Saturday, January 11, 2014

Travel To Morocco And Have The Experience Of A Lifetime

By Marissa Velazquez


Choosing your next holiday destination can be quite a challenge. After all, it's difficult to find a destination that has great food, a fascinating culture, beautiful landscapes, unique experiences and great beaches all rolled into one. Even harder is to find a place like this that's still affordable. If you travel to Morocco, though, you'll find that the perfect destination is not only a pipe dream.

Morocco is one of the countries of North Africa. It's located right across from Gibraltar and the south of Spain, with only the Strait of Gibraltar to separate the country from Europe. This close proximity means that there are many Spanish influences but because Morocco was a colony of France, French culture has made its mark too. Most Moroccans can speak French, for instance. However, the prevailing cultural influences are from Arab culture and Islam.

The first city most tourists visit and the one they all know about is Casablanca. This coastal city was the setting for the eponymous movie classic starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. One of the most impressive sights in Casablanca is the huge Hassan II Mosque but don't miss the beautiful Mahkama du Pacha either. Enjoy the cooling sea breeze along the promenade known as the Corniche and imagine you're in an old black-and-white film too.

Head to the foot of the Atlas Mountains for another popular Moroccan city. Marrakech has managed to keep up with the times without losing its old-world charm. Marvel at the Koutoubia Mosque, the El Bahia Palace, the Saadian Tombs and the Berber Museum. Browse through the souks, explore the alleys and enjoy the evening entertainment at Djemaa al-Fna.

Part of the Moroccan coastline lies on the North Atlantic. Another part is located on the Mediterranean. This means of course that Morocco has a variety of great beaches. If mountains are more your thing, head into the High Atlas. Here you can go hiking and exploring the peaks, valleys and Berber villages.

A favorite attraction for many visitors to the country is the Sahara with its sand dunes. Many a Hollywood movie has been filmed here, especially in or near the ancient city of Ait-Benhaddou. The modern way to explore the desert is by off-road vehicle but for an experience you'll never forget, try the traditional mode of transport here, which is the camel. Camel treks are very popular and often include sleeping in a tent in the desert, with millions of stars in the clear skies above. Another fun activity is to go sandboarding down the dunes.

Moroccan food is world renowned for its flavor and if you can only try one local dish, let it be the stew called 'tahine'. It's made in a special clay pot which can also be a great souvenir to buy. Other items that you may want to buy include woven carpets, silver jewelry, spices, leather goods and dates. The currency used here is the Moroccan dirham.

There are different ways to travel to Morocco with the minimum of fuss. The quickest are to fly from Europe to either Casablanca or Agadir on one of the many low-cost carriers that offer this service. Another, even cheaper way is to travel by ferry from Malaga or Gibraltar to Tangier. Be warned though that once you're here, you may not want to go home again.




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