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Casablanca Day Trips, Tours & Excursions, Your Morocco Tour Guide

Wednesday, September 28th, 2011

Casablanca Old Postcard of City Cinema

Casablanca is Morocco’s leading port second to Tangier and home of the famous Hassan II Mosque. This seaside city with a long winding corniche is a great starting point for Casablanca Trips & Tours. Located on the Atlantic Ocean Casablanca is situated in a place that is perfect for short tours that include Rabat, Marrakech, Fes Chefchaouen and the Rif Mountains region.

Tailor made excursions from Casablanca in a private car with an English, multi-lingual speaking driver are the best way to see Morocco. Morocco day trips from Casablanca include Marrakech and Rabat. Morocco tours from Casablanca include Imperial City tours to Fes, Marrakech and Meknes alongside options to visit the Sahara region in a 4×4 for camel trekking to the Erg Chebbi dunes in Merzouga.

Casablanca’s port and its airport hub easily enable Moroccan travelers easy access to Morocco day trips and tours. Casablanca’s history is equally as interesting.

Casablanca Postcard of Old Mellah Rue De Captaine

The area which is today Casablanca was settled by Berbers in the 7th century BC. It was used as a port by the Phoenicians and later the Romans. Its ancient name was “Anfa” and known as a small independent kingdom. During the 14th century, under the Merinids, Anfa rose as an important port. In the early 15th century, the town became an independent state once again, and emerged as a safe harbor for pirates and privateers, leading to it being targeted by the Portuguese, who destroyed the town in 1468. The Portuguese used the ruins of Anfa to build a military fortress in 1515. The town that grew up around it was called “Casa Branca”, meaning “white house” in Portuguese.

Quick Links for Casablanca Day Trips, Tours and Excursions

Casablanca Tours
Casablanca to Rabat Tour
Casablanca to Marrakech Tour
Casablanca Sahara Tours and Camel Treks
Casablanca Imperial City Tours

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! Call Travel Exploration at 1 (800) 787-8806 or 1 (917)703-2078 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

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Tags: Anfa, Casablanca Imperial city tours, Casablanca Jewish Mellah, Casablanca Sahara tours and camel treks, Casablanca to Marrakech tour, Casablanca to Rabat tour, Casablanca tours, Casablanca trips and tours, Imperial City Tour, Morocco Holidays, Morocco Tours, Morocco Travel, Rabat Tour, Sahara Tour, Travel Exploration, Travel to Morocco
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Morocco Bead & Jewelry Tour, Treasure Hunt & Shop the Souks of Marrakech, Essaouira & Ouarzazate, Morocco Tour Guide

Sunday, September 11th, 2011

Moroccan Trade Beads

A Moroccan Bead & Jewelry Adventure hosted by Sarah Corbett

April 16^th – 29^th, 2012- Marrakech – Essaouira -Tarodaunt – Ouarzazte

Discover the History of Moroccan Jewelry, Morocco’s leading Imperial city, the Magnificent South. Shop the Souks of Marrakech, Essaouira and Ouarzazate on this unique journey with fellow jewelry collectors and bead lovers. We will begin this Moroccan Bead & Jewelry Adventure in Marrakech where you will discover ancient trade beads, collector’s jewels along with a visit to the Tiskiwin Museum. Complimented by a visit to the Majorelle Gardens your Marrakech Bead & Jewely Adventure is a luxury and enjoyable travel opportunity and great way to discover this “red hamra” city. We will then travel to seaside Essaouira, the region of the Argan tree and explore its old medina for precious amber while dining seaside. Next our journey will continue onward towards Tarodaunt, considered the mini Marrakech where you will participate in the Bead making process and watch ancient traditions. Last stop is Ouarzazate, the home of great silver traders and fabulous shops near the lovely Kasbah Taourirt where you will discover trade beads and treasures.

ITINERARY
APRIL 16th: MARRAKECH ARRIVALS – AIRPORT TRANSFER
Airport arrivals in Marrakech. Transfer to Riad. All to meet up at Riad Palais Sebban by 3:00pm. Visit the Tiskiwin Museum, a private museum dedicated to popular arts & crafts, styled as a beautiful Spanish-Moroccan house, next door to Dar Si Said palace, a smaller version of the Bahia.Tiskiwin Museum Lecture: You will have a first hand viewing of the Tiskiwin and listen to a one-hour lecture and exploration of its history, be shown its private bead and jewelry collection. Afternoon treasure hunting. Welcome Evening – Appetizers & Drinks at Riad Palais Sebban. A chance to meet your fellow travelers and an overview of the route and the jewels we may find. A display of Tuareg pieces of jewelry with a Tuareg trader on hand to explain the styles and symbolism of the jewelry. Spend the night at a 4 Star Charming Riad in Marrakech.

APRIL 17th: MARRAKECH (9:00am – 2:30pm OPTIONAL – GUIDED HALF- DAY HISTORICAL TOUR & TREASURE HUNTING)
Breakfast at your Riad. Begin your one-day Historical Tour of Marrakech. Your introduction to Marrakech will begin in the new city, we will navigate our way to French, Gueliz and head to the Majorelle Gardens, a magical and lush small garden estate designed by Jacque Majorelle and maintained by Yves Saint Laurent. The Majorelle Garden is filled with colorful walkways, ponds, cactus and plants as well as a beautiful shop with hand-made goods. On our return to your hotel, we will pass by the La Mammounia Hotel Garden (where Alfred Hitchcock wrote the famous film The Birds). Visit the 19th Century Bahia Palace, originally built for Si Moussa, a former slave who became King Moulay Hassan’s chamberlain. The palace holds a courtyard and riads decorated with and the most beautiful carved stucco, Arabic architecture. Next visit the 16th Century Saadian Tombs and El Mansour mosque. Marrakech is a city of underground channels built by the architects from Cordoba, Spain to provide water for the town and Palmery. Next visit the old, Medina, the old quarter of the Marrakech. From here we will explore this historically charming area by foot. In Djemma el Fna, you will visit the famous 12th century Koutouba Mosque and its influential minaret. Afternoon treasure hunting in the Souks of Marrakech. Spend the night at a 4 Star Charming Riad in Marrakech.

APRIL 18th: MARRAKECH – ESSAOUIRA (12:30pm -2:30pm OPTIONAL – Half-Day Guided Historical Tour) (Driving Time: 2 1/2 Hours) Breakfast at your Riad in Marrakech.Departure for Essaouira in the morning. Take the road to visit the seaside port of Essaouira. The journey to this former Portuguese ﬁshing village offers up only a few roadside towns and the occasional Berber village. In the ’60s and ’70s, Essaouira was a pitstop on the hippie trek from Marrakesh. Jimi Hendrix made the pilgrimage, as did Bob Marley and Cat Stevens. Essaouira was the inspiration for Hendrix’s song “Castles Made of Sand.” Witness the Argan goats in trees nestling in to eat away at the Argan nuts which are typically used in making Argan Oil, Butter and Cosmetics. Arrive in Essaouira. Check into your Hotel. Take a half-day Historical Tour. Have lunch at the fish-grill cafes, with wooden tables and benches laid out overlooking the sea. The journey to this former Portuguese fishing village offers up only a few roadside towns and the occasional Berber village. In the ’60s and ’70s, Essaouira was a pitstop on the hippie trek from Marrakesh. Jimi Hendrix made the pilgrimage, as did Bob Marley and Cat Stevens. Essaouira was the inspiration for Hendrix’s song “Castles Made of Sand”. Visit this sea-side medieval town that boasts lovely white-washed and blue-shuttered houses, colonnades, thuya wood workshops, art galleries and mouthwatering seafood. Once called Mogador by European sailors and traders, Essaouria is known for its annual Gnaoua Music Festival that attracts 300,000+ people in June. It also has an expansive beach for surfing called Plage de Safi. Take a stroll along the town’s sunlit pedestrian main square, Place Prince Moulay el Hassan and the Skala du Port, the fishing harbor, offers breathtaking views of the Portuguese ramparts. Explore the ramparts and the spice and jewelry souks of the medina. The medina of Essaouira (formerly “Mogador”) is a UNESCO World Heritage listed city, as an example of a late-18th century fortified town. After your historical tour, continue treasure hunting in Essaouira. Spend the night at a 4 Star Charming Riad in Essaouira.

APRIL 19th: ESSAOUIRA
Rise, breakfast at your Hotel. Bead & Jewelry Hunting in Essaouira: Take time out in Essaouira’s old medina to visit the jewelry shops that specialize in antique Venetian beads, Berber Silver, Amber and Copal. Dinner Recommendations: Taros or El Mer, Essaouira’s top eats with sea views and fresh fish. Spend the night at a 4 Star charming Riad in Essaouira.

APRIL 20th: ESSAOUIRA – TAROUDANT (Driving Time: 6 Hours)
Rise, have breakfast at your Riad in Essaouira, then take the road to Tarodaunt. Dinner and Spend the night at a charming Riad in Taroudant.

APRIL 21st: TAROUDANT
Rise, have breakfast at your Riad in Tarodaunt. Shop the Souks of Tarodaunt. Taroudant is a Moroccan city located in the Souss Valley in the southern part of the country. It is situated east from Agadir on the road to Ouarzazate and South from Marrakech. It has the feel of a small fortified market town on some caravan route. It is also known for its local crafts like jewelry and carpets. Taroudant is often referred to as the “Grandmother of Marrakech” because it is a scaled down, slowed down town that resembles Marrakech with its surrounding ramparts. Unlike Marrakech, Taroudant contains almost the whole city within its walls. Visit the old medinas’ ramparts with a guided two-hour tour then spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the souk of Taradount and treasure hunting in its shops that are filled with antique silver, beads and shaded alleys occupied by gentle craftsman and shop owners. Dinner and Spend the night at a charming Riad in Taroudant.

APRIL 22nd TAROUDANT
Rise, have breakfast at your Riad in Taradount then take the road to spend an entire day watching the Bead-making Process, rare demonstrations of Bead-making traditions. Lunch during your Bead-Making workshop. View The Bead-Making Process: View the bead-making process detail at the workshop where you can create your own jewelry from the beads that you have seen produced that day – which will be yours to keep as a souvenir of your visit. There will be access to a wide selection of beads available. Bead Demonstration Of Rare Bead-making Traditions. During your workshop you will have the opportunity to witness a demo of three different styles of bead making. Bead making enthusiasts will enjoy this demonstration as it will enable them to view how old traditions are still be practiced, produced and carried on in Morocco. Some of these traditions include utilizing couscous and other original Moroccan traditions to create beads. Travel Exploration Morocco was the first agency to record this “rare” bead-making process and your group will be second to experience it first hand. There will be an opportunity to also purchase beads and special silver and other Moroccan Jewelry during your Bead Making Workshop in Taroudant Lunch in Taroudant at La Valla, a local restaurant in Taradount or at the Bead-Making workshop. After lunch continue Moroccan Bead and Jewelry Treasure Hunting or return to your Riad to relax for the evening. Dinner and Spend the night at a charming Riad in Taroudant.

APRIL 23rd: TAROUDAUNT – TAZNAGHT- OUARZAZATE
Breakfast at your Riad. Then take the road to Ouarzazate. En route to Ouarazate, you will stop at the Taliouine Saffron Cooperative. Taliouine is the traditional area of cultivation of saffron in Morocco and has been for hundreds of years. The Taliouine Souktana cooperative is on the road to Taroudant, in the village of Taliouine, in the heart of Sirwa Mountains. The Taliouine Cooperative sells only a truly biological saffron, cultivated according the traditional ways, with natural fertilizers . The mountains dry climate is ideal for such a culture. After visiting the Taliouine Saffron Cooperative , continue the road to Ouarzazate. Dinner and Spend the night at a charming Riad in Ouarzazate.

APRIL 24th: OUARZAZATE (MORNING JEWELRY SHOPPING & VISIT OF THE ATLAS FILM STUDIO OR OPTIONAL AFTERNOON VISIT OF OUARZAZATE)
Rise early, breakfast at your Riad and then spend the morning jewelry shopping in Ouarzazate. Lunch near Kasbah Taourirt. Discover treasure hunting in this calm, oasis of Southern Morocco that was originally an administrative center during the French Protectuate. Discover jewelry just outside Kasbah Taouirt and in the old market alongside the smells of Berber Amber and Musk. Have a walk across from the antique jewelry shops and option to visit Kasbah Taourirt. Kasbah Taorirt was built by the Glaoui. Its location was strategic for trading routes and in the 1930’s when the Glaoui ruled the South it was then one of Morocco’s largest Kasbahs. Explore its nooks and crannies and discover some local female painters who sell their art inside as well as the many quality silver shops just steps outside the Kasbah. In the afternoon, visit the Atlas Film Studios. The Atlas Film Studios studios are flanked by Holly-wood style Egyptian figures and cover 30,000 sq m of desert. David Lean filmed Lawrence of Arabiaat The Atlas Film Studios in the early 1960’s. Since then many famous directors have followed in his footsteps to exploit the magnificent scenery. International blockbusters shot here in recent years include: the French version of Cleopatra, Bertolucci’s Sheltering Sky, Scorsese’s Kundun, Gillies MacKannon’s Hideous Kinky, Ridley Scott’s Gladiator, Black Hawke Down, Oliver Stone’s Alexander The Great, Ridley Scott’s Kingdom of Heaven, and Penelope Cruz’s Sahara. Most of the filming takes place in the desert in the south however you can view the Tibetan monastery featured in Scorese’s Kundan and an Egyptian temple from Cleopatra. This ends your Morocco Travel experience. Dinner & Spend the night at a charming Riad in Ouarzazate.

APRIL 25th: OUARZAZATE (JEWELRY SHOPPING)
Rise early, breakfast at your Riad and then take the road to visit the Ouarzazate region and its famous Kasbahs. Jewelry Shopping and Explore Ouarzazate. Dinner at La Kasbah Des Sables in Ouarzazate. Le Kasbah Des Sables is a gastronomic experience with a menu that combines the cuisine of Fes, Meknes, Tangier, Arab and Berber with first class fare. This restaurant offers a museum- quality atmosphere as its’ decor has been hand stitched together and is filled with Berber, Morocco traditional furniture and art that was hand crafted by local artisans in the Ouarzazate region. Each section of the restaurant offers an intimate environment and the opportunity to eat on tables that are hand painted and adorned with silver fibulas, Amber and other regional jewels. Spend the night at a 4 star charming Riad in Ouarzazate.

APRIL 26th: OPTION EXCURSION TO THE VALLEY OF ROSES – VALLEY OF NOMADS – DADES VALLEY OR RELAX AT THE RIAD OR CONTINUE JEWELRY SHOPPING (Driving Time: 2 1/2 Hours)
Breakfast at your Riad. Take the road to visit Bouthgrar, the Valley of Nomads and the Dades Valley. En route visit Kasbah Amerdihl in Skoura and it’s one thousand Kasbahs and palmary. Begin your visit at the breakthtaking Valley of Nomads. Located in Bouthgrar is the Valley of Nomads, a beautiful 10 kilometer valley where Nomads live in caves that are surrounded by Mount Mgoun. Mount Mgoun is the second highest mountain in Morocco and boasts extraordinery views. Have tea with a Nomad family. See first hand where they make their own carpets and co exist in Bouthgrar with other Nomad families. Your journey will then take you through the Dades Valley which covers 125 km between Ouarzazate and Boumalne du Dadès in the High Atlas Mountains. Once you reach Boumalne at first sight you notice the limestone cliffs with uniquely shaped erosions and superb scenery and the valley’s pise (windy roads). Driving along you will pass flower filled fields, fertile fields, riverbanks and several fortified ksours. At the bottom of Gorge of Boumalne Dadès there are ruined hilltop Kasbahs and valley floor gardens. Lunch will be served at a nearby guesthouse that offers local Moroccan fare and a panoramic view. Relax and sip mint tea while gazing at the impressive valley view. Dinner & Spend the night at a 4 star charming Riad in Ouarzazate.

APRIL 27th: OUARZAZATE – MARRAKECH
Rise, have breakfast at your Riad and then take the road to Marrakech. “See Ouarzazate and die” are feelings often expressed by Moroccans with regards to this magical city that is the door to the Sahara desert. Located just four hours from Marrakech, Ouarzazate is the main Berber city in the south known for its spectacular sunsets and dramatic mountain and desert scenery. Surrounded by breathtaking valleys, Ouarzazate was once crossing point for African traders seeking to reach northern cities in Morocco and Europe. During the French period, Ouarzazate expanded considerably as a garrison town and became the administrative centre of the Zagora region. Ouarzazate became famous when it’s nearby Kasbah; Ait Benhaddou appeared in the 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia. Then take the road to Ait Benhaddou. Located 32 km from Ouarzazate lies the picturesque village. Aït Benhaddou of Aït Benhaddou is situated in Souss-Massa-Dra on a hill along the Ouarzazate river.. Lawrence of Arabia was filmed here and Orson Welles used it as a location for Sodome and Gomorrah; and for Jesus of Nazareth the whole lower part of the village was rebuilt. In recent years more controlled restoration has been carried out under UNESCO auspices. Aït Benhaddou is one of many locations in this region used for shooting Hollywood films. Aït Benhaddou which once served as the former caravan route between the Sahara and Marrakech in present-day Morocco. Most of the town’s inhabitants now live in a more modern village at the other side of the river; ten families however still live within the ksar. Your guide will lead you on a private tour through this Berber village of towered and crenulated Kasbahs that once guarded the lucrative caravan route through the Atlas Mountains. Explore the Kasbahs by foot with the option to ride a donkey across a river. During your journey to Marrakech you will also pass the olive groves of the Oued Zat, as you ascend onto the Tizi-N-Tichka Pass Road. Built by the French in the 1920’s, the Tizi-N-Tichka Pass can be described as having mountainous barriers, Mediterranean and oceanic influences and desert borders. long the route you will see panoramic views of the High Atlas Mountains as well as sights of fertile valleys, blue and red colored pise villages and other striking mineral environments. En route stop for lunch and visit the Argan Cooperative where Argan Oil, Butter and Cosmetics are made with the Argan nut by hand as Berber women crack the nuts and the grind them one by one. Have a complimentary tasting. This cooperative is run entirely by women. Lunch in the village of Tadart. Arrive in Marrakech. Evening Free. Spend the night at a 4 star charming Riad in Marrakech.

APRIL 28th: MARRAKECH (JEWELRY SHOPPING & EXPLORATION)
Rise early, breakfast at your Riad. Free Day to Shop the Souks of Marrakech for the special Moroccan Beads and Jewelry you missed out on the first time around. Sarah Corbett is available by arrangement for morning shopping guidance. Jewelry & Treasures of Marrakech Viewing:Evening viewing at a celebrated Jewelry store in the Spice markets of Marrakech. Enjoy a two- hour viewing of fabulous beads, jewels and local silver pieces available for purchase and historical discussion about the origin and meaning of these pieces. Spend the night at a 4 Star charming Riad in Marrakech Marrakech.

APRIL 29th: MARRAKECH MENARA AIRPORT DEPARTURES:
Breakfast at your Riad. Departure from Marrakech’s Menara Airport. Airport transfers from Marrakech.

TRIP DETAILS:
Cost Per Person:  $4,325 USA /2,675 GBP / 3,030 EUROS
Single Supplement: $950 USA /652GBP /579 EUROS

Includes: Accommodations (shared rooms or single room supplement option), 14 breakfasts, 6 dinners (20 meals total) (alcohol not included), private transport, local transport fees, entrance fees for sites on tour, guide fees, workshop tuition, tips.

Not Included: Airfare, some meals, alcoholic beverages.
Payment Terms: $500 deposit to hold spot; balance due 90 days prior to start of Morocco Bead & Jewelry Tour

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Tags: Bead & Jewelry Tour, Essaouira Bead Tour, Essaouira Jewelry Tour, Marrakech Bead Tour, Marrakech Jewelry Tour, Morocco Bead & Jewelry Advenutre, Morocco Bead and Jewelry Tour, Morocco Bead Tour, Morocco Holidays, Morocco Jewelry tour, Morocco Tours, Morocco Travel, Travel Exploration, Travel to Morocco
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Morocco Recommended Reading Music & Films, Your Morocco Travel Guide

Monday, August 15th, 2011

Moroccan Manuscript

Edith Wharton said, “To visit Morocco is still like turning the pages of some illuminated Persian manuscript all embroidered with bright shapes and subtle lines.” A cold country with a hot sun, Morocco has witnessed a changing of the guards during the past thirteen years as King Mohammed VI has moved the country and its people forward. As a tourist destination Morocco once held its visitors captive with compelling stories which let them to travel North of Fes to Tangier and to Marrakesh. The Beatniks and hippies made their way to Morocco enchanted by what they read and heard about Paul Bowles, Mohammed Chokri, Allen Ginsberg and Yves Saint Laurent. The Morocco files began and this majestic and soulful country became the hidden jewel of North Africa.

The Sheltering Sky, By Paul Bowles

A trip to Morocco offers travelers everything from fine French – Moroccan cuisine to Sahara Desert camel treks, Atlas Mountain hikes, visits to Nomads that live in caves, Berber villages, magnificent gorges, the expansive Draa Valley and hot air ballon rides over Marrakech. There’s nothing unattainable on a trip to Morocco. Every person visiting needs a Morocco recommended reading, music and film list before departing on a trip to the great Maghreb.

For those who are interested in exploring the real Morocco before they arrive Alecia Cohen, Morocco Travel Specialist, has hand picked a list of her favorites. Great reads range from Moroccan history to fiction and non-fiction along with Morocco’s best design and decor choices. A overview of Moroccan music and films shot in Morocco is also included for those who want to explore deeper.

The Caliphs House, By Tahir Shah

MOROCCO READING LIST (Available on Amazon.com & Barnes & Noble.com)

HISTORY (Available on Amazon.com & Barnes & Noble.com)

Morocco That Was – By Water Harris
Morocco Since 1830 – By C.R. Pennell
Lords of the Atlas: The Rise and Fall of the House of Glaoua – By Gavin Maxwell
The Conquest of Morocco – By Douglass Porch

FICTION & NON- FICTION

Culture & Customs in Morocco – By Raphael Njoku
In Morocco – By Edith Wharton
In Arabian Nights: A Caravan of Moroccan Dreams – By Tahir Shah
The Caliph’s House: A Year in Casablanca – By Tahir Shah
The Spiders House – By Paul Bowles
The Sheltering Sky – By Paul Bowles (Book & Film)
Let It Come Down – By Paul Bowles
The Last Storytellers: Tales from the Heart of Morocco – By Richard Hamilton
Their Heads are Green & Their Hands are Blue – By Paul Bowles
Dreams of Trespass: Tales of A Harem – By Fatima Mernissi
Berber Odes: Poetry from the Mountains of Morocco – By Michael Peyron
The Hamadsha: A Studio of Moroccan Ethnopsychiatry
A House in Fes – By Susannah Clarke
Marrakesh: Through Writers’ Eyes – Edited by Barnaby Rogers and Rose Baring

Living in Morocco, By Barbara Stoeltie

DESIGN & DÉCOR

Living in Morocco: (German Edition) – By Barbara Stoeltie
Moroccan Interiors – By Lisa Lovatt-Smith
Living in Morocco from Casablanca to Marrakesh – By Lisl Dennis and Landt Dennis
New Moroccan Style: The Art of Sensual Living – By Susan Sully
Moroccan Textile Embroidery – By Isabelle Denamur
Berber Carpets of Morocco. The Symbols. Origina and Meaning By Bruno Barbatti
Imazighen: The Vanishing Traditions of Berber Women – By Margaret Courtney-Clarke and Geraldine Brooks

MOROCCAN MUSIC (Available on Amazon.com or I-Tunes Apple Store)

Andalusian Music from Fes By Abdelkrim Rais
Andalusian Music from Tangier By Cheik Ahmed Zaitouni
Jilala: Sufi Trance Music from Morocco By Jilala
Music of Islam 5: Aissaoua Sufi Ceremony By Music of Islam
Under the Moroccan Sky – Various Artists
B’ismillah – Fes Festival of World Music
Berber Blues By Cherifa
The Master Musicians of Jajouka Featuring Bachir Attar
The Master Musicians of Jajouka – Jajouka Between the Mountains
Baptism of Solitude – By Paul Bowles and Bill Laswell (Spoken Word)
Arabic Groove – Putumayo World Music
Rough Guide to North African Café
Rough Guide to Arabic Café
Gift of the Gnaoua – Hassan Hakmoun & Adam Rudolph
Berber Music from the High Atlas & Anti-Atlas

FILMS SHOT IN MOROCCO

Othell0 (Orson Welles)
Flight to Tangier (Charles Marquis Warren)
The Man Who Knew Too Much, starring (James Stewart)
Lawrence of Arabia, starred Peter O’Toole, Omar Sharif
The Jewel of the Nile directed by Lewis Teague, starred Michael Douglas
Kundun directed by Martin Scorsese
Hideous Kinky (Marrakech Express
Gladiator, directed by Ridley cott, starred Russell Crowe
Rules of Engagement, directed by William Friedkin, starred Tommy Lee Jones, Samuel L. Jackson and Guy Pearce
Black Hawk Down, directed by Ridley Scott
Kingdom of Heaven, directed by Ridley Scott
The Bourne Ultimatum directed by Paul Greengrass
Body of Lies directed by Ridley Scott, starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe
Of Gods and Men directed by Xavier Beavois
Sex and the City 2 directed by Michael Patrick King
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, directed by Mike Newell
Inception, directed by Christopher Nolan

For more information about Morocco Travel and Recommended Books, Music & Film

For more information about Travel and Tours to Morocco plus highlights on Moroccan culture visit Morocco’s Imperial Cities, Seaside Resorts,Sahara Desert, Berber villages, A Taste of Morocco, Magical Kasbahs, Ruins & Waterfalls, Absolute Morocco, The Best ofMarrakech, Fes, and Ouarzazate

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La Mamounia Hotel, a Marrakech Institution of Luxury & Flair, Your Morocco Travel Guide

Friday, August 12th, 2011

La Mamounia Hotel, Arched Doorway to Suite

La Mamounia is a legendary property in Marrarkech, Morocco that radiates with class, tradition and beauty. It is said that stepping into Le Mamounia is akin to a setting of 1001 Arabian Nights. La Mamounia Hotel is a Marrakech institution of Luxury and Flair. Originally the Marrakech palace of a crown prince of Morocco it was converted by the French administration into a hotel in 1923. Named for its 200-year old gardens, which were given as an 18th century wedding gift to Prince Moulay Mamoun by his father, the gardens cover nearly 20 acres and display an incredible variety of flowers and trees.

La Mamounia Hotel, Sculpture

La Mamounia was designed in 1922 by the architects Prost and Marchisio. They combined traditional Moroccan designs with the popular Art Deco look of the 1920’s. Winston Churchill called it, “the most lovely spot in the whole world.” He spent many winters at La Mamounia painting the Atlas Mountains and surrounding countryside.

It earned its fame from the day it opened and is considered one of Morocco’s most famous hotels. Situated on the edge of the walls of the old city of Marrakech La Mamounia is where Alfred Hitchcock wrote the movie “The Birds.” Churchill painted from his balcony and declared it “loveliest spot on earth.” Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt came to La Mamounia when they met for the Casablanca Conference in 1943, and were said to have grappled with their responsibilities from the roof of the hotel while gazing out at the snow-covered mountains and terra cotta walls of the old city. The suite where Churchill often stayed was renamed in his honor. Other politicians who have enjoyed stays at the hotel include Ronnie and Nancy Reagan, Charles de Gaulle, and Nelson Mandela.

La Mamounia Hotel, View of Salon de The (Tea Room)

During the 1900’s, an era known for early travel in Morocco La Mamounia garnered attention for not just being a hotel but a way of life, where a small exclusive community of ex-pats, colonial rulers and adventurers would sip Scotch in the hotel’s gardens.

The most recent renovation by French Designer Jacques Garcia began in 2006 and took 3 years to complete. Garcia married his fondness for detail using velvet upholstery in jewel-like hues, dramatic color and romantic low lighting to compliment the Moroccan sun along with black and white tiled courtyard. The results are a flawless redesigned hotel that has kept the flavor, charm and architecture of the historical Mamounia with addition of a Moroccan modern flavor.

La Mamounia Hotel, Pool

La Mamounia offers top end services from four elegant restaurants with top cuisine to stunning lounges, a luxury spa, heated pool and on site shopping options of high end goods.

Restaurants La Mamounia
Le Morocain – serving Moroccan local cuisine
Le Francais – French cuisine, Chef Jean-Pierre Vigato
Don Alfonso’s L’Italien – Italian cuisine
Le Pavillion – International cuisine

Bars & Lounges
Le Bar Pavilion de la Piscine – designed in tribute to the Menara basin
Le Bar Churchill – named after its most famous guest, Winston Churchill
Le Bar Italien – beautiful outdoor terrace and international wine list
Le Bar Marocain – rooftop lounge

Facilities
Outdoor ozone heated swimming pool set amongst the Mamounia’s lovely gardens
Two clay tennis courts
A fitness pavillion
Large spa offering a wide range of treatments
Three championship golf courses
Riding stables – outside the property

Accommodation at La Mamounia:

The Riads
Three Riads set amongst the heart of La Mamounia’s wonderful gardens, each having 700 sq. meters of space to provide 3 bedrooms with excellent bathrooms, a large dining room and private pool on a terrace.

Superior suites
Seven Signature suites each individually themed with original and unique Moroccan-style décor – The Churchill, The Majorelle, Koutoubia, Baldaquin, Marquetrie and The Al Mamoun.

Suites
The Suites (64 in total) have views over the elaborate gardens, the Atlas Mountains or the Koutoubia mosque. There is a large lounge, and king size beds in the bedrooms. An executive suite offers a terrace and bathroom with separate shower and bath.

The Moroccan suites have been decorated by local artisans. Four Prestige suites on the middle floors look over the gardens, their 100 sq. meters include 2 living rooms with dining and seating areas and a walk-in wardrobe.

13 Classic Rooms
Comfortable and located between ground and first floor, looking over the city and gardens. 19 Superior rooms on the second to fourth floors display vibrant colors of Moroccan styling and look over the Hivernage. Deluxe rooms (104) are decorated with wood, leather, stucco and moucharabieh and have views of the Koutobia, park or the Atlas Mountains.

For more information about La Mamounia or a Marrakech Tour

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Tourist Attractions in Rabat Morocco, What to see and do in Rabat, Your Morocco Travel Guide

Thursday, August 11th, 2011

View of Rabat's Hassan Tower & Seaside

Rabat is located on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Bou Regreg River. On the facing shore of the river lies Sale, Rabat’s bedroom comunity. Tourism and the presence of all foreign embassies in Morocco serve to make Rabat the second most important city in the country after the larger and more economically significant Casablanca. There are a variety of historic tourist attractions in Rabat such as kasbahs, beautiful domes, minarets, wide avenues and green spaces which make for a fascinating half-day or full day Rabat tour.

Tourist Attractions in Rabat Morocco, What to See & Do:

Bab Oudia
Bab Oudia is the principal gateway to the Kasbah and one of the most striking sites in Rabat. Bab Oudia is considered one of the most beautiful Moorish monuments. The gate was built by the Almohad Sultan, Yacoub al Mansour, in 1195. Its purpose was more ceremonial than defensive, designed for a grand entrance into the Kasbah and its souks and the nearby Sultan palace. It is striking for its harmony and the sheer simplicity and beauty of its decoration. The basic feature is the arch, composed of three different designs: the basic horseshoe, a check-and-shoulder design and finally a band of geometric ornamentation.

Kasbah Des Oudaias
Kasbah Des Oudaias has been the citadel of the Alhmohads, Merinids and Andalusians in Rabat. You can visit the Kasbah Mosque, the oldest mosque in the city, built in 1050 and subsequently rebuilt in the 18th century. Below is a seventeenth-century semaphore station called the platforme. Several forts are built below and around the platforme to protect the town from corsair fleets.

The Palace Museum & Andalusian Gardens
The Palace Museum is a seventeenth-century Almohad Palace, now housing the museum of Moroccan Art & Culture. The Palace was built in the seventeenth-century by Moulay Ismail, the first Almohad sultan to unify the country. Today, it showcases interesting exhibits of Moroccan art and culture. A vast central patio gives access to private quarters and reception rooms containing the exhibits. There is a hall containing oriental rugs made in Rabat, an exhibition hall for musical instruments and a salon reserved for customs and rituals.

The Andalusian Gardens in Rabat is a beautiful French- constructed garden occupying the old Palace grounds in Kasbah Ouadia. True to Andalusian traditions with its flowering annuals and beds of shrubs these gardens make for a lovely afternoon walk in any Morocco travel season. The gardens were constructed by the French in the twentieth-century and are a delightful shady retreat, with a profusion of daturas, oleanders, orange, lemon and banana trees.

Hassan Tower, Rabat

The Hassan Mosque & Hassan Tower
The Hassan Mosque is Rabat’s most famous landmark and of of the most ambitious of all the Alhmoad architectural sites. Sultan Yacoub al Mansour begun construction of this enormous minaret in 1195, with the intention of reaching 60 meters marking the highest in the Muslim World. This ambitious mosque was abandoned when al Mansour died with the minaret, still standing today, at 40 meters. The adjacent mosque was destroyed by an earthquake and only a few re-erected pillars stand today. Some of the pillars that are the most magnificent are Roman ruins that were moved from the area of Volubilis to the exterior of the mosque. The minaret is a majestic sight that dominates every view of the capital.

Mohammed V Mausoleum
Mohammed V Mausolem: A modern monument built in traditional Moroccan style where both father and grandfather of the present King of Morocco are buried. Built after Moroccan independence, this is one of the most prestigious modern monuments in Morocco that was created in traditional Moroccan style. The mausoleum is richly decorated with elaborate zellij mosaics and spiralling designs. Non-Muslim visitors are allowed to visit the mausoleum and see the tomb of Mohammed V, carved in white onyx, from a gallery above.

Almohad Walls
Bab Rouah is an Almohad wall that runs all the way from the Kasbah Oudia to the Royal Palace in Rabat. Monumental in size and harmonious in both its design and or facing the Hassan Tower. Inside, the gate has three domed chambers used as a defensive structure. Exhibitions are held there and are open to the public.

Roman Ruins of Chellah, Rabat

Kasbah Chellah
Kasbah Chellah is a large walled and towered enclosure, the site of an ancient Roman city and a Merinid necropolis. Chellah is one of the most beautiful and peaceful Moroccan ruins, the site of an ancient Roman city and a Merenid necropolis. A large walled and towered enclosure, the site seems like a Medina. The site served first as a thriving Roman port and city, known as Sala Colonia. From the main gate, making you way through a path diagonally is a viewing platform which overlooks the main Roman ruins. The ruins are from 200BC onwards and include a forum, a temple and a craftsmen’s quarter.

Archaeological Museum
The most important in Morocco, tracing back to the history of the country from the bronze age. Here a portrait head of Juba II, Berber King of Numidia is displayed. The Archaeological Museum in Rabat is the most important archaeological museum in Morocco. The museum gives a fascinating account of the rich Moroccan history dating back 35,000 years to the Stone Age. The highlight of the collections is a Roman-era bronzers called the Salle des Bronzes. It displays ceramics and artefacts mainly from Volubilis (near Meknes) and a few pieces from Chellah and Lixus. Do not miss the portrait heads of Cato the Younger and Juba II – Berber king of Numidia.

For more information about an Rabat Tour

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Casablanca Site seeing Tours, Your Morocco Travel Guide

Wednesday, August 10th, 2011

Casablanca, Arial View of Port & City

Casablanca is Morocco’s largest city as well as the its chief port. As the biggest city in Morocco, Casablanca is the primary place where cruise ships dock. A Casablanca site seeing tour is the best way to spend the day ashore when arriving on a cruise. Many Holland America Cruises and Oceania Cruises dock in Casablanca overnight or for the day. With 24 hours in Casablanca there’s a lot to see and do. A site seeing excursion that offers a little taste of Morocco is the perfect way to get to know this fascinating city who made its name in the 1940’s film “Casablanca.”

There are various types of site seeing Casablanca tours that can be arranged:

Casablanca Architectural Tour: A Casablanca Architectural Tour includes visiting the Hassan II Mosque, Saint Catherine’s Church and the Art Deco District along with other architectural interests. The option of having lunch in Rick’s Café, an architectural haven in Casablanca is available.

Casablanca Jewish Heritage Tour: A Casablanca Jewish Heritage Tour includes visiting the Jewish Museum in Casablanca, the Jewish Synagogue, and the old Jewish Mellah in the medina. The option of a kosher Jewish lunch is also available.

Casablanca Site seeing Tour: A Casablanca Site seeing Tour includes visiting Casablanca’s Hassan II Mosque, Parks, the Art Deco Distrcit and other fascintating sites and monuments. Lunch at Casablanca’s seaside corniche is the best way to top off the visit

For more information about an Casablanca Tour

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24 Hours in Essaouira, Tips on What to See & Where to Eat, Your Morocco Travel Guide

Tuesday, August 9th, 2011

Essaouira, Mogador

With only 24 hours in Essaouira there is much to see and do in this simply spectacular seaside artist colony. Essaouira offers a wide array of sites and sounds that can fill the pallet of any Moroccan traveler regardless of age. The small coastal town of Essaouira is popular with surfers and has a hippy, laid-back feel – perfect for those who want to spend more time relaxing than bartering. In the ’60s and ’70s, Essaouira was a pitstop on the hippie trek from Marrakesh. Jimi Hendrix made the pilgrimage, as did Bob Marley and Cat Stevens. Essaouira boasts lovely white-washed and blue-shuttered houses, colonnades, thuya wood workshops, art galleries and mouthwatering seafood.

WHERE TO STAY
Madada Mogador feels like someone’s home, albeit that of a chic Parisian. Each morning breakfast is served on the riad’s large terrace overlooking the beach.

Villa Maroc is an achingly hip Riad and was the first hotel to make riad accommodation popular. Enjoy a laid back stay in the best location, incredible views of the sea or book for dinner and eat mouthwatering Moroccan dishes in one of the cozy candle-lit nooks

Palais Des Ramparts is a charming Riad in the heart of the old medina that offers spectacular views, a hammam along with comfortable rooms for reasonable prices. The staff is accommodating and you cannot beat it’s location.

Heure Bleue Palais is the most glamorous address in town (and has been since Jimi Hendrix stayed there). It has a rooftop pool and terrace with views of the harbour, an extensive library and beautiful bar, plus a private screening room.

Le Chalet Da La Plage Restaurant, Essaouira

WHERE TO EAT
The fish stalls at the port are an essential Essaourian experience. Pick from the catches of the day – anything from sardines to sea urchins – then watch as it’s grilled, before eating it with salad and fresh bread. You are guaranteed the fresh catch of the day plus an enormous variety of fish from lobster, shrimp. crab, sea bass, sea brim, scallops, octopus, calamari and local fish as well. All fish is served with the option of being grilled or fried along with salad and bread. This is a must for fish lovers who relish dining by the sea while watching their food being made.

Elizir is a well-known haunt, where the décor is retro – with 1970s design classics and knick-knacks galore – the atmosphere is relaxed and a Leonard Cohen soundtrack plays away in the background. With its stylistic modern- Moroccan cuisine and décor, Elixer is sure to leave you with a most memorable dining experience during your stay in Essaouira. The menu consists of everything from a camel tagine to home-made pasta via organic kitchen and the catch of the day. Elizer has a fireplace perfect for winter and a roof terrace for summer.

Chez Sam offers stunning views of the sea and is just a ten-minute walk towards the end of the seaport in Essaouira. This restaurant offers excellent seafood for the value. They are one of the more reasonably prices seafood restaurants in this seaside artist colony. The staff is very friendly and they offer wine to compliment the variety of kinds of seafood served. Chez Sam has both an upstairs area to dine which enables guests to enjoy the views of the sea.

Le Sirocco is a well-established Franco-Moroccan restaurant in Essaouira. It is a reliable favorite of returning tourists and local expats alike. Prices are a bit higher than most other restaurants in town, but well worth it. The owners are French and the food is simply delicious. Le Sirocco offers the standard Moroccan fare in addition to specialties such as dark chocolate molten cake and excellent fish dishes.

Le Chalez De La Plage is an upscale beachfront institution in Essaouira that has some of the best seafood in town. Built entirely of wood in 1893, the restaurant is in its fourth family of proprietors, the Jeannots, and the dark, maritime-theme interior is adorned with pictures and mementos of a past guest list that includes a French president and Hollywood movie stars. Diners feast on items from a French-language menu that offers Oualidia oysters, shrimp, calamari, lobster, and a wide selection of line fish. There’s also a small choice of other meats, soups and salads, three-course set menus, and Chez Jeannot’s suggestions du jour. A well-stocked bar is complimented by a select wine list, chosen by local vintner Charles Melia.

WHAT TO DRINK
Head to Taros, near the port, for live music and drinks on the terrace. At night the place is full of visiting surfers and a hippy crowd.

Le Patio is a dark, atmospheric Moroccan restaurant with a great bar. If you do stay for dinner, the tajines are delicious.

WHAT TO DO
Madada Mogador runs popular cookery courses at which you can master the art of the tajine, as well as pastillas and couscous. It starts with a guided tour of the spice market, and at the end of the day you share a feast of everything the class has made

Ask your Morocco travel agent to arrange a camel ride across the sand dunes – a guide will take you as far as you want to go for about $35.00 each, including taxis to and from the hotel.

Essaouira, Paintings in Medina Gallery

WHERE TO SHOP
The souks of Essaouira may be smaller than those in Marrakech, but they still provide an interesting experience. The pace is much slower and the bartering isn’t quite so aggressive. Look out for the ceramics and rugs, which are particularly beautiful. Seek out the hidden jewels such as art galleries and nouvelle French owned boutiques that sell artistically interesting wears.

SPA
Head to Azur spa for a luxurious take on the traditional hammam. You can choose whether to focus your treatment on toning, detoxing or slimming

For more information about an Essaouira Tour

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24 Hours in Marrakech, Travel Tips On What To See & Where to Eat, Morocco Travel Guide

Sunday, July 3rd, 2011

Mosque of Koutoubia & Tomb of Koubba Lalla Zohra, Marrakech

If you’re traveling to Morocco and only have 24 Hours in Marrakech then visiting Marrakech’s lush gardens, spectacular palaces, historical sites, the hippest shops and eating at the hot spots are a must. In 24 hours you can see the best of Marrakesh knowing exactly what places to visit, sites to see and where to eat. Start your a one-day Marrakech tour around the “red hamra” city bright an early with a visit to the Majorelle Gardens. Next, head to the Koutoubia Mosque and then to the El Bahia Palace. The breathtaking architecture of the El Bahia Palace offers an excellent architecture lesson as it was once home to a harem and has some of the best Moroccan painted ceilings, ceramics and a wonderful garden. Continue your walk through the medina visiting the Kisseria.

Discover colorful baboosh (shoes), caftans (traditional Moroccan clothing), pottery and other local Marrakesh crafts. Learn the art of the bargain. Shop the souks of Marrakech and their vast labyrinth of narrow streets. In the center of the old Marrakesh medina you will see artisans making rugs on looms and hammering away creating iron lanterns. Make sure to stock up on spices, buy silver jewelry and cactus silk scarves.

Shopping Marrakech, Susan Simon

If you’re not quiet sure how to navigate the souks of Marrakech then bring along Susan Simon’s, Shopping in Marrakech which will persuade even the non-shopper to head out for a day in the souks. It’s colorful photographs and insights are not to be missed.

Jewelry Shop, Marrakech

After your saunter through Marrakech’s souks, you will be left with great thirst and a pallet that is ready for an afternoon dining experience in the old city. Wander over to the Djemaa El Fna Square and enjoy a freshly squeezed orange juice at one of the orange juice stands. Haggle for a bit to get the best price for some dates and nuts, a great snack in the square. Then head to the Moussaine for some Berber jewelry and silver shopping and then onto an old narrow street that will take you down back into the Spice Market or back to the center square.

Terraces Des Spices, Marrakech

Dine at one of the local restaurants in the old medina of Marrakesh such as Le Terrasses des Spices or Earth Café where you can dine under the Marrakech sun or in a tiny nook within the old city with delightful food and views.

Now it’s time to head to the new town of Gueliz. Popular during the French Protectorate and now a place that an mélange of foreigners and well do to Moroccans live, Gueliz is a hot spot for some of the more Modern Moroccan shopping choices. Visit Rue de la Libertie or Rue de Mauritanie where you can shop for the most up to date contemporary modern Moroccan goods. Make sure to stop at one of the local cafes in Gueliz for a café nus-nus (half coffee, half milk) or mint tea along with a French pastry.

Some top shops to visit and places to explore:

#1: Kaiki: Hand made artistic gifts ranging from Berber dolls, to hand painted tea glasses and dishes, embroidered goods and jewelry

#2: Intensite Nomade: Trendy caftans

#3: Attika Chaussures – well made women’s and men’s shoes, fashionable, all ages

#4: Scenes de Lin: Hand embroidered Linens

#5: Place Vendome: Beautiful leather goods for men and women, high quality, fashionable

#6: L’Orientaliste: Moroccan pottery, tea glasses, prints, paintings, lanterns and much more

#7: Darkoum: Three levels of African and Indian furnishings, fabrics, carpets, and artifacts. An interior design paradise featuring Moroccan, Indian and Pakistani merchandise.

#8: Jeff de Bruges: The best chocolates in town

#9: Al Jawda: Coffee, tea and pastries

#10: Tin Mel: Antique carpets and furniture

Hammam Ziani, Marrakech

Complete your mini shopping excursion to Gueliz, then head to Hammam Ziani where you can have a traditional Moroccan scrub, a massage with rose or orange oil and a fully body mask for just under $40.00 USA/ 35 Euros.

After a visit at Hammam Ziani, watch the sunset in the old medina for an early evening drink at Café Arabe. Enjoy drinks and appetizers then prepare yourself for a Moroccan feast at Le Marrakech or Le Comptoir Darna where you are guaranteed a great dinner accompanied by belly dancing.

Djemaa El Fna Square, Marrakech

Dine the night away until just before mid night, then head to Djemaa El Fna Square where you can see an old medieval style carnival take place with snake charmers, acrobats and monkeys. Have your fortune told and get your hands hennaed in the old square that is the heartbeat of Marrakesh.

End your 24 hours in Marrakesh with a horse and buggy ride across Rue Mohammed VI late in the night. Watch the stars and think about when you’ll return for your next Morocco tour adventure.

For more information about a Marrakech Tour

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24 Hours in Fes, Travel Tips On What To See & Where to Eat, Morocco Travel Guide

Monday, June 27th, 2011

Fes El Bali, Old Medina

If you’re traveling in Morocco and only have 24 Hours in Fes then it’s important to know what to see and where to eat. Morocco Travel guide books such as Lonely Planet, Frommers and Rough Guides can be the perfect travel companion for those who desire to see and do the status quo in Fes however first hand experience from a foreigner living in Morocco can offer more off the beat experiences. When starting a 24 hour spin around the old medina, Fes El Bali, you can brave it alone or higher a local, expert Fes historical guide. Either way a Fes tour can be fulfilling in this ancient city which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. If you brave it alone to discover what’s behind the ancient medina walls of Fes, these travel tips of what to see and where to eat will make it worthwhile.

Bab Boujloud Gate-Blue Gate, Fes

Enter here, the Bab Boujloud Gate- The Blue Gate of Fes which will take you on an unforgettable journey of historical and spiritual sites along with great eats.

Kairouine Mosque, Fes

24 Hours in Fes, Travel Tips On What To See & Where to Eat:

Sites to Visit in Fes:

1. The Medersa Bou Inania: An (Islamic school) founded by Abu Inan Faris that is highly decorated from floor to ceiling. The medersa is one of the few religious places in Morocco that is accessible to non-Islamic tourists.

2. Kairaouine Mosque: Morocco’s second largest mosque was built by Fatima in 857. The Kairaouine Mosque became the home of the West’s first university and the world’s foremost center of learning at the beginning of the second millennium

3. University of Al-Karaouine: Founded in 859, this university is one of the leading spiritual and educational centers of the Muslim world and is considered the oldest continuously operating institution of higher learning in the world.

4. Zaouia Moulay Idriss II: A zaouia (shrine) dedicated to and the tomb of Moulay Idriss II, who ruled Morocco from 807 to 828 and founded the city of Fès for the second time in 810. This is one of the most spiritual sites in Fes and in fact in all of Morocco. A walk just outside the mosque, zaouia entrance evokes feelings of ancient times and watching men and women pile in for prayer is magical.

5. Dar Batha: A Hispano-Moorish palace dating from the end of the 19th century that houses admirable collections of traditional art from Fès. Dar Batha boasts a wonderful Andalusian garden with hanging fruit trees and the Fes Festival even uses this wonderful place as a music venue each June.

6. Weavers Cooperative: The Weavers Cooperative is located in a residential neighborhood off a main shopping street. Theworkshop specializes in weaving the ﬁnest jellaba fabric, made of silk and wool threads imported from Italy. The shop also makes a quality jellaba fabric from locally spun, textured wool thread called hubba –sometimes referred to as couscous, because it’s nubby texture resembles Morocco’s national semolina dish of the same name.

7. Tanneries: The Chourara or the Tanner’s Quarters is the most lively and picturesque souks in Fès. The Tanneries are often located near watercourses like the Wadi Fès and at a distance from residential areas due to the strongly unpleasant smells they produce. Make sure to ask for mint when you enter to mask the smell.

8. Carpet Demonstration: Antique and Modern Carpets is one of the places in Fès el Bali where you can see a Berber carpet demonstration. You will be offered mint tea and follow your guide up a coil of stairs to a small area to watch carpets being made by young girls who come from the mountains to show tourists how Berber carpets are made. Make sure to negotiate before you buy.

Fes Pottery Cooperative, Workshop

9. Potter’s Cooperative: A visit to the Potter’s Cooperative is a must. Also known as Place el-Seffarine, this kisseria is the most important center for the production Fasiss style ceramics, brass-ware and silverware in Morocco. If you have more then 24 hours in Fes then consider taking a zellij or pottery making workshop.

10. Outdoor Spice Markets: Visit an outdoor spice market where loads of fabulous spices can be purchased from spice merchants. From Cumin to Saffron to Ras El Hanout for great prices. The Fes spice market is fun to shop at and spices also make for great gifts.

10. Jewish Mellah: Explore its ancient history and small streets that garner it’s charm alongside an old synagogue and the burial site of a famous Jewish woman who was executed because she refused to bow to Islam. Visit the Mellah’s white washed cemetery which is one of the most beautiful in the world. The first official mellah was established in the city of Fes in 1438. In the first half of the 14th century, the Merinides founded, alongside Fes, the town of Hims, which was initially allocated to the archers and the Christian militia. In 1438 the Jews were driven from the old part of Fes to Hims, which had been built on a site known as al-Mallah, “the saline area”. Ultimately, the term came to designate Jewish quarters in other Moroccan cities.

Baboosh Slippers Kisseria, Fes

Shopping in Fes:
From tile work to pottery to the Kisseria’s filed with wonderful colored Baboosh slippers, Fes is the place to get your shopping on. Don’t miss out on the high quality leather goods, Moroccan baboosh and other hand made pieces unique to Fes.

Where To Eat in Fes:

Cafe Clock, Famous Camel Burger, Fes

CAFE CLOCK
Café Clock ticks to the rhythms to multiplying metronomes. Mike Richardson, the man behind Clock’s mechanics restored a 250 year old courtyard house and brought to Fes a cultural zone that many are desperate to set their watches to. This eclectic café-cum-restaurant offers delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner. Stop for tea and scrumptious homemade cakes (especially the lemon tart) on the roof terrace with its stunning view of the Bou Inania minaret, browse in the book exchange and view the art-filled walls. Try the crunchy salads, camel burgers or fresh fish. Cafe Clock also boasts a wonderful cooking school. If time allows consider taking a cooking class. Either way don’t forget to have a latte there if you’re visiting in winter and if you’re a vegetarian, try their chickpea burger.

Address: 7 Derb el-Margana The Medina
Phone: 061-183-264

RESTAURANT NEJARINE
Restaurant Nejarine: Opened in 2006, Jalil Laghmri’s restaurant is the perfect spot for an authentic Moroccan feast in the medina for lunch or for dinner. As the name suggests, this 100-year-old building is located just steps from the Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts & Crafts. Guests can dine in either a covered courtyard of Fassi zellij and intricately carved and painted cedar, or in any of the three large salons surrounding the courtyard, furnished with Moroccan-style lounges and silk cushions. The four-course meals include a delicious meze of Moroccan salads, tagines, or chicken or pigeon pastilla, accompanied with couscous and followed by fresh fruits and mint tea. For a breath of fresh air, head up to the rooftop terrace for a fantastic medina view. Classy ambience and great food!

Address: Nejarine, Medina
Phone: 06-25-90-52

FES EST GESTES- SALON DE TEA

This tea house, restaurant and art gallery offers a charming place to relax for lunch, brunch or dinner in their garden, salon or library. Set in a colonial house and garden, Fes Est Gestes hosts cultural events, exhibitions of painters and events concerts throughout the years. The staff is attentive and the service good. There is a range of several course dinners offered along with a la carte. This is also the perfect place for tea and biscuits / cookies while exploring the medina, Fes El Bali with a historical guide or on your own.

Address: 39 Arsat El Hamoumi – Zita
Phone: 0535-638-532

For more information about a Fes Tour

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Timitar Festival Agadir 8th Edition 2011, Your Morocco Travel Guide

Sunday, June 26th, 2011

Timitar Festival Sign June 2011

The Timitar Festival is held annually in Agadir, Morocco typically during the month of June or July. The 8^th Edition of the Timitar Festival held this June 22^nd – 25^th, 2011 was the perfect morocco travel opportunity for those wanting to escape seaside as Timitar featured some of Morocco’s most admired artists, Hamid Inerzaf, Rayssa Naima, Rayssa Kabira, Bderrahim Souiri, Funk Atlas, Imazzalen, Ahwach Foum Lacen and Daoudia. Timitar also showcased International artists alongside its wide range of Moroccan musicians such as Lebanese superstar Najwa Karam, Malian greats Amadou & Mariam, Goran Bregovic from Serbia and Registan from Uzbekistan. Each stage at the Timitar Festival was filled to the rim with people and filed in as having excellent weather.

Hamid Inerzaf Live, Timitar Festival June 2011

Local Moroccans who live in the Agadir region attended the festival both wooed and welcomed their favorites such as Hamid Inerzaf and Lebanese songstress Najwa Karam. Many came out to just see the Amazaigh singers and the Gnaoua troupe while others preferred the international appearances of artists.

Najwa Karam, Lebanese Singer, Timitar Festival June 2011

Timitar features over 40 artists annually each year and there is an estimate of 300,000+ in attendance that includes mostly Moroccans with some foreigners. Timitar is unique for the fact it typically showcases traditional and modern Amazaigh “Berber music” alongside international artists from around the world. Considered today as one of the biggest festivals in the country, Timitar provides its audience with an event well rooted in and actively working towards promoting Souss Massa Drâa culture.

Group Musician Hamid Inerzaf, Timitar Festival June 2011

The district council of Agadir Under Massa Draâ initiated the Timitar Festival with the goal to set up a cultural project for the meeting between Amazigh artists and world musicians. The President of the festival is the agricultural tycoon Aziz Akhenouch.

What defines Timitar from other music festivals in Morocco is its special focus on Amazigh culture. Its permanent theme is “signs and cultures” and Timitar lives up to this tag by including performances by traditional and modern Moroccan musicians alongside those of contemporary international artists.

Each year the Festival Timitar honors artists coming from all over the world including Africa, South America, Europe and the Middle East in order to offer the Agadir audience the best of numerous works in Amazigh traditional music, modern music from the Maghreb and elsewhere, rap, jazz and hip hop.

Timitar Festival Stage, Live Music

Since its creation, Timitar has become a key meeting point, both on artistic and cultural levels. As part of Timitar, the Timitar OFF program, which consists of a colloquium and workshops on Deejaying and Veejaying practices for young people, emphasizes Amazigh culture and world music.

The majority of Berbers, also referred to as Amazigh, went unrecognized in North Africa until the mid-‘90’s when they pressed the King publicly for their cultural traditions to be respected and honored. Today not only is the Amazaigh culture recognized but as of June 2011 the language of Tamazight (also referred to as Berber) has been voted in and approved by King Mohammed VI as Morocco’s second language along side Arabic.

June 2011 marks the 8^th Edition of the Timitar Festival Festival. Staged in three open-air venues throughout Agadir, music can be enjoyed at the central Place al Amar, Place Bijaouane and the Théâtre de Verdure.

For more information about the Timitar Festival or Agadir Tours

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! Call Travel Exploration at 1 (800) 787-8806 or 1 (917)703-2078 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

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