After the United States, India, Greece and even the United States, my fifth trip of 2012 has taken place in Morocco, while Ramadan was in full swing and the August sun promised a tan "cramée toast" to all brave or foolhardy who do not fear quite like that. And as usual, I give you this travelogue to help you if you plan to go, or do you travel without travel otherwise.
I really wanted to enjoy this holiday to spend my first diving experience, although Morocco is not necessarily the top-rated destination for it, since I had already done 9 dives during my past trips, never m 'stop long enough to get my level 1.
So I chose a city on the Atlantic coast (I do not want to go in the Mediterranean), which has a dive and not too far from some interesting that I can visit once my past level places.
My choice fell on Agadir, well served in terms of airlines, and not too far from interesting places like Essaouira, Casablanca and Marrakech particularly, and I am therefore went with my girlfriend for two weeks.
AGADIR
Let's be clear right away, Agadir, it's wonderful. The city was completely destroyed in 1960 by an earthquake, and everything has been rebuilt in the "utility" style suburban 60s.
By against Agadir is 340 days of sunshine a year and a proximity to the Atlantic Ocean that ensures cool in summer and softness in winter, and a beautiful bay. The modern 5-star hotels at very affordable prices out of season, they are gorgeous, stunning palaces with all the amenities that will make you take it for a Sultan during a few nights.
Essaouira
The road from Agadir to Essaouira is quite pretty, and she even tends to mimic the famous Road One which connects Los Angeles and San Francisco when the mountain meets the sea and the fog is involved.
We meet, in addition to green oasis in a fairly rocky areas, fish vendors who offer us their whole fresh peach ... directly on the road, and argan oil sellers lazing in the shade of an argan which seem so alone in the middle of nowhere they seem emerged from a hiding place underground where they return after dark.
As an air of One Road between LA and San Francisco ... But we are in Morocco!
once arrived in Essaouira, we leave the car in a car park at the entrance, as well as Rhodes, the old city is surrounded by a wall and winding medieval streets are closed to cars.
As soon as we enter we are struck by the atmosphere there, very different from Agadir (this is an understatement). Tourists make their somehow a path between mopeds, bicycles, carriages, dogs, cats and overflowing stalls of traders on the dirt road, it honks, it argues, it rattle in a joyful and bustling brothel. At first it reminded me of the streets of Old Delhi in India!
The streets of the Medina of Essaouira, a great show!
We quickly go out of the main streets to engulf us in the narrow alleys which actually have nothing to envy the medieval streets of Rhodes, in search of our riad. Moroccan traditional habitat and heir straight Roman villas, riads are multi-storey houses arranged around a central open courtyard, which generally does not outwardly open windows (to keep cool), and a roof terrace ideal for taking her little morning breakfast basis.
Riad in Essaouira
Marrakech
We arrive in Marrakech when evening falls, and we hurry to leave our stuff in the riad that we booked in the Medina, to soar immediately to the famous Jamaa El Fna.
And what a show! Musicians, storytellers, snake charmers, henna tattoo artists, monkey trainers, "showmen" offering games of skill, a living whole and noisy world reveals itself as we move into this space ultra wide. Moroccans and tourists mingle happily, and if the former are regularly collared, merchants are generally not insist too much, making the discovery of all this very pleasant life.
- Ten small street restaurants buzzing center of the square, offering to eat on the spot of traditional Moroccan food for ridiculous prices. If you agree you will see that restaurants are particularly motivated to make you stay with them since competition is very tough and prices and a restaurant menu are identical to another ...
We'll eat and enjoy some of that incredible atmosphere. I regret not speak Arabic or Berber, which prevents me from enjoying the stories of the storytellers who seem captivate Moroccans evidence that all this activity does not only aim to please the tourists. I understand that this place is recorded in the oral World Heritage by UNESCO, there really is something inimitable thing I have not seen anywhere else, not even on the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi.
The souks of Marrakech
The next day we swallowed up in the souks and it's a new opportunity to discover a side of Moroccan culture. The streets are narrow, sometimes protected from the sun by corrugated iron roofs, and the shops are succeeding with their colors and smells, while one sneaks between tourists, residents, mopeds, bicycles, donkeys and cats.
In a Berber village
This picturesque village was unfortunately also an opportunity for us to live a real harassment of some of its inhabitants experience. Indeed we were kindly greeted by children playing in the village and who left us when we entered the museum.
When we wanted to leave the village after visiting, we went back to them, and there it was the gold rush: they rushed to us asking "just one dirham, sir "we surrounding and harassing us until we reach the car. They are so rushed that they are a little hurt and a child even gave me a kick in wanting to give one to his friend!
Great atmosphere ... Meanwhile the few adults who watched the scene did not intervene. In short, an unpleasant experience obviously created by kids who do not realize what they are doing. If this happens do not give in, as rightly says the Rough Guide give them money is to encourage them to leave school and continue to harass tourists
Berber mountains
Conclusion
I could see a small part of Morocco, including by leaving Northern cities, and spending a lot more time than it takes to Agadir for reasons of idleness and passage of the first Elevated level
However, what little I could see gave me want to come back: the enormous cultural difference despite the distance so close to France that gives us so many opportunities to experience amazing things, the widespread use of french which is very nice, multiple sports or potential discovery, the cost if you travel in the off season, the kindness and openness of Moroccans, excellent food although a little tired at the end of a while, it is rich and deserves to be discovered if you havent yet been.
Source : http://blogueur-pro.com/le-maroc
