It’s Saturday morning. March 28, 2020.

I’m sitting. As I’ve mostly been doing for almost two weeks. I returned from Morocco a week ago Tuesday to a new reality. I’m still in shell shock.

We left the U.S. on March 6 before the proverbial s#^t hit the fan. My WOWees enjoyed a spectacular journey through one of the world’s most gorgeous countries, seemingly a million miles removed from the frightening headlines about the global pandemic. And we departed Morocco just before their borders slammed shut.

We did everything we planned to do, thanks to our local tour guide, Radouanne, who kept us entertained, safe, and somewhat insulated from grim reality for almost two wondrous weeks.

Behind the scenes, Gabriel, our VP of Operations, was on the case. He monitored flights, booked and re-booked new flights, kept abreast of travel advisories – and got all of us home safely. Home to a new reality.

I’m grateful to the Moroccans for their gracious, generous hospitality. I’m grateful to Gabriel for his clear-headed expertise. I’m grateful to my intrepid travelers for their fortitude and friendship.

I’m thinking of Radouanne, who is sequestered at his home in Casablanca with his wife and toddler – out of work for the next month … and for the foreseeable future. And our wonderful bus driver, Mohammed, and his helper, Mustafa. What will become of them in the coming weeks and months?

And what about all the other people in all the other places who depend on tourism for their livelihood?

I have no easy answers. Only a commitment that our friendship will endure through this challenge. We will travel again.

I dedicate this blog to all the people we meet and the friends we make during our travels. In a way, our dramatic escape from Morocco echoed the ending of the classic film, Casablanca. Our travel experiences are the beginning of many beautiful friendships!

Scrolling through photos, it seemed appropriate to put some images to music . . .