One phone call on a hot July morning changed my summer plans for 2013. It was an international phone number that I didn’t recognize so I let it ring. Ignored it once, twice and a third time.
Okay, I have to pick up this call.
Could be family overseas and sure thing, I’m glad I did. My cousin, Mona from Casablanca, Morocco, was on the line, inviting me and the family to her daughter’s wedding at a Resort in Mazagan, Morocco. Did she say Morocco? Say no more. That’s all I needed to hear. A vacation at a resort in Morocco?
Let’s get the wheels in motion. I assumed that I would travel with my husband and youngest son, Sami since school was starting a day after the wedding and my college kids wouldn’t and shouldn’t miss their first day at the university especially, Mariana. She would be starting her freshmen year.
So silly of me. I was wrong. A week and $9000 later (courtesy of Chase Bank Visa card), we had plane tickets for the five of us. But wait, we forgot our son Daniel’s girlfriend, Amy. She was thrilled to tag along and experience a little bit of culture. Maybe a bit too much culture with the camels, dirt huts and all. What the heck, if she survived this one with us, she’d be set for the next phase of the Broeckelmann -Yassine test.
Three weeks of preparation for the trip, passports, gifts, Hawaiian Tropic Tanning Oil (no generic product), suits, and fancy evening gowns, more gifts and shoes, and maybe we’re ready. Did I say gifts?
Ready or not, we had to get on that plane to Casablanca via Germany. Oh Germany! What a whunderful place. We stopped in for a quick day tour. Any kind of tour without Daniel losing his back pack filled with an IPAD and lots of technology hardware wouldn’t have been satisfactory.
At the train station in Germany. Notice that Daniel still had his black back pack. He’s the one with the light blue shirt.
So, let me enlighten you. If you are in a strange country and don’t know the language, don’t try to take a tour on your own, and if you see people with luggage waiting on a train, that doesn’t mean, they’re going to the airport. Well , we took that wrong train to nowhere a couple of times.
As we got off the wrong train, Daniel decided to find a restroom. Not easy. Surprising enough that we couldn’t find a public restroom in the train station when Germans were going to soccer games drinking from their big beer steins (I’m assuming it was beer). That’s when we saw that look on Daniel’s face. “Dad, where’s my back pack?” Not good, not good. Maybe he was just messed up from the Irish Pub in Germany that we left 45 minutes earlier. We backtracked to the Pub and found it. We are now exhausted. At least this time, his passport wasn’t in his bag and his teacher didn’t call me to tell me, “Mrs. Broeckelmann, the plane is ready to take off and we can’t find your son Daniel, but don’t worry, one of us will stay to help find him”. That was his school trip to Costa Rica 3 years earlier.
Are we there yet?
After two days of travel, we were so excited and ready to touch down in Casablanca. Three more hours passed and we were still looking for Daniel and Amy’s luggage. Apparently, they lacked time to put the suitcases on the connecting flight.
Did I mention that we were in Germany for a full day?
Onto Morocco. We rented a car and spent seven beautiful and busy days hopping from hotel to hotel with family who came in from Africa and Lebanon. We drove from Casablanca to Marrakech to Bein El Widian, Mazagan and finally back to Casablanca. We sun bathed, jet skied, shopped in the oldest Souk in Medina in Marrakech, danced with monkeys, and did lots of hotel hopping.
All of this fun and frolicking courtesy of American Express..
I haven’t forgotten the reason why we went to Morocco–my cousin’s big extravagant wedding. In fact, the bride’s family traveled with us making every stop part of the festivities. The bride joined us when she could and the groom stayed back because his dad was ill. The doctors and everyone around were hopeful that he would be strong enough to attend his son’s wedding. Hopeful was the plan. Sadly enough, the day before the wedding, all of the anticipation and preparation came to a halt when the groom’s father suddenly passed away.
Did I mention the wedding was cancelled?
The groom’s father wanted the wedding to go on. Instead of the wedding, many attended a funeral.
It was devestating that the groom’s dad passed away but more heart wrenching to watch the bride’s fairy tale wedding dissapear.
What would you have done:
A) Should they have gone on with the wedding? or B) Should we have left Daniel and Amy behind?
ps: If you call me and I don’t return your calls, it’s because Billy (that would be my husband) is making me work 2 jobs, write a book and blog to pay for the trip.
I will miss our parking lot attendant in Marakesh
The best for last. My cousin Moe Tabaja with his new friend. He’s so friendly, he makes friends everywhere he goes. Moe was with us for 2006 weddings where we got stuck in the war so I don’t know who shouldn’t be invited to the next wedding. Us? or Him?
Wow! This is for sure an adventure that you will alqays remember..so sorry about the grooms father, thats pretty unfortunate. But it looks like you still had fun! Morrocco looks very nice. Say hi tl Mariana I miss her!
Cindy,
We had a great time! I appreciate you following my blog. Hugs:))
Daniel…. At least Daniel should stay behind next time. Lol! (Sorry Daniel) Great pocs & write up 🙂
Thanks Courtney! I agree with you:)
You arw too funny 🙂 I loved it
Thanks for visiting my blog Claudia! I’ve missed ya:)
Although there were some ups and downs on the trip, the wonderful memories are the ones that count. Thanks for taking me along, I really enjoyed the trip (lol).
Amen to that Sharon! I didn’t realize how much fun the trip was until I started writing about it. Anytime you feel crappy about something, write it and it will get better, lol.
Incredible adventure! I can see why you’re working so many jobs etc to pay for it now. So sorry to hear about the father. Personally, I do not think I would have gone on with my wedding afterwards either, although with all those people abroad, who knows?
Holly @ The Inspired Home recently posted…World Wide Wednesday: Family Fall Fun
Thanks for your comment Holly!
The mood was very somber feeling sorry for the bride and her parents. None of us knew the groom or his father. We did have a family dinner at the hotel:)
Wow – what a trip! I’m so sorry the wedding was cancelled – how sad for the bride and groom and his family. I’m not sure what I would have done in their place – I guess you just have to do what you feel is right.
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Thanks Dana! The bride got to wear her wedding dress last week in a small family dinner:)
Sounds like a great time except for the unfortunate passing of the groom’s dad.
It also sounds like you and Billy are now Morocco trained, means you can go back, see other places, visit other ancient cities like Fes, Rabat… and have more fun without breaking the bank. I’m sure you’ll cut a few unnecessary corners too. Now I want to be there for the next one!!
Nino,
That would be so nice!! Billy is a pro at driving in Morocco now. We almost went to Rabat, that’s where the funeral was. By that time, Billy’s patience had reached its limits, LOL..Would love to go back when you’re there. Thanks for reading!
you seem to have quite an exciting life! looks like you have a lot of fun also.
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I do have a lot going on and I love it:)
Everybody needs a cousin Moe!
Hahaha Stella!
That sounds like a fun trip. So sorry to hear about the passing of the groom’s dad though
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Thanks Mike! It was a fun trip. Felt very bad for the death 🙁 I hope he’s in a better place.
Great write up. Favorite part “a whunderful ” so witty!
I had so much fun writing that part:) Thanks for reading Madi!
Aww. Why is the poor monkey chained?
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Christopher, That’s his leash. The monkey was very well treated and loved:) This man probably couldn’t afford a leash. Lots of poverty in Morocco:(
What an adventure! Great post. Sorry about the groom’s father. That must have been so difficult for the bride and groom.
Thank you Helene! It was very hard for the family. They are now married and very happy:)
Unforgettable moments in Morocco.
Lilas recently posted…Yasmeen
Thanks Lilas! It was unforgettable:)
I wish with all my heart to go to Morocco someday…
Sorry about the death in the family. What a nightmare. 🙁
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Natalie,
Thanks for your comment. Morocco is beautiful. I really enjoyed my time there. The whole situation was very sad. They are now married and very happy:)
Your parking lot attendant looks an awful lot like a guy I know sans hat. Cody, is that you? nah, I doubt it.
What.an.adventure!! Phew! And how terrible about the groom’s father. Hopefully, your cousin can still have some nice memories of her big day regardless of the sad things.
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Haha, now I need to see a picture of Cody. My cousin is now married and very happy:) Thanks for stopping by!
WOW, sounds like you had an excellent time, despite some interesting circumstances. I would love to go to Morocco some day. I am glad that everything worked out, and I am glad that you have some memories that will be with you forever.
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Tam,
Morocco is beautiful and there’s so much to see. If you go, take lots of money:) Thanks for reading!
Hi this is my first time visiting your blog and I love it. What a trip! It would be difficult to continue on with the wedding after the death but on the other hand after all the money folks spent so much money though they may be sympathetic. Nice share.
Thanks Marge!!I so appreciate you stopping by:) It was a fun trip and we got lots of memories.
OHMYGOSH what an incredible story!! Devastatingly broken-hearted for the bride and groom- and the loss which curtailed the entire event. But what a ride and an adventure- well worth the debt and the years it will take to pay it off!!! 😉
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It was so worth it!!You’re so awesome for stopping by my blog and reading my adventures:)
Chris, Now that I look back at the trip, I can say it was the trip of a lifetime. Especially being with the kids. There was so much more that I didn’t include, lol..Thank God for a really good real estate year:)
It WAS the trip of a lifetime!!!! And those pictures!!! I love your perspective and life…I am always in awe of learning more and more about you Manal. I simply can’t wait for more!!! More you. 🙂
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Chris,
I’m surprising myself at how many stories I have and believe me, I’m holding back, lol..God is Great and gets me through it all with so much ease:) Hugs and kisses!
Wow, what a story. My son is always leaving wallets and passports all over the world. So what happened with the wedding? Love the story.
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Sandra,
The wedding was cancelled but they got married few weeks later in a private and very small ceremony. With a tiny bit of guilt, we got to enjoy the $600 resort rooms they paid for. They are now happily married and almost over the dissapointment of it all. Thanks for stopping by my blog:))
Oh Lord, i’m really rotating in my seat, clapping my hands and bursting out laughing specially with the last paragraph !!!! you guys are just too much for the world to handle lol
Phew! what a journey 😉
The best part is that you guys stuck together and made it back in one piece..lol
good luck with you book, blog and 2 jobs 🙂
First time here…glad to meet ya 🙂
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Ruchira, It seems so long ago. When I think of the trip now, all I remember is how much fun and what an adventure it was! Thank you so much for reading..You got a new follower:)