Blogs from Morocco, Africa - page 22

I wouldn’t be having the full tourist experience in Morocco if I didn’t ride a camel, I thought. Up at the top of the mountain where the original city of Agadir was located before a massive earthquake levelled it in 1960, there were young Berber men offering camel rides to visitors. Not the authentic riding-through-the-bleached-sand-dunes-of-the-desert kind of camel ride; but the short-walk-down-the-asphalt-road-and-then-back-up-again kind of camel ride. Tourist camel ride extraordinaire. No complaints though. Believe me, I felt the history when that camel stood up. Being near to that huge animal with big, blue eyes and then perched up high upon his back - and I mean, wa-a-a-ay up high on his back - felt sensational! I immediately imagined what it would be like to travel extreme distances in this way. It’s not a smooth ride, but ... read more

October 13th, 2018 Altight! Here I am writing again. I would have done so in the car last night, but the road from Essaouira to Agadir was unexpectedly winding and narrow. In the dark and in the backseat my stomach rebelled. Yup, I came very close to upchucking my supper. Also, the day in Essaouira was so all consuming both mentally and physically, that my brain turned to oatmeal by the end of the day. So let’s back up. Essaouira. Ok, so I told you already that seeing too many tourists irks me. I mean, if I wanted to see white people everywhere, I’d stay in Canada. Sorry my white peeps, but we are a boring and entitled bunch; a glaringly obvious fact when you observe “our kind” in non-European dominated countries, taking in the local ... read more

1st Day : Marrakech - High Atlas - Ait Ben Haddou Kasbah - Ouarzazate - Roses Valley - Dadés Valley 2nd Day : Dadés Valley - Todra Gorges - Merzouga Dunes - Camel ride and night in the berber tent. 3rd Day : Merzouga Desert - Tisardmin Oasis - Khamlia Village - Erg Chebbi 4th Day : Merzouga Desert - Ziz Valley - Cedar forests and monkey troupes of Azrou - Ifrane - Fes Our trip from Marrakech started at 8 am. The next 4 days was planned with a company thru the High Atlas Mountains, thru the Sahara, and ending In Fes Our driver Younes was fantastic he knew all the inns and outs of this journey and spoke all Arabic English Spanish and French. He was a Berber and a native of Merzouga Every ... read more

Souk to souk to souk A maze of streets alleys walkways Some covered some not Carpets felt cotton ceramics leather metal work wood work clothing ... Colors are vibrant It is dynamic beyond words stimulating and beautiful My one thought on Morocco is that it is not for he faint of heart one has to have the heart for it not judge it be accepting of it and let it come to your space Only in that does one sees its beauty I highly suggest staying at the Riads the old homes or guest houses rehabbed and brought back to their original glories. One goes thru the dark alleyways wondering what will happen a little scared and apprehensive at first, the door of the Riad opens and it shines and invites you whole heartedly. One is ... read more

After having our morning coffee in a little cafe in an alley way, frequented mostly by workers in the neighbouring stores and hair salon, we left Marrakech. Next stop Essouira. As much as tourist destinations rub me the wrong way - there are too many other white people and it always feels too much like I’m taking the “safe” route - I must admit that Marrakech is a beautiful city. Yes, secretly I’m a travel snob. The city is clean somewhat orderly, but not too orderly thank heavens. Between Casablanca and Marrakech, the later is definitely the prettier sister. We did visit the famous market, although a bit too late at night to see it in full swing. We went only to see it and not buy a thing - kind of like visiting a museum. ... read more