Mediterranean 2023
Morocco • Tunisia • Malta • Portugal • Egypt
The Journey
We started in Casablanca with a rental car and five weeks ahead. The route through Morocco took us up the coast to Rabat, then north to the isolated blue city of Chefchaouen. From there we headed south to Fez, down to Merzouga and the Sahara for "luxury tent camping". From there we went back west to Dades Canyon, Aït Benhaddou, and Marrakech.
After a couple of weeks in Morocco, we flew to Tunis and set out on a second road trip, heading south through Roman sites, desert towns, and Star Wars filming locations. The Berber village of Chenini was our southernmost stop before we crossed Chott el Djerid, a vast salt lake, to Tozeur. A few days and stops later, driving north, we were back to the Mediterranean in Tunis.
After Tunisia, our routes split. Jenna continued to meet her mother in Egypt, while Darren took the short flight to explore the island of Malta and then Lisbon, Portugal, on the way home.
Egypt · Malta · Portugal
Commencing their journey in Giza, Jenna and her mother arrived before the crowds, spending the day with an extraordinary guide whose knowledge and humor brought the pyramids, Sphinx, and desert landscape to life.
In Aswan, they slowed down on a felucca on the Nile, passing through Nubia—a region with its own deep history and culture. Alexandria brought a different side of Egypt: fishing boats, cafés, and long waterfront promenades in a Mediterranean city that is often skipped by foreign visitors.
Darren's Malta chapter began behind the wheel of a rental car, learning quickly to drive on the left. Valletta and Cospicua became the base, with days spent exploring the island's edges—from Marsaskala and the Blue Grotto, to the old city of Mdina, out to Comino Island and the Blue Lagoon. Malta was a beautiful surprise: rich in history, welcoming locals, and refreshingly affordable.
Lisbon, Sintra, and Cascais were equally stunning, with Portugal having its own completely unique, bohemian vibe.
Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Malta & Portugal
A travel photography selection of images from each major stop.
