Steeped in tradition and mysticism, Morocco holds an instantaneous and enduring fascination for a lot of Western travellers together with me! Although it was situated not too removed from Europe as soon as I visited it appeared a world away in each custom and surroundings.
I found a land with a strong identification, the place historical past was woven into each mosaic tile, the place each souk advised a narrative, and a wealthy cultural heritage ran so deep that it impressed UNESCO’s Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity Masterpiece venture, celebrating centuries-old traditions.
As a backdrop to all this, I discovered the nation’s bodily make-up extraordinary: from the Mediterranean coast via sprawling mountain ranges to the seemingly infinite sands of the Sahara.
I have been fortunate sufficient to spend per week exploring the highlights of this unimaginable nation, and from Marrakech to past, right here is my unimaginable journey….
1. My Keep in a Conventional Riad
My, my Riads are simply stunning! I discovered {that a} Riad is a standard Moroccan home centered round an inside backyard or courtyard, designed to uphold the Islamic precept of privateness, with excessive surrounding partitions making a secluded sanctuary. The transition from the luxurious courtyard to the inside areas was deliberately designed to encourage reflection and tranquility.
I discovered that it was widespread to seek out lemon and orange timber rising, a fountain, and the partitions of the Riad embellished with quotes from the Quran in calligraphy and conventional mosaic tiling.
After I stayed in a single on the coronary heart of the medina, I used to be struck by its extraordinary magnificence and serene, zen-like environment, which not solely enriched my Moroccan expertise but additionally supplied a peaceable escape from the bustling metropolis noise simply past its partitions.
2. Marvelling on the stunning mosaic structure
I fell in love with the doorways in Marrakech! I discovered the mosaic structure in Marrakech to be beautiful with swirling colors and pictures with embossed porticos, window arches and pathways, just like the calligraphy of a nation!
I discovered that the craft, often called “Kelliji,” is a painstakingly gradual course of handed down via generations, mixing arithmetic, artwork, and historical past to create intricate designs that superbly showcase crucial sides of Moroccan tradition of their most advanced type.
I liked simply wandering across the metropolis with my digital camera in hand as I used to be all the time stumbling throughout an awe-inspiring topic or extra-special and really ornate door!
3. Haggling on the Souks
I’ve to be sincere—I felt fully overwhelmed within the souks of Marrakech, with hawkers calling out, the air thick with the scent of spices and fruit, the occasional snake uncoiling from a charmer’s basket, and the chaotic hustle of individuals navigating the slim streets.
Nonetheless, for my part, it was a vital a part of visiting Morocco and one I’d not advocate lacking! They’re not vacationer markets whereas it sells the whole lot from saffron to kohl, it predominantly serves town’s folks as a substitute!
I shortly discovered to maintain my dirhams shut when it got here to haggling—these distributors have been true masters! I truthfully thought it was not possible to depart this sprawling Aladdin’s Cave of Marvel with out snagging a discount, whether or not it was a vibrant scarf, a gleaming copper lantern, or a superbly handcrafted bag.
In the long run I simply learnt to soak up the chaos and flow—actually!
4. Visiting a Mosque
I noticed that life in Morocco was influenced by the strict name to prayer by the Muezzin 5 instances a day and I assumed the mosques that dot the nation have been simply stunning.
The Hassan II mosque in Casablanca was the most important in Northern Africa and the seventh largest globally. I noticed that it stood on a promontory looking to the Atlantic Ocean with its glass ground and handcrafted marble partitions.
The Koutoubia Mosque, towering over Djemaa el Fna Sq., was not solely the most important mosque in Marrakech but additionally one of many metropolis’s most iconic landmarks.
Whereas non-Muslims are usually not permitted inside mosques in Morocco, I discovered there have been a couple of uncommon exceptions, together with the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, the Nice Mosque of Meknes, and the Al Quaraouiyine Mosque in Fes.
I visited one however I needed to obey home of prayer and obey the traditions by eradicating my sneakers, washing my face and arms, lined my legs and hair and I additionally kept away from extreme picture taking, speaking and videoing as a mark of respect.
5. Wandering the Medina Sq. at night time!
I discovered this expertise to be wow-inducing! In the course of the day Medina Sq. it was predominantly occupied by stalls – particularly purveyors of probably the most beautiful orange juice however by night time the bustling market stall remodeled right into a UNESCO Heritage Website or, extra precisely, a UNESCO Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity Masterpiece website!
I liked that the previously dusty sq. got here alive with conventional music, Chleuh dancing boys, snake charmers and Berber storytellers.
As darkness fell over the sq., the shutters on the stalls started to elevate, and the sq. was crammed with the potent aroma of spices as conventional dishes have been served to the mingling locals and vacationers.
6. Spending a day at Jardin Majorelle
I completely liked this tranquil magnificence spot – someway, via an unimaginable feat of engineering, 300 totally different species of flora thrive inside only one hectare at Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech, alongside an interesting museum devoted to Berber tradition.
I discovered it was purchased by Yves Saint Laurent (of Paris style fame) in 1980. When he died in 2008, his ashes have been scattered right here, and a few of his sketches and illustrations nonetheless remained on the attraction. Saint Laurent amassed an unlimited assortment of North African textiles and artefacts, which I noticed the place exhibited within the museum there too.
I liked how the gardens provided a zen-like oasis away from the craziness of town and I actually loved strolling alongside the picket pathways, listening to the decision of the birds, feeling the rustle of the breeze, and savouring the scent of the aromatic flowers – it was a blissful expertise!
7. Attempting the meals
I found that Morocco’s unimaginable variety is superbly mirrored in its delicacies, which blended influences from its Arabic heritage, Mediterranean flavors, and deep-rooted Berber traditions.
Though spices have been imported for hundreds of years, I noticed that the home-grown saffron, mint and olive have been the inspiration of most dishes within the nation, with zesty hints from lemons and oranges.
The previous nationwide delicacy is couscous which is served with most dishes (and programs!), however I noticed that it was the tagine that was the nation’s hottest dish.
The meals in Morocco was good that I wished to deliver the recipes dwelling with me – the spice substances I might have simply picked up on the native souk in addition to the clay tagine dishes which I noticed all over the place!
8. Exploring the Atlas Mountains
I liked the Atlas Mountains, and for my part, they comprise a few of the most stunning and intriguing scenes in the entire nation.
The views from their summit have been spectacular and took my breath away! I discovered the peaks and valleys have been a few of the most distant areas of the nation and appear a world away from bustling Marrakech, Casablanca, and Fez.
For the non-experienced hiker or mountaineer I discovered that there have been well-trodden paths, quaint conventional villages to satisfy the Berber locals and naturally, the Toubkal Nationwide Park which was dwelling to beautiful views, historical petroglyphs and intriguing wildlife.
9. Visiting an historical fortress city
I liked visiting the unimaginable fortress cities of Kasbah of Taourirt, Quarzazate, and Ait Benhaddou. It was truly my favorite elements of my journey – I felt like I used to be in Sport of Thrones!
Lots of the buildings had truly been used for filming in Sport of Thrones, and I additionally felt like I had stepped onto the Laurence of Arabia set.
I discovered Quarzazate was nicknamed the door to the desert, and the sand-dashed partitions and terracotta was a stark reminder that the Sahara was close by.
Ait Benhaddou was my favorite although, it was featured within the Gladiator and Babel films, however seeing it within the flesh was a wholly totally different expertise. There was an eerie stillness, and seeing the imposing buildings seemingly etched into the mountainside felt like an virtually otherworldly expertise.
10. Staying in a single day within the Sahara Desert
That is the place I felt I skilled the Morocco and I trekked into the huge sprawling space in a sandstorm.
I watched as infinite golden dunes stretched earlier than me, a shocking sundown portray the sky, whereas the one sounds have been the mild snorting of camels beneath the colourful cover of my Bedouin tent, because the solar dipped behind the dunes, casting a fiery purple glow throughout the panorama! I truly felt like I used to be on a totally totally different planet!
