04 Morocco Travel Stories: The Sahara Desert Dunes

When Matthew and his three travel companions travel to a remote desert village, they’re stunned by the beauty—and mortified by an unexpected visitor.

Matthew is interviewed by author and filmmaker Erin Byrne, who is also editor of the Vignettes and Postcards from Morocco anthology. This episode is excerpted from that interview, where Erin asks Matthew not only about his book, With Open Arms: Short Stories of Misadventures in Morocco, at a high level, but also specifically about the story — not included in this podcast — that recounts one of his most difficult experiences not only in Morocco but in his life. Erin asks Matthew to reflect on how he might have subsequently pieced together his impressions of Morocco based on that experience. You can check out the full version of Matthew’s interview with Erin on his Matthew Felix on Air podcast, where they discuss their travel philosophies; Matthew’s experiences living in Spain, France, and Turkey; and lots more.

Matthew talked about his Morocco book with Tom Gose and Mark Pfeifer on episode 45 of their Peanut Butter & Passports podcast. This clip is taken from that episode, where they talked specifically about Matthew's book, With Open Arms, and his experiences in Morocco. The full interview was split into two episodes, where Tom, Mark, and Matthew discussed travel, Matthew’s other books, writing and publishing, and more. Those episodes, as well as more great conversations with other travelers, can be found on the Peanut Butter & Passports podcast.

In this previously unpublished story from his forthcoming collection, Matthew tells the rest of what happened the night of his first arrival in Tangier. Still shaken from his nightmarish walk from the port, when Matthew goes to relieve himself in his hotel, he overlooks something essential—and discovers he has one more daunting obstacle to face, before he can call it a night. An unforgettable tale, not for the squeamish.

When Matthew and his friend Peter agree to share a long-distance taxi with a French couple, they can't possibly imagine how quickly—and how much—they'll come to regret it.

When Matthew and three travel companions head out into the Saharan sand dunes, one faces a tragically comical struggle that threatens his ascent of the huge dune that is their destination.

While on a train in Morocco, Matthew and his friend Sophie are joined by a curious couple of travelers suspiciously eager to befriend them.

Never having gone to a hammam when he lived in Istanbul, Matthew decides to visit one in Morocco. If only he hadn't agreed to the massage.

Matthew arrives in Morocco for the first time, receiving a nightmarish welcome as he struggles to make his way from the port of Tangier to his hotel in the medina.