11 images of Morocco we can’t stop looking at
ARGUABLY, Morocco “has it all.” A rich culture (blend of Arab, Berber, and other African and European influences), ancient history (inhabited since Paleolithic times), varied geography (from coastal beaches to agricultural plains to desert to high mountain ranges), and flavorful food.
So why haven’t I been? Well, that’s a complicated question. The closest I’ve gotten was when I was in Granada, Spain, in 2004. I was green then, an unseasoned traveler. Morocco barely registered on my map — I craved the comfort and familiarity of Western Europe. In short, adventure into such a distinctly different culture than my own Canadian one wasn’t appealing to me.
But now I know better, and I won’t pass up that opportunity again. Here are 30 reasons why Morocco is at the top of my list.
So why haven’t I been? Well, that’s a complicated question. The closest I’ve gotten was when I was in Granada, Spain, in 2004. I was green then, an unseasoned traveler. Morocco barely registered on my map — I craved the comfort and familiarity of Western Europe. In short, adventure into such a distinctly different culture than my own Canadian one wasn’t appealing to me.
But now I know better, and I won’t pass up that opportunity again. Here are 30 reasons why Morocco is at the top of my list.
CAMEL CARAVAN
Camel trekking is a very popular thing to do when visiting Morocco. These can be short day trips or multi-day overnighters.
Photo: Lalo Fuentes
BERBER CHILDREN
The Berber people are indigenous to North Africa; most who speak the language reside in Morocco and Algeria, although small communities also live elsewhere in Africa and Europe. There are 25-35 million people who speak Berber in North Africa.
Photo: Paul Sullivan
GOATS IN AN ARGAN TREE
In and around the city of Essaouira on the Atlantic coast, goats frequently scale the argan trees. These trees are endemic to the area; an interesting product made from the combination of tree and goat is argan oil. Traditionally, the pits of the fruit the goats ate was harvested from their waste to produce the oil. Today, most of the oil is produced by press-extraction.
Photo: Grand Parc - Bordeaux, France
MAUSOLEUM OF MOHAMMED V, RABAT
The Mausoleum of Mohammed V is part of a complex that was meant to be the largest mosque in the world, but its construction was stopped in 1199 after the death of Sultan Yacoub al-Mansour. In the mausoleum are the tombs of the Moroccan king and his two sons.
Photo: Holger Wirth
SAHARA SUNSET
Depending on the tilt of the earth's axis, the Sahara Desert fluctuates between dry and wet. In about 15,000 years, it will be green.
Photo: Christopher L.
COUNTRYSIDE
Certainly not the image that comes to mind when I think of Morocco. It was taken in the Middle Atlas region near the town of Ifrane, a ski resort in the winter that sits at 5,460 feet (1,665m).
Photo: Fr Maxim Massalitin
BLUE
Chefchaouen, in northwest Morocco, is well-known for its blue buildings. It's also popular as a shopping destination for its unique local handicrafts and goat cheese. It was founded in 1471.
Photo: Ana P. Bosque
DADES GORGE
The road leading down into (or up from) the Dadès Gorge. The Dadès River separates the Atlas Mountains and the Anti-Atlas Range, and its valley is home to hundreds of Berber kasbahs.
Photo: Rosino
TANNERY, FEZ
Fez, a city founded in 789, is highly regarded for the quality of its leathers. Tanning is the process that turns animal skins to leather; it changes the protein structure of the skin to preserve it. Tannin—from which "tanning" is derived—is the traditional compound used in the process.
Photo: Pejman Parvandi
ATLAS MOUNTAINS
Something else that doesn't come to mind when I think of Morocco: snow. In researching this gallery, I came across shots of groups trekking over snowy passes, even a cyclist riding on a snowy road. The Atlas Range extends 1,600 miles across Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.
Photo: Hasna Lamini
AÏT BENHADDOU
This kasbah (fortified city), near Ouarzazate, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. It served as a movie set for films including The Mummy, Gladiator, and Babel.
Photo: Alexander Cahlenstein
source : MatadorNetwork
