When Hideaways member Dr. Tom Fiutak of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, was invited to be the keynote speaker at an event held at the Acropolis Museum in Athens, he couldn't resist the chance to take a week-long side trip with his wife, Colet, to the mesmerizing country of Morocco. "As a founding member of Mediators Beyond Borders, I was invited to address a group called together by Greece's Ministry of Justice," Tom explained. "Since we'd come that far and Colet had never been to Africa--and I'd always wanted to get to Morocco during my travels but hadn't--it seemed like the perfect opportunity."

Not really knowing what to expect beyond the souks and medinas, Tom and Colet found themselves pleasantly surprised by Morocco. "This trip was in the same category as my first visit to Istanbul," Tom said, "in that Morocco also was very different from my preconceptions. It is one of the cleanest countries I've been in in my life. The people were open, happy, and well dressed, and they clearly enjoy a good quality of life. Also, Morocco is a cut above in terms of its infrastructure. Traffic was not bad at all, and its highway systems were very good. It even has two popular ski resorts in the High Atlas!"

March/April 2015