Travel Morocco

Hello and welcome to my BLOG with information and tips to travel in Morocco. This blog starts today, the 11th February 2007 and is in fact a translation from my Portuguese blog already online since December 25th 2006. I invite you to navigate the blog and come back later for more posts and more updates while I translate information from Portuguese. In this blog, you have to understand that often I speak as a Portuguese, that doesn’t live that far from Morocco, so things tend to follow a specific logic, by the fact of me living so close. Thank you.

Morocco

Morocco is a country so near me, so near westerners, and yet, a destination that many fear to visit. This amazing country is one of the best travel destinations I had and one of the places I intend to keep on visiting and exploring until I have nothing left to see.

Morocco usually exposes people to distinct and opposite reactions: either you adore it, or you hate it. Me, well I guess I have both. The things I love I do love them and the things I dislike, well… they suck. Morocco as a country with a wide spectrum of itineraries, landscapes and cultures, fits quite easily to several types of travellers, and indeed satisfies both backpackers and luxury “spenders” tourists.

I travelled in Morocco first time back in 2000 and since then I came back around 25 now. Every time I have some spare time, I travel south from Evora, the city I live in Portugal, and appreciate the cultural shock, food, landscapes and of course, for me, the most thrilling: The Sahara Desert.

I often have the impression people wish to experience extreme destinations, countries where they can feel a certain shock in cultural matters, and, they scratch their head thinking where should they go, not knowing they have here, aside Europe, a great destination, a great alternative destinations. Morocco is a country to come back. Funny to notice how the every “great” traveller I know has been in Morocco at least 3 times, and actually think on returning.

Morocco is exactly 299 miles (480km) from my house here in Southern Portugal. Morocco is already one of the most visited countries in Africa but still remains with its authenticity and unique cultural character.

( 111.111km on my way to Morocco, around 69,041 miles)

I know many people that visited Morocco and didn’t like it. I ask where they go and they say they visited Rabat, Fez and Chaouen. Well, and they didn’t like it. I wouldn’t like it or find it appealing if I would have travelled to those cities on my first trip. It’s essential to choose the best places to go and not to go to the lousy ones right? In fact, from these 3 places the best in Chefchaouen, but Fez decadence and frenzied living and Rabat the capital “European Style” don’t really make it the best places to go on a short, 3 cities travel.

On this BLOG I will draw best potential itineraries, best destinations, hotels and things to buy in Morocco. I’m sure that after 7 years traveling in this country and more than 25 visits, my information has some great value and can be quite accurate. I can at easy, clarify myths, tell you places to go, places not to go, things that I like and facts I find unpleasant. Apart from being in Morocco several times, my familiarity includes living for 6 months between Erfoud and Erg Chebbi Dunes in Sahara Desert.

( view from the terrace in my home in Erfoud, South Morocco )

I early found out that the best way of traveling in Morocco is with wheels. Going by car indeed gives you enough mobility to enjoy unseen places and far way destinations, far better than most travel companies or tour operators offer you, even though many do have great tours. Driving by yourself, takes you to travel around different places, out of the normal tourist routes. I will try to point them out to you on this BLOG.

Usually on each trip I drive around 2500 miles ( 4000km ) both ways. This tour includes a big portion of what I believe to be the best parts of Morocco. The most I ever driven around the country was back in 2002, and after a month I made almost 5000 miles ( 8000km ).

( landscape in the region near Ouzoud on the first time I took my Opel Corsa. 5000 miles in 1 month travel )

Morocco is one of the safest countries I know. Without a doubt far safer than any other European country, and by this since Europe is far safer than the USA, you can already follow my logic. Moroccan crime rate is lower than the most “developed countries”. Another very important fact to clarify and demystify is the fact of people often believe Morocco is full of Islamic terrorists ready to attack or kidnapped you. Hum… I’m afraid this is wrong and does not correspond to reality. Political propaganda is often misunderstood by most people. I haven’t seen any people being judged by its nationality and Morocco is open to every nationality.

Religion in Morocco is taken smoothly and its strong Berber culture connects most of its people to Nature and ancient beliefs.

Americans shouldn’t worry, and even Israelis are welcome. Jewish community in Morocco is dissipating but still exists and is respected. I often found several groups of Israelis traveling in Sahara. Also, don’t worry about your girlfriend being trade by camel… they will take care of her nicely… hehe, no no don’t worry these are just crazy stories probably held a few centuries ago. If this conversation comes to the table, well, Moroccans are just making fun of you. They are just kidding and trying to be nice.

How to navigate this blog?

On the right you have PAGES with main topics and country presentation.

More below you can choose entries by different categories.

I would like you to comment my entries. Please leave me your opinion and of course I’m open to help you out on any doubt you have about traveling in this amazing country, that’s the reason I made this BLOG. Thank You!

The New Book of “Free Men of Morocco” is NOW available.

IMAZIGHEN – Free Men of Morocco

Photography in the land of the Imazighen: Northern Morocco, the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert.

Small collection of 28 carefully selected photos taken in 2005 by João Leitão.

Imazighen or Amazigh ( singular ) is the original ethnic group of the Maghreb region in North Africa. A.k.a. Berbers, these unique people persisted to exist and maintain their traditions even after several foreign invasions. In Morocco there are more than 20 million Berber spread around the country in few distinct tribes and groups.

This photographic research helps you understand the main differences between the Berbers from the North, from the Atlas Mountains and from the Sahara.

Morocco seen different

This 32 pages book shows a different Morocco. The Morocco beyond the eyes of foreigners, beyound the eyes of the cameras. We often think Morocco is just another Arab country but in fact that is not the reality. Berbers ( Imazighen ) kept their ancesters traditions well attached to their values, creating by this mean a certain gap between them and the Moroccan Arabic citizens.