As you relax in your
hammam (
steam bath), tuck into your
tagine (stew), bargain in the
souks or slide into your comfy
caftan (ankle-length gown)
- Moroccan trends much copied elsewhere but never equal to the originals - you may be surprised how easily you slip into another culture and another century. In these small signature moments of pleasure, Morocco warps all sense of time and place as surely as a desert mirage.
To get your bearings, just look to the horizon. You will notice refined
minarets and rugged mud-brick
ksour (
fortifications), sparkling
coastline with silken sand and striped
canyons carved out of the High Atlas Mountains. Morocco has been staunchly independent throughout its history yet remained open to ideas, creating a heady mix of cultures, religions and languages with
ancient roots and a strikingly
modern outlook. The influence of Romans, Arabs and Europeans is spotted in monuments throughout the country. Though you will hear
French spoken in city boulevards - a vestige of the 50-year French Protectorate - a half-dozen
Berber languages and
Moroccan Arabic are still widely spoken. So is Morocco Mediterranean, African, Arab or Berber? Correct answer: all of the above.
For centuries travelers have crossed
shifting sands and braved
mountain passes in search of mythic Morocco, expecting to be dazzled by its
royal palaces, unexpected
oases, distinctive
handicrafts and spectacular feats of
hospitality. Modern-day Morocco doesn’t disappoint. Whether you’ve come to relax in family-style
riads (guest houses) or stretch your imagination on treks to distant
Berber villages, you’ll meet Moroccans who go out of their way to exceed your expectations. The people who have called Morocco home for millennia have proved themselves adaptable to
Sahara Desert silences and chatty market-day
medinas (old towns), mingling in
Tuareg trading posts and ancient
mellahs (Jewish quarters). The greeting that reaches your ears today echoes across the centuries:
Ahlanwasahlan, you are welcome in Morocco.
GeographyMorocco is located on the westernmost tip of north Africa, bordering Algeria to the east, Mauritania and the disputed territory of Western Sahara to the southwest and southeast, the Atlantic ocean to the west and the Mediterranean to the north. Running through the middle of the country is the Atlas mountain range, which leads to the fertile plains and sandy beaches of the Atlantic coast. The Middle Atlas range sweeps up from the south, rising to over 3,000m (9,850ft), covered with woodlands of pine, oak and cedar, open pastureland and small lakes. The Rif Mountains run along the north coast. The ports of Ceuta (Sebta) and Melilla on the north coast are administered by Spain.
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