North Africa, Western North Africa and the country of Morocco. The upper left corner of Africa combines some French with Arabic or more precisely Berber/ Amazigh culture and many other African influences in a safe and adventurous destination.
Polish your French language skills to get around here, it is the official language and spoken or at least understood well by basically everyone.
The Berber people of the Amazigh form a good part of the population. Different to Arabians in terms of heritage, self-image and level of faith, to explain the way they cope with their religion in a surely calm way.
A round trip on the road is the fundament for this journey which started and ended around Casablanca.
Casablanca is the major city and definitely the most modern city of Le Maroc. A population of a solid 10 million in this big city that are mixed between the French, other Europeans, some Americans and many other African countries besides the Moroccan themselves. The city accounts for nearly 70 percent of the country’s GDP (!) itself and has a vast variety of businesses there nearby the world’s third tallest mosque of Hassan II.
Many parts of this city came across with a southern French vibe which was clearly different to the other cities and places visited during this journey. I would say Casablanca felt European in many parts, again very different and way more modern compared to the to the rest of Morocco. And no need to value this statement, it is simply different.
The small red taxis, mainly Dacia manufactured, are suited for a negotiable short trip within the city. They tend to be a small rip-off, yet transport you to the places like that mentioned mosque which can be visited by really everybody outside of the holy Ramadan. Marocco does present itself as an absolutely liberal Muslim country. Or take that taxi to famous Rick’s Café from that classic movie everyone knows. Just, if you haven’t got a reservation, there is a close to zero chance to get in, sadly; and it is not really any more that exact cafe. It is a smoker bar, so I was surely OK with a denial of entry.
White taxi cars are the normal cars that offer fair rides also for that bit outside of town if you address the driver nicely. I could almost half the price on my first night there;) And later again for a trip to Bouznika at the end of the trip, a luxury hotel that ended the trip by the beach.
The streets present themselves in a second world quality across the country whilst the toll highways (“auto routes”) and main roads in Kingdom Cities are maintained excellent. What surprised me was how clean the streets are usually. Everyone seems to work here in order to contribute to the openness, friendliness, and cleanliness of their very city. Really impressive outside the souks. Souks are local markets with plenty of super small shops that will try to sell you what they got. Leather shoes and garments, spices, more or less artsy stuff from drawings to wood or metal made cats and camels or of course food in many varieties. A lot of food. Prices have increased since the Pandemic, but it is still way cheaper than Europe for the most especially if you can and will negotiate everything. Price bargaining is one hell piece of culture over there, speaking for all of Morocco. As a tourist, you should pay half of their initial price at maximum. Might still be actually too much, but super affordable coming from Euro to Dollar countries.
Architecture seems classic with many modern sky scrapers in Casablanca. Besides the French influence, of course. I liked it for the most. Casablanca is bigger, more Western, Business oriented with small parts of classic Marocco. “We Heart Casa” or “We Casa Blanca” is the Self-Marketing credo that works well here. Casatram operates frequently, too. Yes, public transportation is in place and seems reliable. Also, I felt super-safe and cool almost all the time. With cool referring to the adventurous vibes in this country, not the temperatures. Those rank from mild to warm to hot throughout the country.
A very cool political or business fact is that Morocco accepts all African workers! They are in need of reliable workers and seem to shape a fair country without horribly poor people like often found in the rest of Africa. A decision by their king Mohammed.
To complete about Casablanca, German and American and Swiss companies can be found in Casablanca or Casa, as the people say. The overwhelming business factor is the overwhelming distinguisher between this biggest city and the rest of the country.
The situation of women in modern Morocco is quite emancipated despite the omnipresent role of religion and known religious way of clothing. Morocco strictly differentiates from the Arab countries. You do hear the calling of a Muezzin here and there, yet people not tend to fight over their very religions which unfolded in a peaceful way that was absolutely calming in my perception. And of course, you can wear what you want in the streets and will not be openly judged.
The existing mix of people seems to welcome everyone, some variety in culture and what helps people is what matters. You have a question, well, ask people and get help in many ways. From warnings not to hold a phone openly in your hand in some streets to respectful support in finding places or stuff. Once, a bus driver in Chefchaouen was shocked that I paid 10 dirham for a big bottle of water whilst 6 Moroccan Dirham were the right price. He stopped, ran into the store, and brought me the 4 dirham back! And those four equal like just 40 cents be it EUR or USD. A lot of places accept US Dollars or Euro and conversion is that 1 gets you 10 dirham.
An African Arabian European blend. Affected by nearly all global trends, yet stable and growing for the good. This opinion came to mind rather early on this journey and I feel good noting it down here. As this journey took place on the road, I will further add that police does stop traffic and check on cars regularly. Yet, quite often we simply got waved through and it always feels safe.
As everywhere on this thrilling planet, language portrays mutual respect and the usual cultural to historical mélange. French, Moroccan Arab Slang, African to English words form the language to regional slang of the various people living here. Moroccans are claiming to understand all African languages, but that others cannot understand Moroccan is what they say with a bright smile on their faces. Amazigh language is thus proud, different, and modern and ubiquitously spoken with some words taken from French and English. Which is why French and at least some English is understood by all people even in remote areas. A stunning fact for a communicator person like me.
Rabat is the country’s capital and been the next stop. Tradition and cool Medinas and parks meet the classic royal world here. Our lunch restaurant was hard to find but featured via Trip Advisor and offered an authentic experience. Plus, the town has a nice theater and features the highest tower of Africa here nearby stunning religious places. License plates are read from right to left with a “1” marking cars from Rabat. For pedestrians it is plain awesome that they can walk in the shade underneath constant trees covering the sidewalk. Another example of wonderful gardening in King Cities like the capital Rabat. And it was in this city that I spotted first, that cats are dominant over dogs here and usually treated rather well.
Fes is another bigger city at about 3 million inhabitants, an 8th century location that marked the next stop of this journey. A must on a road trip around the country for sure. The souk here is a great adventure that one has to take! Ideally with a guide to honestly find your way out of it again. This is the souk experience: “Balak! Balak!” Is what they yell to make way when goods are transported on narrow streets in the souk. Make way, coming through with bare hands carrying everything or on scooters or hand carts. So many hand carts, donkey transportation and the like that it feels like time travel every now and then. Over 4.400 stores are in operation in this hot souk.
The minarets have four corners in Northwest Africa differentiating again to the round ones in the Arab world. A fact learned here and observed throughout the country. By the way, the sexiest or prettiest traffic lights I ever saw were found in Fes. By contrast, I was shocked how touristy the sweat shops of leather dyeing right in the middle of the city are presented and portray the tough stinky job it is. Still, worth exploring.
In general, more parks, green, skate parks or children playgrounds than one would expect can be spotted in the major cities. Again, a relaxed culture. The Gendarmes (local police) are seen generally, too, alongside military policies here and there. Safety is preserved and tourists are usually never robbed from what I heard and observed or felt.
World’s Bluest City was another day of taking exciting photos in the mountain town of Chefchaouen in the North of the country. I let the following pictures speak for themselves, amazing and blue. BLUE..! They say that historically this color blue keeps the ghosts away. Thus, more and more inhabitants painted their houses blue. And eventually streets were painted blue as well over the years and over recent time, more tourists came to experience this fascination; Instagram-style. I enjoyed that so many people from all over the globe loved this spot. Still, it is really not too crowded or mega touristy, just cute. Also, a nice approach to day dreaming. I’d say “Bali-people” would like it here, too 😉 And that blue color comes from Indigo that can be purchased on many corners.
The Talghemet Restaurant randomly found for a late lunch stop besides a country road became a favorite food experience of mine ever. It was some time after Fes and Chefchaouen. The typical Tajine pot is key to the Moroccan cuisine and meat to vegetarian dishes are cooked in this hot pot mini pyramid. Or go for the Berber Omelet with it, which I did. Spicy, tasteful, hot, absolutely delicious and protein-rich for like less than two Euro if converted. Local, authentic, right by the road and not in high class restaurants or touristy spots is again where I found a wonderful meal. This is the life that I enjoy the most.
An interesting contrast town has been the winter or ski destination of the town of Ifrane. Yes, Morocco also features a winter resort. A meetup with a stray dog that felt like a universe collaboration also happened here. Yes, I tend to believe that the universe sent me a temporary animal friend to climb all the stairs in this town, reach a crown on top of a hill, enjoy the view and be happy at hundred per cent for some magic moments. That white Moroccan crown on a local hill played well with it when I simply had the urge out of nowhere to run up all stairs of that hill monument and a beautiful calm stray dog accompanied me at all time in a friendly and heart-warming way without begging for food or anything. Moments so special and fun that I annotate them under traveler’s luck just to explain it somehow. Even though, I had always been more of a cat person.
This town or vast village is called the Suisse of Morocco by the way and is among the ten cleanest cities of the entire planet. A sweet town with superb air quality on an altitude of 1.600 meters. Once, massive mountain lions were found here, but the last one was sadly killed in the 1930ies already.
Another important destination has been the High Atlas mountain range. It made us stop at 3.015 m and 2.260 m to breathe and enjoy high mountains before heading down to Marrakech. Even on these remote high areas they will try to bargain and sell you anything. The roads have clearly been redone in recent years and you can drive comfortably even up here. Of course, the highest altitude of 4.000 m and higher are not covered by me here as it gets too cold up there for me. That “Tunnel Zaabal” picture further down was somewhere on the way up there.
Nature in its awesome way is the oasis experience. To somehow see the Grand Canyon with many palm trees and a river down below became the next stunning experience. An oasis could be just that small pond with that one palm tree, but usually is way more and a forest by a river in a hot and dry surrounding.
The movie of Gladiator and others, once hosted by the town of Toudgha El Oulia near Tinguir. Or Ouarzazate. What a name for a town, I struggle pronouncing it correctly. Palm trees nearby super tall rocky formations. A dream scenario suited for movies or day dreams of other times or planets. The name of this town translates to city of no noise. Calming, yet too adventurous and about 300 pictures in just one day. Believe me, most material ever to choose pictures from is found with this journey.
Kasbahs, old castles in the Berber way. Impressive old buildings made from simple materials that withstand the heat and the cold. Just struggle with too much rain which is rarely observed here. Much detail and history and stunning photoshoot spots to be explored. Kasbahs were built by municipalities or rich families back in the days.
And last but for sure not least: The Sahara. A layover that actually happened before the high Atlas. It was a packed journey that combined a lot and covered most of Morocco. “Sa-ha-ra“ to be pronounced correctly. The western beginning of the famous massive sandy desert. A sunrise on the back of an Arabian camel. Yep, the SUNRISE is magical here and preferred that over the sunset at the hefty cost of less sleep that night.. The one-humped camel is found in the Sahara over here. A cute experience and more comfortable way to climb the first Sahara dunes. Soft sand and the experience of fresh temperatures that quickly rose with the sun coming up. Thanks to the Bedouin Hassan for guiding me. The nearby city of Erfoud allowed for authentic impressions of a town’s life nearby the desert. Not too sandy whilst nicely hot. I like it hot.
After many stops and the Sahara and the high Atlas, it was time to experience: Marrakech.
Worth a blog entry for itself. I might want the pictures let unfold the story. A global town of local Berber bargainers, fantastic bars with alcohol free drinks, and so many western escapists that you easily begin sensing those vibes everywhere. Way more than two million people coming to life even more when the sun has set. When the buzzling begins. When night markets tackle all your senses and a ton of people can be observed or talked to. And there is the Yves Saint Laurent museum. So, a lively city that I declare a must-visit place in a lifetime.
The place and night market on the Jemaa el-Fnaa square remains a must forever. The impressive mass of people and the things happening or the meat skewers made for you right on the square build up memories. So do the rattle snakes on sale.
But there are many cool cafes like Cafe Atlas to be found for a relaxing tea ceremony to reflect on yourself or soak in this town.
And so much more to be found right and left in Morocco. So many pictures. So much vibing.
Azud (“from my heart”): I recommend visiting Morocco. Et MERCI à Abdul pour ton soutien.
Best, Sirk
