Archive for January, 2015

Medieval Morocco Exhibition Comes to Rabat, Your Morocco Tour Guide

Friday, January 30th, 2015
Museum of Contemporary Art, Rabat

Museum of Contemporary Art, Rabat

Unlike many of its allies and neighbors, Morocco has remained quietly out of the political spotlight during recent years, having largely escaped the political unrest and revolution of the Arab Spring. Last year, however, the Kingdom was afforded the cultural limelight in Paris, France, in a series of events called A Moroccan Autumn in Paris. Despite France’s long-standing relations with many North African and Arab nations, it is unprecedented for one country to receive the concerted attention that Morocco has been enjoying these past few months. In two simultaneous exhibitions, on Modern and Medieval Morocco, have highlighted and celebrated Morocco’s artistic contribution in the Institut du Monde Arabe (Arab World Institute) and the Louvre Museum, respectively.

Medieval Morocco: An Empire from Africa to Spain, features works from the 11th to the 15th centuries CE/AD. In contrast, the institute’s Contemporary Morocco showcased work by 80 living artists.

The great news for culture enthusiasts, historians and visitors to Morocco is that the Medieval Morocco Exhibition will travel to Rabat in 2015! The exhibition will take place from March 2nd – June 1st.

The medieval era in Morocco was one of great conquering dynasties – the Idrisid, Almoravid, Almohad and Marinid sultans ruled great swathes of modern day North African (Algeria, Tunisia and Libya), Mauretania, Mali and into the Iberian Peninsula. Additionally, it was a period of great artistic, cultural, religious and scientific endeavor. The 300 pieces on display have never been assembled in one place before – many of them have never travelled – and have been brought together from Morocco, Spain, Mali, Mauritania and Tunisia.

The collection has been curated by French and Moroccan experts to bring this little-known period of Arab, European and African history to a wider audience. The artifacts span disciplines as diverse as architecture, engineering, Islamic ornamentation, textiles, pottery and Arabic calligraphy. They are arranged chronologically to enable a sense of historical and geographical context, tracing the rise and fall of successive dynasties, their seats of power and the breadth of their realms.

Chandelier Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque in Fez, Morocco - Courtesy of the Louvre Museum

Chandelier Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque in Fez, Morocco – Courtesy of the Louvre Museum

One of the most significant artifacts on display is a chandelier from the Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque in Fez, the oldest university in the world. The polished copper chandelier was created in the 13th century once held 520 oil lamps. It was a challenge to extract it from the labyrinthine Fez medina (old city) and on exhibit it is lit as it would be in the mosque. Other exhibits, such as a minbar (a podium from which an imam preaches) from the same mosque were too delicate to transport.

To see this exhibition in Paris is special, but to see it in Rabat would make a perfect backdrop to your tour of Morocco, providing a great impression of the magnificence of the erstwhile Islamic empires and a sense of the origins of much of the cultural, artistic and architectural practices you will see on your trip.

Medieval Morocco: An Empire from Africa to Spain, is on at the Mohammed VI Museum in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, from March 2 to June 1, 2015.

Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Angle Avenue Moulay El Hassan et Avenue Allal Ben Abdallah, Quartier Hassan, Rabat, Morocco, Phone: 21 25 37 76 90 47

Written by Lynn Sheppard 

Lynn Sheppard has lived in Essaouira, on Morocco’s Atlantic Coast for more than 2 years, supporting local non-profits, writing and becoming an expert on all things Swiri (ie. Essaouiran). She blogs at Maroc-phile.com and for other travel industry clients.

For more information about the Medieval Morocco Exhibition in Rabat or a Rabat Tour

Morocco’s Imperial CitiesSeaside Resorts,Sahara Desert,Berber villagesA Taste of MoroccoMagical Kasbahs, Ruins & WaterfallsAbsolute Morocco, The Best of MarrakechFes, and Ouarzazate

Discover The Best of Morocco - Travel Exploration
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 (212) 618882681 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

The 2015 Guide to Morocco’s Most Popular Festivals

Friday, January 23rd, 2015
Festivals Morocco, Sufi Music Fes

Festivals Morocco, Sufi Music Fes

Morocco has festivals all year round which showcase the best of local culture, traditions and landscape. In addition, its world famous music festivals attract international artists of every genre. Planning your trip to Morocco around a festival is a great way to see the country and indulge in some culture at the same time.

Here are some festival highlights for 2015 that serve as a wonderful guide for Morocco Travelers.

Rose Festival: May 2015

If you travel to Morocco in May, we recommend you take in the Rose Festival in Kelaa M’Gouna. Hidden in the spectacular Dades Valley, the so-called Valley of Roses is world famous for the Damask Rose first brought here in the 1930s by the French. Today, every rose derivative imaginable for cosmetic, decorative or culinary use is produced in the valley. The festival celebrates the sweetly perfumed harvest as well as local rural life and Berber traditions. During the 3-day festival, a Rose Queen is elected and features in a cavalcade of floats through the valley. Your trip in this region could also take in kayaking on the rivers full of snowmelt, a night in an ancient fort along the ‘Route of 1000 Kasbahs’ or a trip into the Sahara Desert.

Gnaoua Festival, Essaouira Place du marché aux Grains

Gnaoua Festival, Essaouira
Place du marché aux Grains

Essaouira Gnaoua World Music Festival: 14-17 May 2015

The 18th edition of the Essaouira Gnaoua World Music Festival takes place earlier than usual to avoid a clash with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and other summer festivals. One of Morocco’s most popular festivals, it showcases gnaoua music, which came to Morocco with sub-Saharan African slaves to the Sultans. It is characterised by the deep bass twang of the gimbri (a three-stringed lute stretched with animal skin to provide a resonating sound), the rhythmic clatter of krakeb castanets and the call and response of the maalem (master) and his troupe of brightly costumed adherents. Gnaoua music typifies Moroccan sufism; the worship of Allah through music, dance and trance. As well as offering the audience a rare opportunity to see gnaoua groups outside their zawiyas (mosque-like buildings where they practice) on the big stage, the festival also features unique fusion concerts between the gnaoua groups and the international artists invited to participate. World music stars who have played in Essaouira include Cheb Khaled, Salif Keita, Toumani Diabate and Orchestre National de Barbés. Main stage concerts are free; more intimate gigs in historical buildings of the UNESCO World Heritage listed medina cost around US$10. Essaouira is just 2.5 hours from Marrakech and a visit to the festival is easily combined with a longer stay or tour of South Morocco.

Fes Festival of World Sacred Music

Fes Festival of World Sacred Music

Fes Sacred Music Festival: 22-30 May 2015

Fes is Morocco’s spiritual heart and this year will mark the 21st edition of the Sacred Music Festival. The 2015 theme is ‘Fes in the mirror of Africa.’ As well as being an opportunity to experience sufi music from around the Islamic world in a range of stunning venues, the festival audience also has a chance to see musicians and artists of other spiritual traditions. Performances have included Turkish Whirling Dervishes, Celtic sacred music, Christian Gospel and flamenco. Previous international guests in Fes have included Patti Smith, Youssou N’Dour, Johnny Clegg and Altan. Tickets can be purchased for the larger concerts, but many events are free. Every evening, Sufi Nights concerts are held the gardens of Dar Tazi, and Bab Boujloud, one of the city’s main gates, is a venue for free evening performances. The gardens of the Musée Batha host concerts and art exhibitions reflecting the festival theme, which changes each year. Fes is an inspirational city, particularly for musicians and other creatives and a trip timed with the Sacred Music Festival is a once in a lifetime opportunity!

Mawazine: 29 May – 6 June 2015

Without a doubt Morocco’s biggest music festival, Mawazine is held under the strapline ‘Rhythms of the World’ every year in the capital, Rabat. It offers perhaps the widest line-up of all the Moroccan music festivals, featuring local favorites, big names from the rock, RnB and pop genres and also showcasing young Moroccan talent through the ‘Generation Mawazine’ competition. Typically, over nine days, the festival hosts over 1500 artists from around the world in more than 125 shows spread over seven sites. Attendance is usually in excess of 2 million with a TV audience of around 30 million viewers in 2013. International stars who have graced Rabat’s stages include Justin Timberlake, Kool & the Gang, Rihanna, Shakira, Ricky Martin and Jason Derulo. Maroon 5 have already been confirmed as part of the 2015 line-up. Rabat is easily reached from Casablanca with its international airport and either city is the perfect starting or end point for a tour of Morocco’s imperial cities.

Marrakech Popular Arts Festival: July 2015

Marrakech’s main square, Place Jmaa el Fna, may seem like a street art festival year round. However, this ever-vibrant city holds a festival dedicated to popular arts every summer and this year it is likely to attract large audiences as it coincides with Ramadan – a time when life is lived through the night and families take to the streets in the evening. Centered around the el-Badi Palace in the south of the medina, the festival features outdoor performers from storytellers to actors to acrobats. A fantasia (an impressive display of Arabian horsemanship) takes place in a field near the palace every night.

Timitar Berber Music Festival, Agadir

Timitar Berber Music Festival, Agadir

Timitar: 22-25 July 2015

A relative newcomer to Morocco’s music festival calendar, Timitar – held over a weekend in Agadir every summer – was originally conceived as a showcase for local Berber musical talent. It is still the best opportunity to see the full breadth of Moroccan Berber traditional music – from the Souss Plains to the High Atlas Mountains; from the northern Rif to the Sahara desert. However, it is also a chance to see world music stars, particularly from the francophone regions of Europe and Africa. Previous international artists at Timitar include Alpha Blondy and US gospel rock stars, the Campbell Brothers. Agadir enjoys some of the best sunshine and sandy beaches Morocco has to offer and is a great base for a family summer holiday, a watersports adventure or for exploring the rugged Atlantic Coast.

Tanjazz: 9-13 September 2015

The Tangiers International Jazz Festival will celebrate its 16th run this year. The programme generally features a broad line-up of jazz genres, but given the 2015 theme of ‘Jazz of the five continents,’ we can perhaps expect even greater emphasis on the African roots of jazz and modern African interpretations of the jazz style. Previous acts at Tanjazz have included Omar Sosa from Cuba, British flamenco guitarist Craig Sutton and local Tangiers native gnaoua/jazz cross-over outfit, Gnawa Express. The former international city of Tangiers is many travellers’ entry point to the Kingdom of Morocco and a great starting point for a tour of Northern Morocco and the Imperial Cities.

Atlantic Andalucía Festival: October/November 2015

Essaouira’s annual homage to the music and cultural traditions of Al Andalus is held every fall in this port city on Morocco’s Atlantic Coast. Featuring artists from Morocco, Algeria, France and the Middle East, the festival perpetuates traditions which came to Morocco after Jews and Muslims were expelled from Spain at the end of the 15th century. The peaceful and rich religious, cultural and intellectual exchanges which had flourished on the Iberian Peninsula under Moorish rule were continued and refined in cities such as Tangiers, Fes and Essaouira, where large populations of Jews settled and prospered. Essaouira now has its own conservatory dedicated to the preservation of these traditions and the passing of the knowledge and techniques to younger generations.

Please note that festival dates may change considerably to avoid a clash with Ramadan (around 18 June – 17 July 2015). While every effort has been made to verify the dates given here, please double check before your reserve your flights!

Written by Lynn Sheppard 

Lynn Sheppard has lived in Essaouira, on Morocco’s Atlantic Coast for more than 2 years, supporting local non-profits, writing and becoming an expert on all things Swiri (ie. Essaouiran). She blogs at Maroc-phile.com and for other travel industry clients.

For more information about the Morocco’s Festivals or Moroccan Music

Morocco’s Imperial CitiesSeaside Resorts,Sahara Desert,Berber villagesA Taste of MoroccoMagical Kasbahs, Ruins & WaterfallsAbsolute Morocco, The Best of MarrakechFes, and Ouarzazate

Discover The Best of Morocco - Travel Exploration
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 (212) 618882681 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

The Marrakesh Express, Your Morocco Tour Guide

Tuesday, January 13th, 2015
The Marrakech Express Train

The Marrakech Express Train

Tourism is not a new phenomenon for Marrakesh. Morocco as a whole has long attracted explorers and adventurers, artists and their muses and those in search of the mystic and exotic. From 17th century diarist Samuel Pepys to 20th century author George Orwell; from Winston Churchill to Franklin D. Roosevelt; from Yves Saint-Laurent to the Rolling Stones. All have sought out the particular charms of Marrakesh and the city undoubtedly cast its special spell on them as it has on many millions of visitors since.

In the 1960s, Morocco’s accessibility – just a short ferry journey across the Straits of Gibraltar on a ferry in a psychedelic painted VW Beetle or Camper Van (and the accessibility of its notorious cannabis) put Morocco firmly on the hippie trail. Morocco then became the inspiration and bolthole of a number of icons of the era. Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards came here to escape media attention ahead of their infamous drugs trial and hang out with the likes of Paul and Talitha Getty. One of the most famous photographs of Patrick Litchfield’s career is of the Gettys on their Marrakesh terrace, taken in 1969. Their contemporary, Yves Saint-Laurent recalled that other era of excess, the Roaring 20s, when he said of the Gettys:

I knew the youthfulness of the Sixties (…) Talitha and Paul Getty lying on a starlit terrace in Marrakesh, beautiful and damned, and a whole generation assembled as if for eternity where curtain of the past seemed to lift before an extraordinary future.” 

1969 was undoubtedly the peak of this very special era. In the early morning of 18 August 1969, in a field in New York, Crosby, Stills and Nash played the first concert performance of Marrakesh Express at the Woodstock Festival. In the way that Woodstock defined an era and a cultural movement, the song defined an image of Marrakesh which persists today. Graham Nash was inspired to write the song by a train journey he took between Casablanca and Marrakesh in 1966. He claims that on finding his first class carriage “boring”, he went to explore second class, which he found fascinating and full of “ducks and pigs and chickens,” according to the lyrics. (Although pigs are unlikely in a Muslim country – poetic licence, perhaps?)

YouTube Preview Image

I’ve been saving all my money just to take you there.

I smell the garden in your hair.

Take the train from Casablanca going south,

blowing smoke rings from the corners of my mouth.

Colored cottons hang in the air,

charming cobras in the square.

Striped djellebas we can wear at home.

Well, let me hear ya now.

The colored cottons are probably a reference to the kelims and carpets Nash observed hanging on buildings and shops as he approached the centre of Marrakesh, where, just as today (and for centuries previously), he found snake charmers in Place Jmaa el Fna. Djellabas, the typical hooded robes of Moroccans, are a practical garment and a popular souvenir. There are many archive photos of 60s icons dressed in this costume.

Ruined Sultan Palace Diabat

Ruined Sultan Palace Diabat

Incidentally, it was also in 1969 that Jimi Hendrix, another icon of the period, visited the boho-chic coastal resort of Essaouira. Much is made of this connection in the town and it is said that the ruined Sultan’s Palace in the nearby village of Diabat inspired his hit, Castles in the Sand. A brief fact-check reveals that the song was released two years previously, but facts never stand in the way of a good Moroccan legend!

It is still possible to take the Marrakesh Express train, although ducks, pigs and chickens are a rare sight nowadays. You might begin your journey – as thousands of hippies did – at Tangiers following your ferry crossing from Spain. You can even start your train adventure further back in former Al Andalus – in Seville or Granada. Or, like Graham Nash your journey may begin in Casablanca, the location of Morocco’s largest international airport. Your journey will pass through arid plains, past low hills and through villages and towns. Typically, Moroccan passengers are friendly and generous. Moroccan trains are comfortable, although not luxurious. As a slow-paced introduction to the landscape and culture of Morocco, the modern day Marrakesh Express takes some beating!

Written by Lynn Sheppard 

Lynn Sheppard has lived in Essaouira, on Morocco’s Atlantic Coast for more than 2 years, supporting local non-profits, writing and becoming an expert on all things Swiri (ie. Essaouiran). She blogs at Maroc-phile.com and for other travel industry clients.

For more information about the Marrakech Express or a Marrakech Tour

Morocco’s Imperial CitiesSeaside Resorts,Sahara Desert,Berber villagesA Taste of MoroccoMagical Kasbahs, Ruins & WaterfallsAbsolute Morocco, The Best of MarrakechFes, and Ouarzazate

Discover The Best of Morocco - Travel Exploration
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 (212) 618882681 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.

Springtime in Morocco, Your Morocco Tour Guide

Sunday, January 11th, 2015
Valley of Roses Festival Morocco, Springtime

Valley of Roses Festival Morocco, Springtime

In the depths of winter, once the end-of-year festivities are over, is a great time to plan a spring break. Just dreaming of longer, sunnier days makes the winter fade and the spring seem closer. And where better to travel in spring than Morocco? You will find agreeable temperatures, trees in full bloom after the rains of winter and a range of activities and festivals in Morocco to give you a deeper insight into the natural and cultural diversity of this fascinating country.

Unless you wish to undertake specific activities which are dependent on the climate, the spring (March-May) and Autumn (September-October) are the best times to visit Morocco. This way, you will avoid the rain and chills of the winter and the searing heat of the interior and desert of the summer. For example, in Marrakech in Spring, the temperature is around 18-27°C (64-85°F) and in the evenings a light sweater is usually sufficient.

Marrakech is a great starting point for a spring tour of Morocco. Once you have explored the sights and souks of this former imperial city, you can head into the Atlas Mountains, to the west. The mountainsides of the High Atlas and (further north) Middle Atlas ranges are Morocco’s fruit bowl. Depending on the location and when in spring you travel, you can trek, climb and ride on horseback among the beautiful blossom of apple, walnut, almond or cherry trees. A popular day trip destination is the Ourika Valley, where you can enjoy lunch in the valley base beside the babbling Ourika River and hike up through a series of waterfalls. More experienced trekkers will find spring an ideal time to ascend Mount Toubkal, North Africa’s highest peak at 4,167 m (13,671 ft) and will still find a little snow at the top!

A longer tour might take you towards the spectacular Tiz-n-Test pass as you head south towards the Souss Valley and Anti Atlas region. As you travel out of Marrakech, you will pass many plantations of conifers and fruit trees. The area around Ouirgane is stunning at this time of year and hikes in the hills and valleys can easily be combined with a visit to the historic Tin Mal mosque – built in 1154 and one of only 2 mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslims. Despite its isolated location, Tin Mal was the cradle of the Berber Almohad empire.

If you travel to Morocco in May, we recommend you take in the Rose Festival in Kelaa M’Gouna. Dedicated to the famous roses of this area in the spectacular Dades Valley, this festival also celebrates local rural life and all the derivatives of rose you could ever imagine, including cosmetic products and the delicate rose water present in most Moroccan pastries and cakes. Your trip in this region could also take in kayaking or canyoning the rivers full of snowmelt, a night in an ancient fort along the ‘Route of 1000 Kasbahs’ or a trip into the Sahara Desert when the days are balmy and the nights clear and starry. You shouldn’t miss the opportunity to see a Saharan sunrise or ride a camel over the dunes!

Festival Printemps des Alizés Festival 14th Edition, Springtime

Festival Printemps des Alizés Festival 14th Edition, Springtime

Spring is also a good time to visit Morocco’s Atlantic Coast. In Agadir, temperatures are already summery, providing for days of golfing, swimming and watersports. To the south in the Souss-Massa National Park, spring is a great time to see native nesting bird species and bid farewell as migratory birds head north. Further up the coast in Essaouira, the trade winds start to pick up in spring, bringing fresh fish to the dockside. Essaouira is also the venue for the Festival Printemps des Alizés – a classical music festival held to coincide with the main moussem season (period of festivities and pilgrimages to honour local Muslim and Jewish saints) in April/May. If you are lucky, your trip might coincide with a display of Arab horsemen, known as a fantasia. At these events, teams compete to charge their horses and fire their rifles in unison. It is a unique event not to be missed if you are in Essaouira Province in spring!

Springtime is a great time to visit Morocco. From Marrakech, you will see snow-tipped mountains while sitting in a climate like a Northern European or North American summer. The opportunities to explore Morocco’s countryside – the mountains, desert and coast – are unparalleled at this time of year and a range of festivals also offer an insight into Moroccan culture.

Written by Lynn Sheppard 

Lynn Sheppard has lived in Essaouira, on Morocco’s Atlantic Coast for more than 2 years, supporting local non-profits, writing and becoming an expert on all things Swiri (ie. Essaouiran). She blogs at Maroc-phile.com and for other travel industry clients.

For more information about the Best Time to Travel Morocco

Morocco’s Imperial CitiesSeaside Resorts,Sahara Desert,Berber villagesA Taste of MoroccoMagical Kasbahs, Ruins & WaterfallsAbsolute Morocco, The Best of MarrakechFes, and Ouarzazate

Discover The Best of Morocco - Travel Exploration
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 (212) 618882681 and let’s book a tour to Morocco for you today.