we'd put so much effort in already. And then we got to the top.
And it was breathtaking.
And it was breathtaking.
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In 2023, I was blessed to be able to do the lesser pilgrimage (umrah) with some of my family, including my niece! It was my first time and it was an incredible, beautiful experience. Here are the photos from our week long trip!
We then met up with our group at the Jeddah airport, changed some money, got some water, and goggled at the beautiful pillar-shaped aquarium.
We got very yummy pho and fried chicken at the Dubai airport, were we also changed into our pilgramage clothes (matching rosey-pink abayas and white hijabs for us women).
We took a bus to Mecca, driving in with the rising of the sun.
Our hotel was so pretty. And within a few minutes' walking distance from the Ka'bah! We got our rooms, dropped off our luggage, and headed straight out to do our first umrah.
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No L.A. trip is complete without a visit to Griffith. It was absolutely packed that night, and so we parked lower on the hill since so many spots were taken, and hiked up. It was a nice hike at least, just after sunset, and the moon was full and swiftly rising.
We explored the inside before we went out for the view of the cityscape.
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Both my mom and I are huge Harry Potter fans, so of course our trip to L. A. wouldn't be complete without a trip to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. We were so excited! It was a gorgeous day, hot and brilliantly sunny. We went early, hoping to beat the worst of the crowds.
My mom had a great time with King Julien of Madagascar (we figured my niece would really like these photos but also, my mom is clearly having the time of her life here).
And then finally, the world of our dreams awaited us! It was so very amazing to hear the music from the films and the whole magical world right there!
