Morocco, jewel of the Mediterranean

Morocco, jewel of the Mediterranean

Marrakech is the most important of the four royal cities in Morocco , and has been a favorite playground of the rich and famous for almost a century. Renowned celebrities maintain palatial villas here , nestled in the foothills of the high Atlas mountain range . The sea , snow , desert - all are easily accessible . Madonna , Gerard Depardieu , Kate Moss, and Sir Richard Branson all own residences near Marrakech . Sarah Jessica Parker , Jose Carreras , Selma Hayek , Elton John , Juliette Binoche , Adrien Brody, Jennifer Aniston , Orlando Bloom , and Paloma Picasso are frequent visitors of Marrakech and speaks warmly of her charm.

Many of these brilliant people were on hand for the reopening of the hotel, historic importance luxe Marrakech , La Mamounia. If you have never been treated like royalty and crave that experience ( if only for a day or two!) , Then should definitely include a stay at La Mamounia when visiting Morocco. Not expensive . A couple can stay at La Mamounia something around $ 250 per night per person, which is now the cost of a midrange hotel in Manhattan .

While in Marrakech , be sure to visit the famous square in the heart of the medina called Djemaa El- Ena , perhaps the only tourist attraction in Morocco. The buildings are lining the central plaza probably launched a thousand years ago . These hectares of land have been continuously crowded since. During sunlit hours , the square is filled with juice vendors in the stalls, mobile marketers water pouring water leather handbags, street performers and companies - snake charmers to try to induce tourists to pose with them for a fee and Barbary macaques musicians , like organ grinder monkeys and birds. In late afternoon snake oil salesmen , street magicians , and poets succeed these . As darkness descends , Djemaa El- Ena is filled with food stalls and charcoal braziers portable red hot, and this is when the people of Marrakech are themselves more likely to be in the famous Plaza to enjoy the Moroccan equivalent of food outdoor quick .

For a country of its size , Morocco encompasses many extremes of microclimate and environment . From the heights of the Atlas , which is so cold and snowy peaks as in the Rocky Mountains, you can also explore on the same day the fiery giant dunes of Erg Chebbi in the Sahara. These impressive features of the landscape, frozen waves in the sand , but shaped by the wind as much as ocean waves as they are 150 meters high and is made of a spray of fine sand, red orange that is the hallmark of Sahara.

Visits to the Erg Chebbi are typically organized in a small town in southeastern Morocco , about 30 kilometers from the border with Algeria , named Merzouga , a village with typical blue paint in houses that one sees so often in Morocco, blue sapphire country . Long thought very dry , in recent years geologists have discovered a massive underground freshwater aquifer . They supply water to Merzouga for hundreds of years .

Part of the charm of Morocco is a country of opposites charming , so when you have experienced the sand dunes and watch the sunset in the Sahara may long for the sea and a different wind winds desert . The fishing village of Essaouira in Morocco is the place to experience the trade winds that blow in its sheltered bay . These winds make the beaches of Essaouira the privileged place for the best windsurfing and kite surfing in the Mediterranean. From the days of Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman created his classic film " Casablanca" in 1942 , Morocco has occupied a special place in the hearts of all tourists, especially Americans. Morocco, also probably has the longest and best reputation in terms of tourism in North Africa with a brilliant record that dates back to before the Second World War. This is the year more Americans than ever will experience Morocco for the first time .


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Enjoy the best of Morocco on foot

Enjoy the best of Morocco on foot

Morocco is a place that can be visited throughout the year. One of the most exotic and exciting countries in the world, this spectacular North African country has much to offer - adventure holiday experiences bustling rural town. A good way to discover the country on foot. Morocco has many exotic places that otherwise might be lost.

See and do

Arriving in Marrakech , you will be dazzled by this town , dating from the 11th century - that continues to arouse curiosity and interest of travelers . The skyline is dominated by the charm of the architecture of the Koutoubia Minaret .

Your first day may be taken for a city tour on foot. Morocco is synonymous with souks and your first point of contact should be a visit to a souk , or market. Walk in the maze of alleys and sharpen your negotiating skills - you need them, because you will be tempted to pick up everything in sight! Jewelers , shoemakers , potters and weavers all line the streets with their best products. With thousands of exotic things for sale , you need to be strong !

Then walk to the Djemaa el- Fna , where you can experience the atmosphere of a medieval fair . It is an open square where you can see snake charmers, jugglers and other performers who compete for your attention . Buy some local dishes and satiate your appetite whet by the multitude of aromas of vendor offerings . After lunch or dinner , relax in one of the outdoor cafes and enjoy a traditional herbal tea .

After the hustle and bustle of Marrakech may be eager to escape the Atlas Mountains. A one hour drive from Marrakech Ourika City sets where you can enjoy breath-taking views and mountain air . From here , you can begin to continue in the mountains on foot . Morocco has a spectacularly beautiful mountain scenery, it may come as a surprise to many .

After you have had your fill of fresh mountain air , make your way back to shore. A four-hour trip will be given to the lovely town of Essaouira . The rocky coast of this former pirate den is nothing short of spectacular . As you explore the city you will find Portuguese, Berber and French battlements in the maze of narrow streets , and countless small cafes in the squares. Two enormous strengths govern the city and even a castle on a neighboring island .

Essaouira is vibrant and full of color. The port was once the haunt of pirates who used to steal ships sail rich that happened this sea route . The fishermen still work the seas around and you can see every morning dragging his capture and fixation of their networks . Various influences have created a cosmopolitan atmosphere of the area, with visual ' wows ' at each corner. You can visit the workshops that specialize in working adorned with inlaid jewelry , fascinating stroll the streets or just spend a few days relaxing on the beach.

When you're at a party tour involves walking , Morocco will open many hidden secrets by running through bus tour groups or larger . Discover the magic of this wonderful country walk .

Tony Maniscalco is the director of marketing for Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. Join us on a walking trip to Morocco to see the most picturesque places and the best value prices . We offer over 140 guided group walking in over 60 countries.


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Dining In the foothills of the Atlas Mountains in Morocco

Morocco is a country known for the variety and quality of its food and there are many excellent restaurants in Morocco in Marrakech ( and especially ) that would be absurd if someone wants to know what is best . In a year or a month, that would depend heavily on their own particular tastes and the cooks were having a good season in particular. And Morocco is full of specialized culinary artists .

On the outskirts of Marrakech is a particular restaurant made ​​famous by Sir Richard Branson that is so unique that I think are worth a special visit , a leak in the countryside just outside of Marrakech , heading south towards the big mountains Atlas to a very special hill where Sir Richard has managed Kasbah Tamadot since buying a dozen years ago when I first laid eyes on the complex that looks like a castle above the earth in one of his famous balloon trips through North Africa .

That was in 1998 . The resort reopened Kasbah Tamadot five or six years later as part of the franchise Branson Virgin Airlines. Sir Richard , obviously loves this place , as it seems to get better and better every year , clearly the recipient of your personal attention and affection , and their ability to invest.

The Kasbah Tamadot has one of the world's most unusual restaurants , called Kanoun , which serves delicious local and international cuisine either indoors or outdoors , with a cozy bar with fireplace or on the terrace views , take your pick . Because Tamadot Kasbah has its own extensive garden , most of the vegetables and herbs that you can enjoy here were collected a few meters from your table. As always, just makes a difference.

I went there for lunch on my last trip to Morocco , served to me and my guests on the terrace , from which view you could see for miles in the clear air of the Atlas mountain . I started with a light contemporary dish , mild red pepper gazpacho , accompanied by a timbale of fresh crab and avocado. For dessert , I chose a mango carpaccio , very sour , lime sorbet .

On a previous visit a year or two ago I remember (because I kept a travel journal , as I always do ! ) We had a lunch rather more importantly, a cauliflower puree topped with feathers pickled cauliflower cold, followed by a pill Poussin (a very small chicken a bit like a Cornish game hen ) topped by two small chicken feet crossed and a pear cooked in wine. The fresh mountain air always Moroccan stimulates appetite !

The most famous dish is the Moroccan tagine , a kind of stew that takes its name from the traditional clay pot in which it is prepared. The Kanoun tagine is cooked very slowly over medium heat, giving it the unique flavor and tenderness of the meat . The chef likes a tagine is not as sweet as one more typically found in Morocco, and to me, this is more suited to my taste . Tagine is perhaps the best in the country.

As you can imagine , Kanoun Kasbah Tamadot and restaurants are very popular at all times of the year , so it is imperative to book a table before 45 minutes drive from Marrakech to its doors hill. You can call +212 (0) 524 36 82 00 for a table , or for more information contact the hotel website .