Do You Believe in Coincidences?
Imagine experiencing one of the wildest coincidences in the most random of places while traveling…
Last June, I traveled across Morocco with Maria, a friend I had only just met online. One of our destinations was the Sahara Desert, an eight-hour drive from Marrakesh. Since neither of us wanted to tackle that distance alone, we booked a shared 4-day tour we found online.
Two days later, a van pulled up. We squeezed into the two seats right next to the driver blessed with the best AC in the whole van. There were about 16 other travelers with us, each from different corners of the world: Turkey, China, Italy, France, Iran, even Morocco itself.
Over the next two days, we stopped at villages, scenic viewpoints, and eventually spent a night halfway to the desert. Along the way, we made small connections with different people. Among them was a Persian–Moroccan couple living in the Netherlands. We chatted here and there, but by the third day, our paths split: Maria and I had booked a slower 4-day trip ending in Fes, while the rest, including the couple turned back toward Marrakesh.
We said our goodbyes, fully convinced we’d never cross paths again.
The Surprise
Fast forward a few days later. After exploring the desert, Fes, and finally arriving in Chefchaouen (the Blue City), we discovered that most of the town would shut down for a holiday. Disappointed, we decided to leave early for Tangier and booked a private taxi.
On our last evening, I was craving beef tagine. We wandered into the town square and picked between two neighboring restaurants. The first one was out of beef. The second one had it so we sat down.
Twenty minutes into dinner, Maria suddenly froze, her eyes widening. I turned around… and there they were. The Persian–Moroccan couple, Melika and Ziad. The same ones we’d said goodbye to in the desert 3 days ago, who were supposed to be back in Marrakesh, seven and a half hours away. This time, they were joined by his mother.
They were just as stunned as we were. It turned out they’d made a last-minute decision to come to Chefchaouen for the holiday and had randomly chosen the same restaurant.
A Picnic by the River
What started as a coincidence turned into something even more unforgettable. They invited us to join their family picnic by the river the next day. We hesitated at first, we had a taxi booked but decided to say yes and pushed our plans back.
That morning, they brought enough food for everyone. Together, we grilled chicken and beef, prepared fresh salad, swam in freezing water, and jumped off cliffs. Ziad’s mom treated us like her own daughters, despite the language barrier. I translated everything for Maria, and we laughed at how surreal it all was.
What should have been a quiet holiday in a closed-off village became one of the most authentic, heartwarming, and memorable days of our entire trip.
The Power of Coincidence
If I hadn’t craved beef tagine. If we hadn’t chosen the second restaurant. If they hadn’t changed their plans last minute. None of this would have happened.
Coincidences like this remind me that travel isn’t just about the places you see, it’s about the people you meet, often when you least expect it.
This was one of the craziest coincidences I’ve ever experienced.
What about you? Do you believe in coincidences? And have you ever had one that made you stop and wonder?