Travel
Asilah
A Fortified Coastal Town

A couple of years ago, I got the pleasure to spend the weekend in a coastal Moroccan town called Asilah. After a tiresome day of travel, we made it to the old fortified city. It was nice to stay at a cozy hotel with a pool — it gave me memories of weekend beach trips my family took when I was a kid.

I really enjoy walking through narrow streets and alleyways like the ones in Asilah. Some areas have vendors and street artists to visit and converse with. I found this particular alleyway to be intriguing as I walked by.

The city was originally constructed by Moroccans, then captured by the Portuguese. This is when the city was fortified and defended until Spain seized it from Portugal. Eventually, it landed back into Moroccan hands. People walk on the walls and get to learn about this hostile history along the way.

One of my most treasured memories from my visit here is spending time on the beach with my friends. We took time lapses of the sunset, played with stray dogs and snapped this picture in the off chance we would produce an album together. The sights seen while traveling are usually memorable, but the people I interact with along the way are always more interesting to me.

I had a great time walking along the walls and peeking out to see the beach every now and then. It made me feel like I was an archer looking for my target who turns out to be an old friend — the Atlantic Ocean. I’ve never seen it from this angle before.
Traveling always surprises me with experiences and emotions that are both familiar and fresh. Whether it be childhood nostalgia, intriguing spaces, complex history, memorable acquaintances, or new perspectives; life on the road— a journey— never disappoints. What kind of experiences and emotional responses have you discovered in your travels?
