Speak the word Morocco or conjure the image of the country up in your mind and you will at once come away with a feeling of the exotic, of being very far away from home. The truth is, however, that you are not so far away at all. It just seems that Morocco allures the mind in so many ways, taking hold of the imagination as surely as the colors and sounds and smells that make up the history and culture of this historical destination.
The snowcapped mountain peaks of the High Atlas Mountains give way to the hot Saharan desert in Morocco and the old medieval towns and seaside cities that sit somewhere in between are as tempting as a cool refreshing drink on a hot summer afternoon. Baguettes entice, as does the couscous or sweet mint tea, all a part of what makes this country unique. Food, faces, and experiences all consist of a well-defined dichotomy, a treat for the senses.
Image if you will: Snake charmers or water sellers or storytellers or shopping in the bazaars and haggling for just the right price on that once-in-a-lifetime find – you simply can’t recreate this Moroccan experience anywhere else in the world. Even more unique is the fact that the new stands out everywhere too as the snake charmer talks on his cell phone or the shopkeepers are more than happy to take MasterCard or Visa–modernity and antiquity collide in course.
A combination of Berber, Arab, French, Spanish and the sub-Saharan African cultures means that influences blend on every corner. In fact, don’t be surprised to see a woman wearing a veil or the hooded djelleba or caftan worn by both men and women. Still today the muezzin calls the faithful to prayer from the minaret. With all this combination of cultures, Morocco is politically moderate with strong ties to America even today. Indeed, Morocco was the first country to recognize the United States in 1776. As well, Morocco is the only Muslim country to recognize dual citizenship for its Jewish citizens who have immigrated to Israel.
The primary cities that most tourists have heard of in Morocco include Casablanca, Fes, Marrakech and Rabat. These four cities including Meknes as well are considered the Imperial Cities and the former capitals of successive Arab dynasties; Ouarazazate and Taroudant in the south; Tetouan in the north; Tangier, Essaouira and Agadir, these form a coastal arc of seaside ports and resorts from north to south.
In the central part of the country lies the city that many know and love, perhaps that first stop in Morocco – Casablanca. Whitewashed indeed, Casablanca dazzles with mystery, but is also the economic powerhouse of the country. The city was actually planned and built under the protectorate of the French and even today, somewhat reminiscent of France, the seaside cafes sparkle with charm and the brasseries line the Corniche. There are palm-treed parks that are laid out with Gallic order and most in Casablanca dress western, this city is a part of all the cultures it embraces.
Casablanca as well speaks to the art crowd with an Art Deco architecture surrounded too by the French colonial buildings. One stop in Casablanca no one should miss is Rick’s Café. Famous from the Hollywood movie “Casablanca” this café only opened a few years ago and can be found in an elegant mansion at the edge of the medina. It fits the bill too as it reproduces the 1942 movie set – remember Bogart and Bergman who indeed made Casablanca famous until the end of time. Your Morocco holiday can include visiting movie scenes or visiting the parts of Morocco where movies are filmed today.
Another must-see in Casablanca is the new Hassan II Mosque. There is a 650-foot minaret that dominates the city skyline in fact and is the largest minaret in Africa and the third largest in the world. Non-Muslims are also allowed to enter the Mosque to visit and have a chance to more fully understand the culture. The name Casablanca rolls from the tongue and sounds more than exotic. Once you have been there it won’t be hard to understand why as the city envelopes your senses with a part of its soul that you will take with you for many years to come.
by Rita Cook
