Thread: Morocco!

The New Man and I have just booked some cheap flights to Barcelona, and it looks like there's good airfare from there to Morocco.

We're thinking Marrakesh, but really haven't even started researching yet.

We'd like to do some hiking and sightseeing. I like to see how people live in non-touristy places, he's interested in historic sites. We both enjoy hiking and good food.

He says he wants to go to Casablanca -- because of the movie, of course. Is there anything to see or do there?

Anyone have suggestions? Advice? Ideas for us?

you should definitely go to casablanca!
1st: the shopping is much better ;) haha
also, many interesting historical sights. fantastic food. will try to remember the name of the excellent restaurant we went to. have a picture of the sign somewhere in my travel photos.

the hassan 2 mosque is incredible. the whole roof opens up. if you are very nice and well covered, they might let you up into the womens section. its a very memorable view.

do you have time to go to tunisa? my friend is a travel guide there and can give you the rhodes scholar version of the tour of tunis

Can't help you but dying of jealousy!

Hi, Lauren!
I've been to Morocco in April and I loved it! I didn't like Casablanca very much. It looks like a city from the south of Spain, but much dirtier. If you can, stay only in 5 stars hotels, because even the best hotels have problems. For me, the best cities are Marrakesh and definitely Fez!
If you're going now, take a warm coat. I got a terrible cold there in April...

And, if you can, stop in Lisbon to make me a visit!

Hey!

I was just there in September. My advice:
*pass on Casablanca. Found it to be really dirty and grungy, nothing all that interesting, very westernized.
*Fez is fabulous. We hired a driver to take us up into the Atlas Mountains for an incredible price to go hiking and horseback riding. Passed through a beautiful town up there calle Ifrane. Stay in the Medina if you can, great experience
*Marrakech is excellent as well. Much more touristy, but still has some beautiful sights and an excellent nightlife filled with lots of bellydancing
*We found the train to be an excellent way to travel throughout the country, they run frequently and are on time

Have fun!

Oh, I'd go to France instead. It's closer from Barcelona. You could probably catch a train to France and go to Cannes (been there and it's BEAUTIFUL) and Neice ( SP?)(great wine tasting). Also, try Palma Spain, it's the little island across from Barcelona. Barcelona was alot like Florida to me but with beautiful old buildings.

So thankful my military career took me all over the Med. so pretty. I would live anywhere in Med. if I could just up and go.

What time of year are you going?

Cool! We're planning on going to Morocco later this year, too, so I'm watching this thread with interest :)

Michelle, I agree about the French coastline, but I've done that twice now and seen so little of the rest of the world! We'll probably take the train into France for a day trip at least, though, somewhere along the Southern coast.

Sounds like Fez might be more what we're looking for than Marrakech, and it seems Ryanair has some ridonkulously cheap flights there from Barcelona.

You guys are amazing, keep the advice coming!

oops

Hi Lauren!

I spent 3 and a half weeks in Morrocco in July 2008. I really loved Rabat for historical sites of the Hassan Tower and Mohammed V's Mausole and for the necropole of Chellah.

For me Casablanca is of absolutely no interest except for The Mosque Hassan 2, which is a must see. It is so huge! Other than that, no. It is an economical center, maybe it is good for shopping, since I don't like to shop, I don't know.

I felt in love with Meknes. I slep two nights in Meknes and 3 in Fes. I prefered Meknes than Fes because not a lot of tourists take the time to stay there so it is very typical. Go to the market the day the food arrives! The old remparts and the doors are stunning. The Madrassa Bou Inania is fantastic. Also, it is near the ancient roman city of Volubilis if you like that kind of archeological site. Right in front, there is the superb city of Moulay Idriss. You can do that in an excursion of half a day or a day long. All of those places are UNESCO sites except Moulay Idriss.

Fes is also great and I highly recommand it. The density of the old city is remarquable from the hills around. There is the Karaouine old madrassa and university and a lot of old madrassa and interesting mosque. To get lost in the old city is really good. You can see the place where they work the leather (I don't know the right term in English) and the doors before the king's palace.

I visited Marrakesh and thought it was way too much touristic for me. It is very westernized to my point of view and not very "exotic". I lot of people speak French there (and it is my main language). Noneless, I loved the historical sites of the Koutoubia and the place Jamaa Efna for... the orange juices and the animation. I went to Palace el-Badi and Bahia and other sites around there. Medersa Ben Youssef was also great. the Jardins of Majorelle (Gardens) is beautiful. What I was really happy of is to rent a car (with the driver) to go for a day at the Cascades (Falls) d'Ouzoud. Fantastic site that I highly recommand.

If you can drive into the Atlas mountain on the road called Tizi n'Test it is good for the emotions. My husband and I really really appreciated the Gorges of Trodra (grooves? canyon) and Gorges of Dades. The dunes are stunning if you do a camel ride for a night in Merzouga. For those sites, of course, you will need to rent a car.

Did I loved Morrocco??? oh yes!

Sounds like a dream trip have fun. I'd love to go to Morocco

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Michelle, I agree about the French coastline, but I've done that twice now and seen so little of the rest of the world! We'll probably take the train into France for a day trip at least, though, somewhere along the Southern coast.

Sounds like Fez might be more what we're looking for than Marrakech, and it seems Ryanair has some ridonkulously cheap flights there from Barcelona.

You guys are amazing, keep the advice coming!

Don't forget to come to Lisbon!!! ,r:;

Originally Posted by ANA_bellydancer

Don't forget to come to Lisbon!!! ,r:;

Hmmmm....can we sleep on your sofa if we come to Lisbon? ..g.:

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Hmmmm....can we sleep on your sofa if we come to Lisbon? ..g.:

Of course you can!

Just curious, did you get the St. Louis to Boston for $79 and Boston to Barcelona for $232? I saw American Airlines is having a BIG deal to Europe.

Hey Lauren

A few years ago I spent 3 months in Morocco doing an internship to become a midwife... We stayed in Rabat and obviously I think it's really worthwhile seeing Rabat, there is a lot to see overthere! If you need more specifics, I'd be more than happy to tell you!

Apart from Rabat, I really loved Essaouira, it's really nice!!!

If I'd have to choose between Casablanca or Marrakesh, I would go for Marrakesh... Casablanca is actually the economic capital of Morocco and apart from the Hassan II mosque I didn't see much special... Marrakesh is nice, but very touristic. The place Jamaa El Fna is really nice by night, you can do some typical shopping in the labyrinth of shopping streets surrounding it. But apart from some touristic sights and lots of shops, there is really nothing more to Marrakesh.

I also did a 'jeepsafar' through the south of morocco and we got to stay a few nights in the Sahara, sleeping underneath the stars, nothing else surrounding you, that's really an amazing expierence... You wake up in the middle of the night, all you see is one shooting star after an other... Amazing!

All in all, Morocco is really worthwhile visiting, but you have to see more than just one city!!

And the French coast is nice as well ;)

I'll be in Fes in April with 2 of my friends! Maybe we could meet up somewhere :)

Oh yes Lisbon is fantastic! Must go to club do fado also

Originally Posted by sabrinabellydancer

Oh yes Lisbon is fantastic! Must go to club do fado also

Oh, dear Sabrina, I hope you'll be back so we can meet!
And Lisbon has also lots of moorish history.

Another suggestion for you, Lauren, is Andorra! So close to Barcelona and with so much beauty and shopping!!


The oficial site for Andorra Tourism

I tried to add Lisbon, Ana, I really did! But I couldn't find a good flight from Barcelona.

We've decided on a couple of days in Barcelona (probably with a day trip into France or some hiking) then a few days in Fez. Train to Marrakesh, and a 3-day trip into the desert to ride camels, sleep under the stars, and watch the sunrise from the dunes.

It's amazing how quickly you can pack 10 days with activity, even when you try to be leisurely!

Thanks so much for all your help, you guys are da bomb diggety.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Train to Marrakesh, and a 3-day trip into the desert to ride camels, sleep under the stars, and watch the sunrise from the dunes..

urgh, you're making me want to go back! I can imagine it all over again :) Waking up at 3 am in the morning, watching the shooting stars...hearing nothing but the silence...

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I tried to add Lisbon, Ana, I really did! But I couldn't find a good flight from Barcelona.

We've decided on a couple of days in Barcelona (probably with a day trip into France or some hiking) then a few days in Fez. Train to Marrakesh, and a 3-day trip into the desert to ride camels, sleep under the stars, and watch the sunrise from the dunes.

It's amazing how quickly you can pack 10 days with activity, even when you try to be leisurely!

Thanks so much for all your help, you guys are da bomb diggety.

I'd love to meet you, but I'm happy for you anyway!

I travelled alone around in Morocco, 1 week and the second week I stayed with the parents of my Boyfriend, I must agree with some other reply's, that Casablanca isnt' the place to stay. Even Local people told me to be alert because it's an dirty and dangerous place... The only monument you have is the mosque and off course the shops.

I loved city's as Marrakech, altough it's very crowdy the shops are great and if you look you even will find belly dnace stores. Fez-Meknes are really great!! And Rabat is a must see!.

If you need some other tips and tricks just contact me I know enough people leaving in Morocco ;-)

sille

Oh, Lauren, I'm so jealous! Has your trip happened yet?

If not, I'm falling in love with Marrakesh via this blog:
My Marrakesh

The blog's author is featured in Shopping in Marrakech by Susan Simon:
[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Shopping-Marrakech-Susan-Simon/dp/1892145782/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=IASN9V2XUAQ03&colid= 2TN6TGSQQC3LA]Amazon.com: Shopping in Marrakech (9781892145789): Susan Simon, Nally Bellati: Books[/ame]

If the trip has already happened, please tell us how it was!

BTW, Is belly dancing popular in Morocco? Are there any great professionals in or from there? Googling the answers to these questions is complicated by the name of a certain wonderful dancer and information source.

My trip happened and it was WONDERFUL!

LOVED the medina in Fez. Just loved it.

Then we took the train to Marrakech. On the train, a woman and two of her children (ages 6 & 7) spent hours teaching me to read and write in Arabic!

I wasn't in Marrakech long -- just spent the night. Then we were picked up and driven into the mountains. I could live in one of those villages, the mountains were lovely. Spent a VERY romantic night in the Valley of a Thousand Casbahs.

Also spent a night in the Sahara in a Bedouin camp. Rode camels at sunset to the camp -- that was so beautiful it was actually spiritual. Second only to Machu Picchu in terms of glorious places I've seen so far. Sleeping under the stars in the desert was cold, but magnificent. Never seen so many stars.

No, bellydancing isn't really native to Morocco as far as I can tell (though it is offered to tourists sometimes). The dancing that's done there is very different, though it does include hipwork. And the social dancing that I saw at a restaurant where there was live music was definitely related to the social dancing (bellydance style) that's done in Egypt.

....