A Weekend in Safi

This past weekend, I traded my usual routine in Rabat for a visit to Safi, where my friend and fellow Fulbrighter, Catherine, is living and teaching. The train ride was long — about five and a half hours — but it was the kind of journey that lets you settle in, read, stare out the window, and watch the landscape shift from coastal city to open fields to the quieter stretch of Morocco’s Atlantic coast. By the time I arrived, it already felt like a small adventure.

Catherine wasted no time welcoming me into Safi life. On my first morning, I joined the local women's walking and exercise group — a lively social circle of women who meet up, walk across town together, and then gather in a park to stretch. And let me tell you: these ladies can stretch. I didn’t realize how outmatched I was until I woke up sore the next morning, but it was worth every minute. We also joined them for breakfast, which was just as warm and generous as the women themselves.

Me and the Ladies of Safi stretching.

After that energetic start, Catherine took me to the university where she teaches so I could visit the Robotics Club. The students were hosting an event to welcome their newest members, proudly showing off their trophies, and sharing their work. I had the chance to chat with them about robotics, their passions, and what it means to be in STEM today. Their enthusiasm was contagious — it reminded me why I love talking with young people about their interests.

Talking with a few of the Robotics Club members.

From there, Catherine and I spent time exploring Safi: visiting the Giant Tagine in the city center, wandering the streets, and taking a small tour of a local ceramics company. Safi is famous for its pottery, and seeing artisans shape clay with such skill was one of the highlights of the day.

The next morning, we headed into Safi’s medina, which is lined with stalls overflowing with beautiful ceramics in every shade of blue and earth tone imaginable. After wandering through the pottery district, we walked along the edge of the ocean, letting the sea breeze cut through the midday sun, and settling along the cliffs for a quiet cup of coffee.

A collection of local ceramics.

Later that afternoon, we visited Safi’s ceramics museum — a small but lovely space that showcases the history and craftsmanship of the region. It was the perfect final stop before dinner and one last walk through the city.

The next morning, it was time to head home. I climbed back onto the train, said goodbye to Safi and to Catherine, and watched the scenery roll by once again — a peaceful end to a weekend full of movement, conversation, and community.

Catherine and I in front of an old fort.