by 5 people |
La Vie en Maroc!
This lens is part pre-trip research on the country of Morocco: What is the weather like in Morocco? The food? The culture? What is there to do? How are Americans perceived? These are all things that I have explored, and I share my findings with you here.
And part post-trip advice on things like: What was cool about it? What wasn't? How was the shopping? The food? The people?
Come along with me and explore Morocco!
Morocco: The Basics
Language: Official language: Arabic (official), Derija (Moroccan Arabic), several Berber dialects. As a second language: Spanish in the north, French in the southern region.Climate: Just about all the extremes you can imagine, from the seaside, to snow in the high Atlas Mountains, to the Sahara Desert!
Cultural makeup:
Religion: 98% muslim
New terms to know
- medina: the ancient section of many north African cities
- riyad, riad: typical home in the medina, or old section, built around a center courtyard. Often deceptively modest on the exterior.
- hammam: bath house
- souk, souq: the marketplace in an Arab city
Morocco on Wikipedia
Morocco (, al-Ma?rib), officially the Kingdom of MoroccoConventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco - Conventional short form: Morocco - Local long form: al-Mamlakah al-Ma?ribiyya - Local short form: al-Ma?rib - CIA World Factbook (??????? ????????, al-Mamlakah al-Ma?ribiyya), is a country located in North Africa with a population of nearly 32 million and an area just under . Its capital is Rabat, and its largest city is Casablanca. Morocco has a coast on the Atlantic Ocean that reaches past the Strait of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered by Algeria to the east, Spain to the north (a water border through the Strait and land borders with three small Spanish enclaves, Ceuta, Melilla, and Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera), and Western Sahara to the south.Pending resolution of the Western Sahara conflict.
Several dialects of Arabic and Berber are spoken in Morocco. However, this linguistic diversity doesn't affect the ethnic situation as the population is largely homogeneous.
Morocco is the only country in Africa that is not currently a member of the African Union and it has shown no interest in joining, due to other African nations recognizing Western Sahara as a sovereign state. However, it is a member of the Arab League, Arab Maghreb Union, Francophonie, Organisation of the Islamic Conference, Mediterranean Dialogue group, and Group of 77. It is also a major non-NATO ally of the United States.
Guidebooks
Morocco (Country Guide)
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Amazon Price: (as of 12/23/2009) 
List Price: $24.99
Used Price: $4.29
Morocco (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
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Amazon Price: $16.50 (as of 12/23/2009)
List Price: $25.00
Used Price: $12.72
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Fodor's Morocco, 3rd Edition (Fodor's Gold Guides)
Release Date: 02/06/2007
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List Price: $22.00
Used Price: $4.38
The Rough Guide to Morocco 7 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)
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Amazon Price: $4.61 (as of 12/23/2009)
List Price: $21.99
Used Price: $0.98
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Morocco - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture
Release Date: 11/14/2006
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List Price: $9.95
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Dragging along a reluctant husband? Can you say "golf"?
Yes, thank god, there is golf in Morocco! The former king was a big golfer, and built several beautiful courses. More are being built currently. (Somewhat controversial in a land with water shortages....)
- Golf Marrakech!
- Here's a link to some of the beautiful courses in the area of Marrakech.
- Golf in Morocco / Marrakech
- And more info. (On the theory "Give them golf courses, they will come.")
Morocco Links
Fascinating bits and pieces about the country
- Art and Culture in Morocco | Morocco
- Understanding local customs and arts in Morocco on Morocco.com/ Interesting little bit on cultural dos and don'ts.
Moroccan Cookbooks
Cooking at the Kasbah: Recipes from My Moroccan Kitchen
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Amazon Price: $19.62 (as of 12/23/2009)
List Price: $22.95
Used Price: $13.67
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Couscous and Other Good Food from Morocco
Release Date: 02/18/1987
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Amazon Price: $14.82 (as of 12/23/2009)
List Price: $19.00
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Food of Morocco: Authentic Recipes from the North African Coast (Food of the World Cookbooks)
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List Price: $18.95
Used Price: $2.68
Authentic Recipes from Morocco (Authentic Recipes Series)
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Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 12/23/2009)
List Price: $14.95
Used Price: $9.23
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A Taste of Morocco: From Harira Soup to Chicken Kdra (The Small Book of Good Taste Series)
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Amazon Price: $11.66 (as of 12/23/2009)
List Price: $14.95
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Cook with Tagine
(In case you forgot to pick one up when you were there....)
Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Moroccan Tagine, 1-3/4 Qt.
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Emile Henry Tagine, 2.6 Qt
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Cafe Morocco
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Couscous and Tagines: Two Moroccan Classics
Release Date: 05/22/2007
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Available for download now
Marrakesh Travel Guide
VirtualTourist.com
- Shopping for Food and Drink
- Wonderful first-hand tips on where to find what-- from closet-sized stores in the souks to regular grocery stores (with beer and wine!) in the ville nouveau.
- Things to Do
- Reviews and photos of Marrakesh attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Marrakesh sightseeing! Gardens, museums, palaces, tombs, and a guide to the suuqs.
- Restaurants
- Reviews and photos of Marrakesh restaurants posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Marrakesh dining, from local cuisine to street vendors, sea food to fast food!
- Tourist Trap Tips
- Everything from what (and where) to avoid, to blurbs like "Pictures with monkeys... AVOID THEM!!!" and "Beware tarted up "water sellers" who want money to take their pictures and then don't even have any water...."
- Packing Lists
- Tips on what to pack for a trip to Marrakesh, posted by real travelers and Marrakesh locals. General items, clothes for the climate, books and maps, etc.
Marrakech Books on Amazon
Lulu in Marrakech
Amazon Price: $9.94 (as of 12/23/2009)
List Price: $15.00
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Shopping in Marrakech
Amazon Price: $14.21 (as of 12/23/2009)
List Price: $18.95
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Street in Marrakech
Amazon Price: $22.32 (as of 12/23/2009)
List Price: $25.95
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Top 10 Marrakech (Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides)
Amazon Price: $9.60 (as of 12/23/2009)
List Price: $12.00
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Marrakech: Living on the Edge of the Desert
Amazon Price: $43.87 (as of 12/23/2009)
List Price: $65.00
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More fun and informative links:
- Adventures in Marrakech
- A great site about Morocco with lots and lots of pictures!
- World 66: Marrakech Travel Guide
- History, pictures, restaurants, places to stay, and "perfect day" plans!
- Marrakech Fact Sheet from Concierge.com
- Up-to-the minute info including time, weather and exchange rates.
This Old Riyad
Links on the Seaside Town of Essaouira
- Essaouira.com
- English-language site with info on accomodations, itineraries and maps, culture and traditions, and other practical information.
- Sejour Essaouira
- La ville d'Essaouira et ses habitants sont heureux d'inviter ses nouveaux voyageurs à découvrir la culture marocaine à travers son harchitecture, son artisanat, ses traditions, ses festivals.
- Essaouira - Wikipedia entry
- History, modern industry-- not much more.
- Essaouiranet.com
- Two live webcams, and several 360-degree photos of the port, the beach, the skyline, etc.
- Essaouira - Mogador : L'invitation au voyage
- Invitation au voyage dans une ville du sud du Maroc : Essaouira - Mogador petit port de pêche, cité historique et touristique.
- The Best of Morocco: Essaouira
- Pictures, festivals, artisans....
- Essaouira, Beautiful and Quiet
- Travel related article on this destination. Photos and interactive map.
- Riad Essaouira - Accueil
- I can heartily recommend this enchanting riyad situated in the heart of the medina in Essaouira. You will feel like you're in your own private palace. The absolute pefect place to stay when visiting this charming town.
Awesome Way to Brush Up on Rusty French!
The French Pod Class
This highly entertaining, useful and helpful podcast has totally captivated me! I came across it about a month ago, and have since gone back and downloaded every single one of the 70 or so episodes!
The host, Sebastien is wonderful! I love the mix of French and English, and also the variety he provides-- music, audio clips from movies, passages from books-- all wonderfully explained in French and English.
I was a French major in college and lived in France for a year almost 25 years ago-- and since listening to this podcast for the last month, I am really beginning to be able to speak, understand, and even dream in French again!
Bravo, Sebastien!
What the heck-- go ahead and book your flight!
Please sign my guestbook!
What drew you to my lens? Have you been to Morocco? Thinking about going to Morocco? Find anything useful here? Have any ideas for me? Let me know what you're thinking!
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Reply
- luvmyludwig luvmyludwig Feb 25, 2009 @ 10:47 pm
- thank you for joining the squidoo skiddo group
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Reply
- JaguarJulie JaguarJulie Dec 31, 2008 @ 12:00 pm
- We may be making a side trip to Morocco in the not too distant future as hubby has been researching timeshares in southern Spain and may be booking something -- just can't get enough of those European vacations. Best to you my dear in the new year.
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Reply
- JZ_Daniel JZ_Daniel Dec 30, 2008 @ 6:15 am
- Cool Lens. Are you the people who made the video? I saw it previously on youtube. If you are doing a riad would you let me know? Thanks.
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Reply
- GHouse GHouse Dec 6, 2008 @ 2:17 am
- Hi!! Just come to see your nice lens. I did my travel lens too. It's about my hotel in hua hin Thailand. Hua Hin is a charming town of clean white sandy beach. If you come to Thailand, please visit us.
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Reply
- modernjane modernjane Sep 27, 2008 @ 9:08 am
- I loved Morocco, but my experience may have been a bit different since I'm married to a guy from Morocco and we stayed with family most of the time. Let me just say that the food at the Moroccan restaurants are nothing compared to what you get in the normal Moroccan household. I love to eat out but after the second restaurant we decided it wasn't worth it when an awesome bastilla was on the table at Grandma's house.
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