Sporting our desert scarves we’re ready for the desert sand |
An old kasbah overlooks the vast palm groves to the East of the Atlas |
The centuries old tanneries, Fez
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Sunrise in the Sahara |
“Morocco? Heard of it, but where is it?” This was the reaction from most people when they learnt of my impending visit. “North Africa” was a close enough explanation as already connections of Marrakech Express, Bogey and Katherine in “Casablanca” and leather bound books had materialized. This was Morocco with a desert thrown in somewhere.
What riches lay ahead for me and my fellow travelers? From our midnight arrival at Casablanca airport to our early morning ferry departure at Tangier, it was 3 weeks of unfolding exotic tastes, sights, sounds and experiences. A photographer’s dream, a shopper’s heaven and a traveller’s delight.
To detail our trip would take more space than this allows but let me say Morocco is a country as geographically diverse as N.Z.
The quaint little fishing port of Essaouira on the Atlantic Coast with its white, blue-doored buildings everywhere (ohh, the beautiful inlaid thuya wood products and kaleidoscope patterned ceramics).
The blue and white colour scheme of Chefchaouen up in the Rif Mountains where, walking amongst hillside wildflowers and goat-herds, one expects to see Heidi. (ohh, the soft hand- woven woollen rugs and blankets).
The old imperial city of Marrakech with its exciting Djemaa el-fna throbbing each night with life, and the myriad of tempting wares in the souqs (ohh, the leather babouches and embroidered jellabas in every hue).
Toubkal National Park in the High Atlas mountains, offering trekking on foot or by donkey, and wonderful accommodation in Kasbah du Toubkal where we woke to a mountainous fairyland after the night’s snowfall (ohh, the rich colours of Berber jewellery).
Riding camels to a Berber camp set amongst the Merzouga Dunes in the northern reaches of the Sahara, where we shared a tajine meal under the stars (ohh, the amazing fossils, millions of years old).
Viewing in awe the grandeur of the US$800 million Hassan 2nd Mosque in Casablanca, dramatically dominating an Atlantic washed promontory (ohh, the drinks at Ricks Café).
Craning our necks to view the 300m cliffs from the shadowed bottom of the Todra Gorge (ohh the long deep blue Tuareg scarves, so useful for desert travel).
The most ancient imperial city of Fez with its narrow alleyways, those funny red hats and centuries old tanneries (ohh, the beautiful leather ware).
The dry desert region with its old Kasbah towns now Palmeries (ohh, the tempting and visually stunning array of dried fruits, olives, spices and sweetmeats in the markets).
The paradox of leaving such an area at 9am in around 30degrees of heat and by mid afternoon driving through heavy hail, then walking amongst lofty cedar trees in our trusty polar fleeces, as we drove to the alpine resort of Ifrane (ohh the delectable Swiss style pastries).
Whew! What a country. (to be continued)
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