Eye & Pen: Lifestyle, Travel, Photography and Literature
  • Main
  • Blog
  • Topics
    • Accommodations
    • Bucket List
    • Cheap Travel
    • Culture
    • Essay
    • Destinations
    • Inspiration
    • Interviews
    • Narratives
    • Personal
    • Photography
    • Restaurants
    • Reviews
    • Safe Travel
    • Travel Planning
    • Trip Update
    • Weekly Wanderlust
  • Photo Gallery
    • Photo Gallery – All Places
    • Photo Gallery – Aruba
    • Photo Gallery – England
    • Photo Gallery – Europe
    • Photo Gallery – Iceland
    • Photo Gallery – Ireland
    • Photo Gallery – Italy
    • Photo Gallery – Northern Ireland
    • Photo Gallery – Other
    • Photo Gallery – Scotland
    • Photo Gallery – USA
  • Services
    • Blog Coaching
    • Graphic Design
    • Hire Brandon
    • Advertising
  • About Brandon
  • Contact

Travel update V – Marrakech, Morocco

5/31/2013

11 Comments

 
Picture
(Photos by © Brandon Elijah Scott / Eye & Pen)
While surfing the web researching my next destination after Spain, I spontaneously decided to book a Ryanair flight to Morocco. I had no idea what to expect, as I researched nothing prior to arriving. When I announced to my friends and family that I was going to Morocco, I was met with awe and interest – many described that they’ve always had a romanticized view of the country and wanted to visit too. I’ve never shared the same image of Morocco, but the enthusiastic response from my friends back home only fueled the fire to see what it would be like.

On the plane, I met an Australian guy who was traveling around the world for a year or two, before settling down somewhere else – which he had little idea of where that would be. He expressed his idea of importing liquors and what not back home, but he seemed at a bit of a loss. He was an interesting character – who shared the same mindset of most Australians abroad have, which is that the more alcohol and women they meet, the better their travels would be. Since I knew no one in Morocco, and had no map, and barely a plan at all, I stuck with him for the day. The Aussie was quite knowledgeable about Morocco – he must have done his homework, unlike me. We hopped off the plane on the ground and proceeded through the border patrol and the money exchange booth, and while I was haggling for a taxi, he was collecting a phone number from a local girl he met on the plane – all I could do was laugh and shake my head, as he walked back toward me, smiling like a git.

Read More
11 Comments

Discussion: Which nationality is better for travelers?

5/28/2013

23 Comments

 
Picture
I’ve ran into countless Americans who travel under the faux nationality of Canadian or Australian – due to America’s obvious bad-PR around the world. I’ve also heard from other nationalities that have had some troubles in certain parts of the world – these people are typically from once-strong empires that have earned their bad rep from colonization. While this may not help the PR of a country, it’s an interesting insight into the experience that travelers have on the road. I’ve had no problems telling everyone that I’m an American – because even if someone scoffs at the name, they soon see that not all Americans are (to quote a fellow international traveler) “hillbilly, racists, who can’t sleep a wink without their rifle, loaded and under their pillow.” While I’ve mainly traveled around North America, Northern Africa, Europe and the Caribbean, I’ve had no problems with my nationality – whatsoever. However, circumstances could have smiled upon me, and other travelers could have suffered through nightmares – it’s also extremely probable that certain nationalities are loved and hated more, in different parts of the world.

SO, what I’m interested in is the point of view of other travelers from all around the world. If you would, in this discussion, comment below and talk about your nationality and what parts of traveling have been good and bad for you.

BUT what I’m NOT interested in are judgmental comments or self-righteous point of views. I want personal experiences, in an open discussion... With that said: Ready, set, GO!

(Photo by ~vladstudio via Deviant Art)
23 Comments

Guest post – Bed bugs: A traveller's worst nightmare

5/26/2013

6 Comments

 
Picture
Bed bugs! Two words that are guaranteed to strike fear into the heart of any traveller, conjuring up images of fearsomely hungry invisible creatures that can turn a peaceful nights sleep into an itchy nightmare.

The reality is that they are an inescapable part of travel. And the good news is that bed bugs don’t carry any diseases. The bad news is that an encounter can leave you looking like squadrons of angry mosquitoes have blitzed your skin, as well as possibly turn you and your gear into a mobile bed bug palace. 

So, an encounter is something you want to avoid. Let’s take a look at how you might be able to do that when travelling.

Read More
6 Comments

Travel update IV – Ronda & Sevilla, Spain

5/23/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
(Photos by © Brandon Elijah Scott / Eye & Pen)
Leaving Granada, I ran into two traveling musicians from England. A younger man with a killer 70’s-like California surfer look, and his friend was an older man who looked like his father from the 70’s. The two were heading to the train station as well, so we walked through the old parts of the city until we came across a set of cabs. They were lighthearted and a load of fun – it’s amazing the people you meet while traveling, and how easy it is to have great conversations and perhaps strike up lasting friendships. The two were off to perform at a wedding south of Granada – I’ll be honest, I would have rather joined them than heading to the Costa del Sol.

All along my travels through Spain, people had raved about the city of Ronda – everyone told me that I HAD TO VISIT! So for the first time, I decided to sign up for a tour. I’m not typically a “tour” person – I like to wander alone or in a close-knit group of people I know. I don’t like to be on a schedule or guided this way or that – it’s just not for me. My tour pickup point was just south of Malaga, along the coast, in Torremelinos. I booked a last second hostel online and I hopped off my bus from Granada to find a sprawling, over-developed cesspool. The coast stretching from Malaga south is built up with hotels, resorts and bar districts – usually, I like bar districts, but only when they’re full of local flavor. I don’t travel to find faux culture and overdeveloped areas that remind me of childhood family trips to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. So, I was instantly let down and I wanted to escape back to the wondrous hills of Granada.

Read More
0 Comments

Romanticized memories

5/19/2013

10 Comments

 
Picture
The fondest memories are often those that are short-lived and free of negativity. When traveling from hostel to hostel, it’s ridiculously easy to make new friends, because everyone else is in the same boat – alone and wanting to that to change. Anyone who wants to make friends at a hostel typically hangs around the common areas or the bar area, and they tend to gaze around watching for any sort of connection that comes their way. It’s pretty easy to simply walk through the common areas, catch sight with a loner or small pack of people, and share a smile – it’s as simple as that to make a friend. If that doesn’t work for you, simply plop down in a seat next to a bunch of others, and let the conversation sweep you away.

Read More
10 Comments

‘Need to knows’ when visiting Morocco

5/17/2013

11 Comments

 
Picture
(Photo by © Brandon Elijah Scott / Eye & Pen)
You can learn a lot about a culture when you submerse yourself in it – I just finished up a week in Marrakech, Morocco and I have compiled a few need to knows for you, if you’re ever to visit as well.

I stayed only in Marrakech, but I’m sure that a lot of my findings and suggestions are still useful elsewhere in Morocco...

When you’re needing directions – which is inevitable – ask shop keepers, not the local bystanders, because they almost always will ask you to follow them, as they will show you. Then they will demand money from you. I learned this early on and even in knowing, it can be difficult to shake this aggressive behavior. I told one teenager that I had no money to give and he replied with a reassuring “no problem” and a smile, then when he got me half way to my destination – where I was still lost – he began demanding money. He was aggressive and in my face, pushing his open hand against me, while he spoke, “Give me money, give me money now.” I told him to shove off, because I told him I had none. But typically, I found that most people won’t be so aggressive, but they will be consistent. So, moral is: Ask a shop keeper.

Read More
11 Comments
<<Previous

    Sign up for my VIP email list:

Picture
Picture

Article Topics

All
About Blogging
Accommodations
Bucket List
Cheap Travel
Culture
Destinations
Discussion
Entertainment
Environment
Essay
Fine Art Feature
Gear
General
Giveaway
Green Living
Guest Posts
Inspiration
Interviews
Lifestyle
Luxury
Narratives
Not Recommended
Other
Personal
Photography
Restaurants
Reviews
Safe Travel
Trip Planning
Trip Update
USA Road Trip
Video
Weekly Wanderlust

RSS Feed

Monthly Archive

November 2021
September 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012

*Disclaimer: All blog posts featuring products, reviews, or suggestions for products or services are governed by our Disclosure. Products were received free to review, so to provide authentic opinions and content for our readers. The opinions and ideas in this post are the writer's own and are uninfluenced by any other person or business. We receive no compensation for product reviews. Links within non-product review posts may be sponsored.
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.