Welcome to Morocco : The Cultural diversity

Morocco possesses a diverse and lively history that witnessed a long succession of different ruling people such as the Romans, French, Spanish, Jews, Arabs and Berbers. This diversity is reflected through many aspects of Moroccan life, namely the languages, the clothing, the cuisine, and the culture.

Traveling from region to region in Morocco might seem more like traveling from country to country. For the diversity of culture from one city to the next is striking. However, in general, Morocco can be divided into two main cultures: Arab and Berber. And, each one has its own charm. Tourists visiting Morocco will definitely not get bored as with every step they take, they are bound to discover Morocco’s eclectic heritage.

Agadir is Southern Morocco's most visited city and a very popular tourist destination. The earthquake in 1960 hit Agadir badly and the city had to be practically rebuilt. The event was taken as an opportunity to redesign the city and Agadir was transformed into a beautiful resort. Its sandy shores, modern coastal city feel and dozens of hotels are now a huge attraction and it draws crowds of Europeans during the winter months.

February 29, 1960, was a tragic day for the people of Morocco. The earthquake that hit killed 15 000 people and left over 50 000 homeless. Fortunately, this bitter event did have a sweet ending. The re-creation of the city has resulted in beautiful parks, luscious gardens and skyscraping luxury hotels.

It must be said though, that whilst the modern city is quite an attraction, it loses its appeal and novelty quickly. If you want to just hang on the beach, then you'll be quite satisfied with Agadir. But within the city itself, it almost seems as if there's something lacking. Like most travelers, Agadir is the place where you stop for a night or two to rest up before moving on to the more interesting Taroudannt or Essaouira. If you're in Agadir for a number of days however, make sure you book yourself on a couple of day trips. There are plenty fascinating towns and cities and places to see that are within driving distance.

Accommodation

There are plenty of hotels to choose from in Morocco. Cheap accommodation can be found in the city center of Talborjt. There are a number of privately owned self-catering apartments that offer cheap accommodation for those on a budget. Be warned that ahead booking is essential during the high seasons of July-August, Christmas & New Years. They are very popular and if they aren't self catering, then they'll be near to restaurants.

Beaches

The lack of monuments, museums and interesting sights mean that the beaches in Morocco are quite popular. Their popularity among the tourists has caused the authorities to take action in keeping the beaches clean. The sand is swept clean each morning and the regular patrols keep the beach almost free of vagrants. There are a number of bars and café's selling drinks and renting out sun-beds and umbrellas.

Be warned: the ocean has a strong undercurrent that has caught many unawares. Small children and weak swimmers should be aware of this and not swim too far out. The south end of the main beach has jet-skis for rental. Alternatively, dry activities like horse & camel riding, quad biking and beach buggies are also available and very popular.

Things to See & Do

The Valley of the Birds (daily from 09:30-12:30 and 14:30-18:00)
This narrow strip of parkland draws a large variety of bird species all year round. A number of aviary's, a zoo, waterfall and a playground for your children make this a great venue for families.

The Municipal Museum (Mon-Sat 10:00-19:00)
Honestly, not a terribly exciting destination, but fun for a quick perusal of some local arts and crafts.

Jardim de Olhao (daily 08:00-18:30)
This lovely outdoor area has a well groomed garden and children's playground. The walls and structures in the garden are styled to the original Berber Style. There's a small gallery that exhibits local artists as well as a cute cafe-restaurant.

Ancienne Talborjt
This plateau just west of the city center is somewhat of a shrine for friends and family of the over 15 000 people killed in the 1960 earthquake. A small mosque and an uncompleted memorial garden provides a somber setting for relatives and friends to walk and pray in remembrance of their lost loved ones.

Cuisine & Nightlife

Besides what the large hotels have, there's not much in the way of discos, clubs and bars to keep you entertained after sunset. There are however plenty cafe's and restaurants that stay open quite late. Catering for all budgets, there are many restaurants that serve traditional Moroccan cuisine. Otherwise, if you feel like something 'ethnic', you'll be able to find an eatery with alterative choices.

Getting Around

Transport in Adagir is fairly efficient with many buses and taxis to get you where you need to be. ONCF/Supratours, CTM and SATAS move in and around Adagir. The taxis are fairly cheap and run to all major destinations.

Marrakech is truly the city of entertainment in Morocco. In the center of Marrakech is a square, Djemaa el fna, which is the operating point for entertainers such as acrobats, drummers, dancers, pipe musicians, comedians and storytellers. There's plenty of choice for meals, including the Djemaa el Fna food stalls, many inexpensive cafe-restaurants and a number of up-market palace-restaurants that offer Morocco's traditional cuisine at its very best.

Marrakech is Morocco's second largest city and its population continues to rise. It has a prosperous industrial area and is the most significant market and organizational centre of Southern Morocco. Marrakech does not have many historical monuments and buildings; its beauty lies in the atmosphere and the spectacular location. Marrakech, with the outstanding peaks of the Atlas expanding behind the city, has very warm humid summers and shimmering white snowy winters. Marrakechis are well-known for their warmth and sociability, their humor and honesty.

Accommodation

The accommodation in Marrakech ranges from cheap hotels to quiet pleasant mid-range hotels to up market, comfortable, modern hotels with wonderful pools and interior design. The Medina has the main concentration of cheap hotels, while the hotels in Hivernage and Semlalia are mostly luxury hotels. Booking hotels well in advance will be a wise idea, especially over Christmas, Easter and New Year's where you'll find that all the hotels is full to capacity. There are also many choices for villas, self-catering and studio apartments that will suit your budget!

Things to See & Do

It is not essential to have a guide in Marrakech as the maps will guide you perfectly. The souks are interesting places in alleys and small squares that are dedicated to specific crafts and it is here that you can often watch part of the making process. There are a number of souks worth visiting and you can easily find the way to the souks on your own. Even if you get a little lost, you will find that this is part of the fun. The most appealing times to visit the souks are early morning and late afternoon when they auction off merchandise to the public. The Marrakech Museum is also a place worth visiting; it houses exhibitions of Moroccan art and sculpture, both traditional and contemporary. There's also a small bookshop and cafe in the entrance courtyard. With the summers in Marrakech being so hot nobody seems to want to do much. A perfect place to do nothing is in the gardens, with many picnic spots, lake-sized pools and cool and quiet surroundings.

Cuisine

Marrakech eating and drinking options break down less rigidly than usual between the Ville Nouvelle, in this case the Medina. The Medina is where you'll find most of the city's French-style cafés, bistros and restaurants and virtually all the bars. There's plenty of choice for meals, including the spectacle of the Djemaa el Fna food stalls, many inexpensive cafe-restaurants and a number of up-market palace-restaurants that offer Morocco's traditional cuisine at its very best.

Getting Around

By Air
Marrakech's airport is 4 km southwest of town; the airport has flights to London, Amsterdam, Paris Lyons, Madrid and Geneva and internal flights to Casablanca and Agadir.

By Train
Trains are the most relaxed way to move around. The trains in Marrakech operate to and from Casablanca and Rabat twice a day.

By Bus

Buses to most long-distance destinations leave from the main terminal at Bab Doukkala. CTM has their own ticket windows and ranks. Buy tickets a day in advance or be there early especially for the popular destinations like Fez, El Jadida, Zagora and Taroudannt.

By Grand Taxi
Grands taxis are relatively safe to take and they are good value for money

 A small town situated in Morocco's Middle Atlas, Ifrane has been around for centuries. The earliest permanent settlement dates back from the 16th century when a community was established in the Tizguit valley. Just a little downstream from modern day Ifrane, you will find an area that is still very much inhabited by the descendants of Sede 'Abd al-Salem who founded Ifrane.

In the regional Berber language the word 'yfran' is plural for 'cave' and when you explore the surrounding limestone plateaus you will find an abundance of them. During the town's founding days, many homes were carved out of the surrounding rock. Today there are no people living in these caves which are now used as mangers and store houses. Most people prefer to live above the ground in houses. However these caves still make for interesting exploring - though sometimes they can be confusing so it is a good idea to get a trustworthy guide.

Modern Ifrane only truly began life around 1929 during the Protectorate period when the French decided to establish a 'hill station' here. The city rests on an elevation of 1600m above sea-level and is surrounded by pine, cedar and oak forests that make it a relatively cool city. As a result, many tourists from other parts of Morocco come here during the hot summer months to escape the heat. Perhaps the most distinguishable trait of Ifrane is its unusual Alpine architectural style - quite out of character with the rest of Moroccan architecture. The French villas are now predominantly Moroccan owned but they still retain their unusual charm.

During winter Ifrane sees even more visitors as people flock here to try their hand at the snow-covered slopes or simply to enjoy the simple pleasure of snow. During the rest of the year the town has a large student population who attend the Al Akhawayn University. The university is the only English-language University in Morocco and it is mostly the rich and elite who attend the university. Why not visit this Alpine resort while you are in the country and find out what aspects of the resort you enjoy the most for yourself?

 Also known as Casa or Dar el Baida, Casablanca is essentially the capital of Morocco. Any European citizen or traveler will feel immediately at home here and will have an almost instinctive understanding of the life here. There are plenty of hotels in and around Casablanca. Regardless of the size of your budget, you can find a superb place to enjoy a meal in this vibrant city. Entertain your wildest holiday fantasies in Casablanca!

Casablanca was established as a town in 1906 with a population of 20 000. Later in 1907 when the French landed here, Fez was its commercial center whilst Tangier was set up as the city's main harbor. The French were soon ousted however and had to seek a new port altogether and Tangier remained Moroccan. Things have changed much since then however. With a population of over 3 million, Casablanca resembles a Southern European city. Today all duties are handled here except for administration.

Transport

Petits Taxis are everywhere and you shouldn't have difficulty in catching one. The bus services are quite efficient too. If you're hiring a car in Casa, remember that the traffic can often be a nightmare and it doesn't take much to reach gridlock. Avoid driving if at all possible.

Accommodation

There are plenty of hotels in and around Casa. Problem is they're almost always full, so last minute bookings are out of the question. Go to hotels, luxury hotels, self-catering, villas and apartments & studios for further accommodation information.

Beaches

Visitors can take a bus to Ain Diab, a small beach side suburb. True, it might not be the cleanest of beaches, but it still draws a huge crowd on a daily basis. It also must be said that the crowds are mostly drawn here because of the various beach clubs. These clubs each have saltwater pools, restaurants and cafes. Look around a bit and if your wallet can handle it, you'll find a more expensive beach club with tennis & volleyball courts and even a disco.

Restaurants

Regardless of the size of your budget, you can find a superb place to enjoy a meal in Casa. Generally accepted as the best place to eat when in Morocco, Casablanca has a large variety of traditional, seafood and take-away eateries. Try making a turn by 'Stella'. This ice-cream parlor will have 30 different flavors at any one time available for your testing.

Bars & Nightclubs

Unfortunately Casa's nightclub offerings are somewhat meager. Most of the 'clubs' turn out to be cabaret joints and single woman are quickly targeted by marinated men on the prowl. For a quiet drink at a bar, your best bet is probably your hotel's bar. There are a few semi-decent discos in Casa and they get going around 11pm and stay open until 3am.

Things to See & Do

Rialto Cinema
This beautiful Art Deco cinema palace was constructed in 1930. Catch a movie and enjoy the architecture too.

Cathedral of Sacre C'ur
This cathedral has a refreshing design that features many traditional Moroccan styles. In the past it was used as a school and then a culture center. Now however, whilst the exterior holds its visual appeal, the interior has succumbed to entropy.

Villa des Arts
This Art Deco exhibition center houses many lovely contemporary art pieces.

Getting Around

CTM has buses running constantly in and around the city. Grands Taxis are quick and usually quite easy to catch. Your best bet for a train is at the Casa Port station or the Casa Voyageurs station.