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Talk about EXTREME!  Morocco has definitely given me a taste for outdoor adventure, which is what led my roommate and I to visit “Les Gouffres de Friaouto”. This was a really intense experience for me at least, since we had to descend deep into the earth through very small and slippery spaces. It was also the biggest work out in the history of ever.

From our hotel in Taza, we rented a taxi to take us on a scenic drive to the Gouffre. Our taxi driver was a really nice guy who ended up feeding us these wild furry fruits he found along the way…. unwashed of course.  (Note: we did not get sick afterwards! great success).  Upon arrival at the Gouffre, we had to descend at least 200 stairs to get to the bottom of the cave and the access point to the belly of the underground cave (Gouffre).

The Gouffre itself was pitch-dark… and of course that’s when my very heavy flashlight that I brought all the way from Rabat decided to stop working. Thank goodness we had hired a guide to take us through the slippery, clay covered tunnels. It was a frightening experience, mostly because you couldn’t see anything past the gleaming light of your torch, and because it was so slippery!

When we had to cross this (slick!) makeshift bridge made of a plank of wood nestled on two rocks, I froze.  There was no seeing anything below: a freefall into hell.  I stood on the bridge and closed my eyes, but there was nothing that I could do to get my legs to move.  The guide ended up having to drag me across the plank.  My poor little chicken legs are not very good for support, despite the hiking boots I was wearing.

Once outside at ground level, completely covered in brown goop, I felt a rush from such a satisfying experience! No regrets!

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