Archive for February, 2009

Ski in Morocco’s Middle Atlas Mountains – Travel the Slopes of Oukaimeden and Mischliffen

Saturday, February 28th, 2009

 

toubkal-1Imagine soaring down white powdered slopes, edging your way through the soft snow on a clear brisk day. Now imagine that you are doing this in Morocco! Most people associate Morocco with camels trekking through deserts of sand, not snow capped mountain peaks. But what the average traveler does not know is that Morocco is home to some of the best skiing in all of Africa.

Most of Morocco’s ski resorts are deep within the Atlas Mountains. Oukaimeden, a premier resort lies just south of Marrakech. Mischliffen a mountain town in the Middle Atlas is referred to as the “Moroccan Aspen”  and is not far from Fez.

Oukaimeden and Mischliffen would be considered intermediate runs, both containing ski lifts and equipment rentals.  These slopes cater to the average skier looking to enjoy beautiful Moroccan terrain.

For those more experienced Morocco also contains expert ski slopes in areas like Tazaghart. Tazaghart is extremely adventurous terrain suited only for those with years of training and experience.

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Travelers can also snowshoe, cross-country ski, mountain trek and ski tour within these areas. The frosted peaks provide beautiful natural scenery you can explore on foot or on ski. Outdoor adventure is best recommended from November to mid June. 

Skiing and trekking Morocco is a great way to see enticing areas surrounding Marrakech and the high Atlas Mountains.

To learn more about outdoor activities in Morocco, please visit Travel-Exploration.Com

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Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel. We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Google on call Travel Exploration at (917)703-2078 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

How to Discover a Moroccan Hammam, The Place to Unwind on a Vacation

Friday, February 27th, 2009

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The Moroccan hammam-bath house is one of the most fascinating and immensely enjoyable experiences for people who are visiting Morocco for the first time. A Moroccan Hammam is one of the the must-things-to-do activties during a Morocco vacation. The Moroccan Hammam is a leisure actvity and involves a keen combination of personal indulgence. The Hammam is something that all locals in Morocco do as a weekly ritual. Each neighborhood in Morocco’s old cities (medinas) has a local hammam where mena and woman bathe.

Walking into the elaborately decorated Hammam you are greeted by a smiling woman who directs you to your private changing room. Dressed in a robe you pass bubbling zellij tiled fountains, rose petals that adorn the heated room, and the scent of orange blossom water as a woman leads the way to the sauna where your Moroccan bath house experience will begin. Morocco is a heaven the the ritualistic and traditional hammam experience. Marrakech has some of the best hammams and spas in the country.

Moroccan Hamma, Spa

Moroccan Hamma, Spa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Moroccan Hammam has a sauna with open steam and the sweet smells of orange blossoms and rose water that fill each room. During a Moroccan hammam experience your muscles relaxi and your pores opening. The hammam masseuse, a waomn, enters the sauna and hands you some black soap and asks you to cover yourself in it, it will cleanse as well as exfoliate, she explains. After covering every inch of your body in the soap you lie back and let the steam work its magic. Soothing music plays as your masseuse gently wipes off the soap with an exfoliate glove, sluicing all of the impurities and dead skin off and leaving your skin feeling smooth and fresh. The sweet smell of almonds fill the air as she prepares for your full body massage.

 

Moroccan Hammam, Bath house

Moroccan Hammam, Bath house

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moroccan bath houses, or Hammams, are an important aspect of this North African culture. Serving as both a place for social gathering as well as a place for ritual cleansing most Moroccans visits a Hammam or bath house  o at least once a week. Moroccans traditionally perform their own cleansing which consists of placing a mat on the floor and lying in a sauna-like room allowing your body to sweat out any impurities. While tourists are welcome to visit these traditional Hammams more private and luxurious bath houses, that closely resemble spas in the US, are also available. These Hammams offer exfoliation with a rough flat glove called a kiis and full body massages along with the time in the sauna.

So whether you have been exploring the city, hiking the mountains, or traversing the Sahara on a Desert Safari desert on camel back a Moroccan Hammam is the perfect place to relax, cleanse, and unwind.

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Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel. We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Google on call Travel Exploration at 1800-787-8806 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

Travel Within Fes Morocco’s Leather Tanneries

Monday, February 23rd, 2009

fez-leather-tannieriesHidden deep within Fes, Morocco’s major economic metropolis, are an array of colored dyes spread over the city floor in large cement vats, the 600 year old tanneries. The pallet of pomegranate red, burnt orange, saffron yellow and wild mint green can be seen from the surrounding rooftops and terraces.

While the tanneries have retained hundreds of years of artistry and tradition, they may as well be the foulest smelling attraction in all of Morocco. When visiting the ancient sites guides will offer tourists fresh mint leaves to put under their nose.

Generations of laborers have toiled in the same honeycomb vessels. Shoeless, the workers climb into the tubs to knead the leather skins for hours, the dye staining their arms and legs. The smells hint towards some kind of potent secret ingredient: pigeon droppings. These excretions soften the skins and work to produce the famous Moroccan leather. Skins come fresh from the slaughter and hundred of hides are worked on at once.

When the leather has been treated it is hung or laid to dry on the flat rooftops. When tourists are exploring in the tanneries they can make their way to the nearby market to visit a number of leather shops where the incredible leather goods are sold.

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Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel. We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Google on call Travel Exploration at (917)703-2078 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

Bizarre Foods Morocco, Andrew Zimmern in Marrakech

Saturday, February 21st, 2009

If it looks good eat it! Check out chef, food critic and die hard foodie the best way to experience a culture is to dig a little deeper for your dinner no matter where you will find it. A full plate of North African specialties in the North African Country of Morocco is a must see.

Morocco’s culture reflects a mix of European and Medeterraniean influences. The country embraces it’s Berber history along with being a jetset destination.

Check out this Bizarre Foods episode with Andrew Zimmern from the Travel Channel in the heart of Marrakech’s Djemaa El Fna Square! Take it all in at Marrakech’s medival carnival with a good grill in sight.

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Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel. We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Google on call Travel Exploration at 1800-787-8806 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

Moroccan Recipes – Secret Ingredients And Tour A Traditional Kitchen

Thursday, February 19th, 2009

The hosts clap their hands and you sit at the table taking in the light scents of mint, cumin and saffron and a distant aroma of pomegranate glaze. In front of you is a dish of Moroccan lamb with a garbanzo bean mash and then a series of courses follow. The host goes around with a dish of rose water and for a ritual hand cleansing before the meal.  The meal is served at a low table with a bright colored cloth blanketing the wood. You sit patiently on the floor cushion ready to dig in.

OK so, it is easy to imagine this delectable feast, but not so easy to transport yourself to the table for this precise and artistically prepared meal. If you are headed to Morocco, or have an interest in Moroccan cuisine, you might like to test out or reenact a traditional meal of your own.

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Some things to know:

  • In some cases it takes a host/hostess anywhere up to a week to prepare a meal for an honored guest.
  • Most households in Morocco make their own breads.
  • Preserved lemons add a salty, distinctive lemon flavor to many Moroccan dishes.
  • Tagine refers to both a ceramic piece of cookware and the stew-like dish it is prepared in.
  • Berbers, the first inhabitants of Morocco,  use local ingredients, such as olives, figs, and dates, to prepare lamb and poultry stews.

Here are some Moroccan recipes that I found:

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Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel. We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Google on call Travel Exploration at (917)703-2078 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

Shop the Souks of Morocco

Sunday, February 15th, 2009

A weekend in Morocco can be just as magical as a lengthy stay. The aroma of fresh spices sifting through the air, meats sizzling over an open flame, detailed carpets being unraveled at the market place, snakes entranced by the high pitched pungi, a pot of mint tea and a camel trek through the desert sand all in just a few days.  Many travelers, like Natalie Roberts of Minnesota, get to experience just a small taste of Moroccan culture.

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While studying in Spain, Roberts had the opportunity to head south for the weekend and roam the ancient streets of Morocco.  She boarded the plane as she clutched the Royal Air Moroc ticket in her hand. Going to Morocco had been a dream of hers since high school.

Roaming through  Casablanca, Roberts said,  “We walked to the roof and looked out upon the vibrant city. When we came back down, we shared a pot of mint tea. This would be the start of our three-day tea binge, consuming our weight in mint, green tealeaves, water, and sugar. Unfortunately we did not have long to stay in Casablanca and were welcomed with a constant mist, which later became veritable rainfall. ”

Travelers venturing around Europe or Northern Africa shouldn’t miss a day or two in Morocco or even just a cup of mint tea, but if you happen to pass through make sure not to miss Marrakech!

Roberts continued, “We spent what little time we had the next morning drinking tea, and visiting the tallest minaret in the world. Then we left Casablanca and headed to l’estacion du tren to make our way to Marrakech.”

With little time left Roberts immerged herself into the city and wondered through Marrkech’s maze like souks. She said, “That allowed us a day and a half to peruse the souks and try the local cuisine. Walking through the souks was like going to a North African themed renaissance festival and suddenly realizing it’s all real and the actors aren’t going back to the suburbs in the evening. There were leopard skins, rhinoceros horns, Gucci and Prada. ”

She couldn’t help but leave with her hands full of bargains. Roberts said, “Bartering in French was tricky and at the end of the day our purchases were extensive, including such items as a fake rolex, a teapot, necklaces, scarves, sandals and shirts. Having spent entirely to much, I woke the next day to meet Tamir, the camel I would ride. She led the pack and was nice enough to only drool on me once.”

As Roberts left for the plane she knew she would someday return to this place, and hopefully for much longer.n1282260055_30046063_99671

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Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel. We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Google on call Travel Exploration at (917)703-2078 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

Morocco’s International Marathon – A Running Tour Through Marrakech

Friday, February 13th, 2009

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Recently I had the opportunity to talk with Younes Errami, a Moroccan citizen studying at the Cadi Ayyad University to get insight on one of Morocco’s greatest pastimes. Football (what the U.S. refers to as soccer) is one of Morocco’s most prized activities.

KJ: I would love to hear about your extracurricular activities, do you play any sports, or follow any teams?

“The majority or Moroccans choose sports as extracurricular activity, especially football. It’s the most popular sport in Morocco, among both rich and poor classes of the society!”

“There are those who love and support local teams like “widad” , “raja” or “kawkab” those are one of the most popular football teams in morocco!”

“Moroccans also follow Spanish football and supports its famous teams like “barca” and “real”, you would find the cafés really overcrowded when one of these two teams are playing,, everybody goes to watch the match!”

“Personally, I play and watch football too like the majority of boys of my age!”

KJ: Which team do you root for?

“My favorite team is “Inter Milano” an Italian one, and then the local one “kawkab” which is the team of my city Marrakech!

KJ: Where do you go to watch the games?

“Normally to watch football we either go to a friend’s house, or to coffee shops, which is so common!

KJ: Do the coffee shops serve food or drinks? When are the games generally watched?

“Once there we normally get a drink (no they don’t serve food in those coffee shops) we can order a coffee or a lemonade, in some other coffees they serve “chicha” for those who like to smoke it!
Generally the games are watched the weekends at the evenings!”

KJ: Is there a large sense of pride for the Moroccan teams or any rivalries?

“Yes, there is a large sense of pride for the Moroccan teams, and especially for the national team, when the Moroccan national team is playing you’ll would find the streets really empty, everybody watch those games, all the family! And after the game, if the national team wins, everybody goes out to celebrate, you would find people with flags, cars horns, people singing and hugging each other, it’s really something good to see!”

KJ: That’s great that you play football as well, do you join organized leagues?

“There are some football clubs that young people can join if they have some potential, but the only problem is that most of them are not free, especially the first couple of years, then if they choose you, you won’t have to pay then, because you will be representing the team!”

KJ: Would woman be found watching the games, or playing in them?

“There are some women football team but they are not so popular like men’s ones, I would say that women generally are not into playing football, yet there are a lot of them who love watching it!”

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Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel. We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Google on call Travel Exploration at (917)703-2078 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

Travel Morocco’s Golden Arches – The Moroccan Big Mac

Friday, February 13th, 2009

 

A thin strip of morning sunlight filters in between your bedroom curtains falling directly on your eyes, waking you from your sleep. Outside you can hear the beginnings of the day, the shop keepers unlocking and opening their doors, the carts of oranges and dates being wheeled down the street by peddlers, children chasing and calling out to one another. The smell of freshly baked sweet breads and pastries wafts in from below and your stomach responds with an urgent growl.

Fully awake now you let your mind wander to last night and the amazing meal you shared with the Moroccan family, your new friends, in their home in Marrakech. Sitting around their long table on soft and luxurious couches you had feasted on a bubbling tajine full of tender beef, prunes, and almonds. The pungent scents of ginger, saffron, and cinnamon rising in clouds of thick steam as the top of the tajine was lifted off and the meal was presented to the family. Ripping off pieces of the freshly made bread you used it to scoop up the stew, letting the doughy bread absorb the thick juices before raising it to your mouth. The meal had ended with dried fruits and traditional sweet Moroccan mint tea. An amazing meal, an unforgettable night.

Rising now, you dress for the new day, and head out to explore the rest of the city. Joining the now busy streets you walk down alley ways and side streets and suddenly come to something that looks bizarre and out of place and yet you can’t help but to step inside and see if it really is what it claims to be…

They say that America’s hands stretch to all corners of the Earth, sharing her foods, drinks, customs, and yes, her McDonalds. Those glorious golden arches that Americans are so used to seeing at every street corner have indeed made the leap to Morocco and, according to a native Moroccan, has settled in quite nicely.

McDonalds exist in most of the major cities of Morocco, Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat, Fes, but don’t expect to step into a Moroccan McDonalds to find the same menu you’d find at your local Mickey D’s. In fact, as 19 year old Mehdi Miman attests, McDonalds has fashioned a special menu to suit Moroccan tastes, preferences, and traditions.

For Ramadan, Mehdi says, McDonalds has a special menu that includes Harira – a traditional Moroccan soup made of tomatoes, lentils, chickpeas, meat, eggs, and spices – , milk, dates, as well as the Big Mac – made only with Halal meat which means it is suitable for a Muslim to eat. A Mc Arabia burger is also sold there all the year which Mehdi says is very appreciated by Moroccans for its spiced meat.

While many may feel shocked and outraged that such an American landmark has infiltrated the otherwise magical and authentic streets of Moroccan cities Mehdi claims that Moroccan McDonalds are not surrounded with the controversy that many face in other non-American countries. He says that while it is true that young children think of going to McDonalds as a special treat Moroccans realize and appreciate the restaurant’s attempt to fashion its menu to accommodate the varying tastes of the country and certainly do not think of it as a substitute for their delicious and much-loved Moroccan cuisine.

 


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Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel. We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Google on call Travel Exploration at (917)703-2078 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

Majorelle Blue, Tour Yves Saint Laurent’s Moroccan Gardens

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009

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Amidst the fresh greens of thorny cacti,  towering bamboo, flowering lilies and ancient palms shines a dominant cobalt blue with flashes of sunny yellow.  Marrakech’s botanical garden, the Majorelle Gardens designed by French artist Jacques Majorelle (1886-1962) revolutionizes the way we think of color.

Bright potted plants of yellows, blues and greens are scattered throughout the garden. Vines, ferns and hanging plants terrace overhead and birds fly back and forth to treetops as they fill the silence with a sweet song. Tourists with cameras flock at every corner of the Majorelle Garden capturing the vibrant colors and unique textures that fill the creative masterpiece.  Hidden throughout the garden are names and initials of recent travelers carved into the cacti. The garden has been open to the public since 1947, and a host to Majorelle ceramics, jewelry,  paintings and Islamic art.

 

 

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The burnt orange walkways and mosaic tile floors weave through the depths of the garden by fountains, fish ponds and enchanting artwork.  There are an array of birds, fish and turtles inhabiting the magical oasis. The soothing waters and refreshing colors offer a serene beauty and sense of relaxation. The garden seems to exhale a tranquil breath, and travelers are able to unwind as they wonder around the for hours.

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To learn more about the Majorelle Gardens

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Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel. We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Google on call Travel Exploration at 1800-787-8806 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

The Blue And White City- An Exploration Of Morocco’s Rif Mountains

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009

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Slightly out of breath from the long trek up the mountainside you look up ahead and see that it is not too much further. You pass a goat herder who, despite his age, does not seem to be feeling the effects of the climb as much as you are, he nods and smiles kindly as you pass by. Determined to make it all the way you put your head down and trudge those last few yards, turning around you suddenly forget your aching muscles and try to take in the scene.

The view from the mountainside is breathtaking. The whitewashed houses of Chefchaouen sparkle in the sunlight dotted with vivid blues, reds, and oranges from carpets and clothes hanging out to dry. All around the village goats and their herders wander aimlessly under the herder dogs’ watchful eye. Sipping on the famed Rif Mountain water you sit back contentedly and watch as this beautiful day passes.

Chefchaouen is a picturesque village built into the Rif Mountains in Morocco. With its characteristic whitewashed buildings and brightly painted blue doors this little village is a must-see for travelers. While certainly a popular spot for visitors many find that Chefchaouen has been able to maintain its traditional Moroccan identity and the cafes and restaurants serve authentic food and drink from the region. The spot is also popular with backpackers and many younger travelers because of the relatively inexpensive hotels and hostels available.

A recent traveler to Chefchaouen was told by a local that when a road or a flight of stairs are painted blue, rather than the traditional white, it means that they lead to a dead-end. Locals found that because the village is built up into the side of a mountain it is very hard to see where you are going so they solved this problem by painting the road or stairs a brilliant bright blue! A very creative and certainly very beautiful alternative to street signs!

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Travel Exploration specializes in Morocco Travel. We provide Tours and travel opportunities to Morocco for the independent traveler and tailor-made tours for families and groups with a distinctly unique flavor. From Morocco’s Seven Imperial Cities, to the Magical Sahara Travel Exploration offers a captivating experience that will inspire you. At Travel Exploration we guarantee that you will discover the best of Morocco! Google on call Travel Exploration at 1800-787-8806 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.