Rabat – From the moment I set foot in Morocco, I realized this trip might not go as planned originally.
However, that was exactly the point.
The pace here had a way of teaching me to slow down, to accept what arrived, and the most important thing is to enjoy it along the way.
When a train carried me past the stop
This was my first time taking a train in Morocco, from Casablanca to Rabat. Carrying my suitcase, I was incredibly small in the crowded train car. I focused my attention on my surroundings, but still couldn’t prevent the unexpected from happening.
The train stopped. But the doors closed faster than I expected. By the time I realized it, Rabat was already behind us.
I wasn’t alone. Several people hadn’t even had time to get off the train yet: locals, commuters, visitors, people who looked entirely didn’t care.
Some of them just smiled, or chatted with each other, while others called friends to explain why they would be late. No one complained about it too much. On the contrary, everyone quickly decided to take the next train in the opposite direction back together.
This shared attitude made me calm down. The problem felt smaller, once no one treated it like trouble.
We arrived in Rabat one train later than planned. Nothing else had changed, except the new perspective I gained that day.
Sitting in a cafe without rushing
This reminds me of something else that happened a few days ago. Following the reviews on Google Maps, I found a restaurant in Casablanca and decided to have some brunch.
The reason why I was fumbling through the menu, because I didn’t know French or Arabic at all, and reading took time. Yet what surprised me is that no one hurried me. After I finally ordered, which took quite a while, the waiters weren’t impatient, but they smiled and nodded at me.
Such things are not unusual. No matter the language barrier or anything unfamiliar, kindness doesn’t need translation. Sometimes it’s just a gesture like a glance, or the quiet patience of someone encouraging you to take your time. Morocco has always been very tolerant of foreigners. Perhaps that’s why this is one of the most popular destinations worldwide.
On the streets, in the markets, and even on crowded trains, there was a rhythm to life that didn’t rush you, but didn’t stall.
This is also part of the charm of this land.
Losing my way in old Medina
This afternoon, I wandered down narrow lanes in Rabat’s old medina, uncertain which way would lead me back.
In other places, I might feel panicked and anxious. Here, I paused. Morocco had already started teaching me the rhythm of “chill”. For the first time, I could breathe into a moment rather than racing past it.
Instead of stressing this time, I let the path decide.
Every corner revealed something unexpected: an ancient riad, a lively store, snacks smelled quite great, and kittens that occasionally ran out from the corner. The people I passed smiled and we were curious and gracious about each other.
I realized I had begun to move with the city’s rhythm. Not forcing it, not resisting it, just walking wherever the trip took me.
Suddenly, I understood what Morocco had been showing me during this journey so far: Even if things get out of control, it’s not a big deal.
Sometimes, the best way to live is to take things as they come, and let the moment guide you along the way.
But don’t worry, you’re always walking forward.
