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Morocco 2007!
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 2007!
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
Here are new words I'm learning in my trip research:
- 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
Guidebooks
by Anthony Ham
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $16.49 (as of 07/25/2008)
List Price: $24.99
Used Price: $12.85
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by DK Publishing
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $16.50 (as of 07/25/2008)
List Price: $25.00
Used Price: $7.40
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by Fodor's
Release Date: 02/06/2007
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Amazon Price: $14.96 (as of 07/25/2008)
List Price: $22.00
Used Price: $11.29
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by Mark Ellingham, Shaun McVeigh, Daniel Jacobs, Hamish Brown
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Amazon Price: $21.99 (as of 07/25/2008)
List Price: $21.99
Used Price: $3.40
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by Jillian York
Release Date: 11/14/2006
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Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 07/25/2008)
List Price: $9.95
Used Price: $5.48
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Dragging along a reluctant husband? Can you say "golf"?
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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....)
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Golf Marrakech!
- Here's a link to some of the beautiful courses in the area of Marrakech.
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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
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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.
Video of Morocco
Various YouTube entries from around the country
Moroccan Cookbooks
by Kitty Morse
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Amazon Price: $15.61 (as of 07/25/2008)
List Price: $22.95
Used Price: $13.85
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by Paula Wolfert
Release Date: 02/18/1987
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Amazon Price: $12.92 (as of 07/25/2008)
List Price: $19.00
Used Price: $4.85
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by Fatema Hal
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Amazon Price: (as of 07/25/2008)
List Price: $18.95
Used Price: $7.23
by Fatema Hal, Jean-Francois Hamon, Bruno Barbey
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Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 07/25/2008)
List Price: $14.95
Used Price: $10.95
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by Clare Ferguson
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Amazon Price: $11.66 (as of 07/25/2008)
List Price: $14.95
Used Price: $10.22
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Cook with Tagine
(In case you forgot to pick one up when you were there....)
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by Anissa Helou
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Amazon Price: (as of 07/25/2008)
List Price: $19.95
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by Kitty Morse
Release Date: 05/22/2007
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Amazon Price: $0.49 (as of 07/25/2008)
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Available for download now
Marrakesh Travel Guide
VirtualTourist.com
Plan a Marrakesh vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Marrakesh locals. This is an awesome site-- well worth taking the time to read through all the sections. Here are links to just a few of them.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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...."
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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
Haven't read any of these, and so can't personally recommend, but these are some I'd like to check out....
by Stephen Jay Gould
Amazon Price: $10.20 (as of 07/25/2008)
List Price: $15.00
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by DK Publishing
Amazon Price: $9.60 (as of 07/25/2008)
List Price: $12.00
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by Editors of Wallpaper Magazine
Amazon Price: $8.95 (as of 07/25/2008)
List Price: $8.95
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by Madison Cox, Pierre Berge
Amazon Price: $18.95 (as of 07/25/2008)
List Price: $18.95
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by Elizabeth Warnock Fernea
Amazon Price: $22.46 (as of 07/25/2008)
List Price: $24.95
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Marrakech in Photos
The Jama'a Elfna Square in Marrakech.
Mesquita %uFFFD entrada de Marrakech (tirada do carro em movimento...)
Taken in Marrakech while we were searching the Sahadi Tombs - Marruecos
Ladies sitting on a bench at the Koutoubia mosque in Marrakech, Morocco
Kubba Ba'Adiyin, Marrakech
Marrakech Souk
Food stalls and snake charmers, early evening in Jemaa el Fna Marrakech
El Zoco, La Medina, Marrakech
This Old Riyad
Great video-- the renovating of a riyad.
This Old Riad!
Episode One! Renovating a house in a foreign land is fun and frustrating. Follow us as we begin work on our new home in Morocco!





Runtime: 7:21
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Links on the Seaside Town of Essaouira
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Essaouira.com
- English-language site with info on accomodations, itineraries and maps, culture and traditions, and other practical information.
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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.
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Essaouira - Wikipedia entry
- History, modern industry-- not much more.
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Essaouiranet.com
- Two live webcams, and several 360-degree photos of the port, the beach, the skyline, etc.
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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.
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The Best of Morocco: Essaouira
- Pictures, festivals, artisans....
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Essaouira, Beautiful and Quiet
- Travel related article on this destination. Photos and interactive map.
Awesome Way to Brush Up on Rusty French!
The French Pod Class
Travelling to Morocco? You'll want to brush up on your French! I have found a great way: French Pod Class, a FREE podcast on iTunes!.
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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Histereo
A good lens on Morocco. I too have a lens on the great Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta.He roamed almost the whole of north Africa and Asia for more than 25 years.It is at http://www.squidoo.com/wayfarer. Hope to see more of your such lenses.
Posted June 25, 2008
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Habiba http://97ab.habibazik.com/97ab-maroc/
The best Youtube videos
Posted April 23, 2008
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CrypticFragments
I dream of visiting Maroc! I have some Moroccan food and decor lenses myself and am linking to yours!
best wishes
Posted April 19, 2008
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Jesper Saunte / Denmark I've been to Marrakech last august
Still thinking about going back - miss cafe espice
Are you going to have a small guesthouse in your riyad or is it just for you
Good luck
Posted July 02, 2007
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WhitePineLane
Just back from Maroc! Would go back in a heartbeat. Thoroughly enjoyed every minute. (Although I did get a little couscous and tagine'd out, and was glad to have pizza in a cafe on the last day!) Absolutely perfect trip!
Posted June 08, 2007
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