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Founded in the seventh century by the Berbers, and it remained a small independent country known as Anfa, until the Almoravids conquered it in 1068. Merinids took over in the fourteenth century and she gained importance as port city. The Portuguese destroyed the city in 1468, Anfa had become a safe harbor for pirates and thieves. In 1515, the Portuguese came back and built a military fortress. A town was built up around the fortress that was known as Casabranca, Portuguese for “white house”. The name eventually became Casablanca, the Spanish word of the same meaning.

An earthquake destroyed the city in 1755 and the Portuguese abandoned the area. Sultan Sidi Mohammed II, grandson of Ismail Moulay, rebuilt Casablanca during his reign from 1756-1790.

In the 1800s, Casablanca’s economy and population started to grow. Morocco exported wool to England and imported tea. In the 1860s, approximately 5000 people made their home here. That number had doubled by the 1880s. After the French conquest, the population grew to 12,000, by 1906. With the influx of the French colonialists, the number went up to more than 100,000. Today the population is near the 4 million mark.

Casablanca’s past has not always been rosy. After the French took over, they decided to build a railroad near the port. Unfortunately, it passed through a graveyard. Residents were incensed and attacked the French. France called in troops to restore order. Rioting against the French continued and was at its worst in 1940s and 50s.

During World War II, the city was the host of the Casablanca Conference in 1943. A strategic port, it was used by the Americans as the staging area for aircraft that were used in Europe.

The center of Casablanca, today, is big, clean and impressive. It looks nothing like the city of the popular movie of the same name. Casablanca has an old city area that is home to smaller dwellings, however, she does not have an ancient medina. Casablanca is not the popular idea of what old Arabian cities should be like.. Casablanca does have some good markets in which to explore like other Moroccan cities.

Casablanca shows her Muslim roots with the building of Hassan II Mosque. It was built on a promontory that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. The mosque has a huge glass floor through which the Atlantic can be seen. Built in such a manner, the faithful pray over the ocean. More than 100,000 worshippers can pray here at one time. Designed by French architect, Michael Pinseau, it has the tallest minaret in the world at 210 meters. King Hassan II declared that the mosque should be built on water because the throne of God is on water. Funded by donations the mosque’s total cost is thought to be around the eight hundred billion mark. It took 2500 men, working around the clock to build this in a relatively short time. Hassan II Mosque shows the Moorish influence and the minaret has lights that are pointed toward Mecca. This mosque is one of the few open to non-Muslims.

Written by: Carole Morris
Brought to you by: Journey Beyond Travel Morocco Tours

The Rif are known for their steep cliffs. The highest of the Rif Mountains is Jebel Tidiquin which stands at 2448 meters. Only small villages are found within the mountains, while small cities of Tetouan and Chefchaouen in the west and Al-Hoceima to the north can be found along the Mediterranean.

The Berbers were already residing there when the Phoenicians arrived on the scene in the 3rd Century BCE. The Phoenicians founded Cities of Tetouan, Melilla and Tangier. Later, the Romans and the Byzantines invaded these cities.

Early in the 700s AD, Salih ibn Mansur, who brought Islam to the Berbers, established the Kingdom of Nekor. In the 1400s, Spanish Moors came from Spain bringing with them their music and culture. The Spanish founded Chefchaouen.

The Rifs became the scene of many battles for control between Spain, Portugal and Morocco. The Spanish invaded Melilla in the late 1400s. After that, a period of peace followed, to be broken by war between Morocco and Spain in the mid 1800s. Even though the Spanish won, the Moroccans kept fighting. Berbers fought against Spanish rule and finally in the 20th Century, guerilla leader, Abd el-Krim El–Khattabi, fought to free Morocco from French and Spanish rule. He established the Republic of Rif in 1921. Morocco took control of the area when it gained independence in 1956.

Brought to you by: Morocco Travel with Journey Beyond Travel
Written by: Carole Morris, JBT Correspondent

In the region is one of Morocco’s most important oases, Tafilalet. Additionally, another place of interest is the Wadi Ziz, a long limestone corridor with palm trees that provide shade for the Kasbah of Ifri, carved out by the Ziz River. Waters of the Ziz River form a vast emerald lake by the Hassan Addakhil Dam. Women can be seen doing their laundry in the shade of apricot trees growing around the lake.

The road through the Ziz Valley to Erfoud descends from the plateau where the oasis of Tafilalet is found. The road passes between the sheer sides of the valley and winds through several villages. It underscores the difference of the lush valley to the surrounding rocky desert.

Written by: Carole Morris
Provided by: Morocco Tours with Journey Beyond Travel

Located on the Ziz River, it is different than most Moroccan villages. It does not have century-old buildings, but was instead built in the early 1900s by the French as an administrative headquarters. Buildings are made of red sand of the area mixed with lime. The settlement with its high walls and tightly packed houses were constructed as protection from the marauding nomadic tribes.

Erfoud has the usual winding streets and alleyways. Near Erfoud are large palm groves that have been used by travelers for respite. Not far away is the desert and sand dunes of Merzouga. Erfoud has a flourishing marble industry. Marble from this area is red, brown and black.

Written by: Carole Morris
Provided by: Morocco Travel & Tours with Journey Beyond Travel

Marrakesh (or Marrakech), sometimes called the red town because of the red Kasbah wall surrounding the medina, was founded in 1062. Youssef bin Tashufin, cousin to the sultan began construction of the city. Under his watch, houses were built and a mosque begun. Marrakech was the capital of the Almoravid Empire that covered a vast area from Maghreb to Europe. Now, along with the Berber, the Andalusia influence was born.

Marrakech, under the Almoravid grew into an important splendid Islamic city of commercial power and wealth.

Captured by the Almohads in 1147, the religious and civil buildings were torn down. Abdal Mou’min, the great builder, began the Koutoubia mosque. This mosque and its spectacular minaret gave Marrakech its most outstanding landmark. Other important structures such as Menara Gardens were also built in this time frame. Scholars, philosophers and other thinkers of the time converged on the city. Caravans came through ancient Marrakech, making it a very powerful commercial center.

Taken over by the Merenids in the mid-1200s started Marrakesh on a downward spiral. Fez had already been established as the capital. Caravans stopped coming and the major source of income was lost. Marrakech was neglected by the Merenids and fell into a period of decline.

Saadians took over Morocco in 1522. Mostly in ruins, the leader chose to make Marrakech his capital in 1551. Under the guidance of Mohammed Al Mahdi, Marrakech began to be restored to its former grandeur. During this period, the Saadians built many wonderful structures such as the Al Bedi Palace. A glimpse into the life of Sultan can be seen in this still beautiful place. Moroccan crafts reached a pinnacle under this dynasty attracting many artisans whose work is still visible today. Additionally, Marrakech drew Islamic holy men to its gates. Upon death, many were buried within the city’s splendid tombs. By the 1600s, Marrakech had been restored to its former glory. Remaining culturally and economically important until the 1669, it had become the most important and influential city in all of Morocco.

An invasion and capture by the Alaouites in 1669 saw Marrakech lose its status, again. The Alaouite sultan moved the capital back to Fez. Marrakech fell into disrepair one more time.

Mid 1700s saw Mohammed III restore most of Marrakech. It remained largely unchanged until 1917. The French invaded Morocco and routed the Saharan chieftain, El Hiba who had captured Marrakech in 1912. Morocco was held as a protectorate by France and was governed by the Pasha El Glaoua. The French assisted with revolts of the Berber tribes. Under French tutelage, the Pasha became one of the richest, most influential men in Morocco. A French-styled city was begun outside the medina walls in 1913. French protection ended in the mid 20th century.

Morocco gained her independence from France in 1956. The new king, Mohammed V took over the throne and the Glaoua family was removed from power and its wealth confiscated. With the new monarchy, the capital was moved to Rabat.

Marrakech, today, is an important provincial city. Its Islamic roots are displayed proudly. French occupation brought in European influence, as the new city of Marrakech shows. However, the heart of Marrakech, still beats to the same ancient rhythm.

Written by: Carole Morris, JBT Correspondent
Brought to you by: Morocco Tours with Journey Beyond Travel

The Koutoubia Mosque has quite a history. Its name comes from the Arabic word for “bookseller”. The selling of manuscripts and books was commonplace and took place nearby. This is an interesting, namely because even in the 1200s books were unknown in the Christian world.

When the Almoravid ruled Marrakech, a mosque had been built upon this same site. When the Almohads captured the area; however, they destroyed much of the city along with the mosque. No Almohad would ever consider praying in a building constructed by his enemy. A new mosque was erected on the site in the Almohad style and parts of the present day mosque do date back to the era of sultan Abd el-Moumen. A problem with the orientation of the prayer niche to Mecca resulted in a second mosque being built to correct this error. Thus, Koutoubia is a double mosque. As a hall-type structure, it covers 58,000 square feet or 5400 square meters. Twenty-five thousand Muslims can pray within its walls. Koutoubia Mosque has 112 columns and 17 aisles. Leftover from the Almoravid mosque that had been destroyed earlier is an ornately carved pulpit from Almoravid sultan Ali ben Youssef. This Moorish mosque is reputed to be a pinnacle of Almohad art. Spanish and Moorish influence can be seen in the shapes of the arches, cupolas and painted ceilings. Another fact unique to this mosque is it was built during the reign of one ruler. Other comparable mosques, such as The Great Mosque in Cordoba took over 200 years to be completed.

Supposedly, the minaret of Koutoubia Mosque was to be built with three gold globes. Ones topping the tower today are composed of copper. The Wife of sultan Yacoub el-Mansour broke her fast during Ramadan. To pay her penance, she had her gold jewelry melted and made into a fourth sphere. Completed during the reign of her husband, this unique minaret was quite a feat of engineering for its time. Standing 221 feet (69 meters) high, a ramp is built around the tower so that the muezzin could rise to the top. Six rooms are placed, one on top another make up the interior. Minaret towers, Giralda in Seville and Hassan in Rabat, are modeled after Koutoubia.

Non-Muslim visitors can admire the mosque from the outside, but are not allowed to enter the interior areas.

Written by: Carole Morris, JBT Travel Correspondent
Brought to you by: Journey Beyond Travel - Morocco Tours

While the green star in the center of the flag is commonly known as the Seal of Solomon (Arabic: Suleiman), its origins may be different. Scholars have argued that it might have been associated with Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet Mohammed. Morocco, a Muslim country ruled by a monarchy that claims lineage from the Prophet, the pentagram may represent the country’s religion and faith. The five-pointed star could represent the five-pillars of Islam. Additionally, it symbolizes the link between Allah and the King.

The flag of Morocco became the national flag for the whole country when it gained independence in 1956. Prior to that, the red flag was only used in the French territories. It was not recognized in the Spanish zones. Morocco’s flag is unique in that it is a red flag, and not a part of the United Arab Emirates. Historically, red flags are commonly associated with the Emirate States.

By JBT Correspondent: Carole Morris
Morocco Travel at Journey Beyond Travel

The majority of the Fez Medina’s population was made up of refugees from surrounding Moorish dynasties, namely from Andalusia, Kairouan, and Tunisia. Each group established their own districts within the medina, usually separated by geographical markers, such as the river or surrounding rolling hills. Historically, the city was a melting pot of North African Muslims and Jews, who resided in what is known as the Mellah district. Today, people originating from Fez tend to have lighter skin tones, blond hair, and even green and blue eyes.

Throughout Fez’s long history, the leadership of the city often marked the personality of the city. When the Fatimids took over rule of the city in 917, the Idrissids who recaptured the territory in 960 soon overthrew them. In 985, it was taken over by the Ommayyads. Held until 1069, the Almoravid Sultan, Youssef ibn Tachfin succeeded in conquering it. Credited with joining the two walled cities into one, he erected one wall around both cities. Eventually, the Merenids move into Fez Medina in 1269, making it their new capital.

This era was the start of two centuries of building monuments and other important structures. The new quarter was started under Sultan Abu Youssef in 1437. The city remained somewhat stable until 1548, when the Saadians captured the old medina and made it part of the Moroccan Empire. Marrakesh was made into the new capital. But, with the rise of the Ottoman Empire, ruled by under Suleyman, the Magnificent, Fez Medina became the capital again. Followed by unrest and extreme poverty, Moulay Rashid took power in 1666.

Built with winding narrow alleyways, the walk through the Fez Medina is a walk back into time – a complicated labyrinth built to thwart invasions. This city remains a picture of medieval Islamic society set in modern times. Muslim women, especially in Fez’s past, had the tradition of keeping their faces covered from all males except family. Patios were built with high walls, which resulted in making the alleyways dark, but cool in the scorching summer months. Narrow winding streets make bicycles, donkeys and mules the chosen means of transportation. Mosques are in the center of the city with shops and residences built around them. Some habitants have stated that the residents of the old medina could live their entire life without ever venturing outside.

Bali, General Lyautey saved the oldest quarter of the Fez Medina when the French took over. He put into place the modern regulations that protect the medieval city from modern development.

Fez’s old Medina is still based on traditional industries, such as tanneries, soap making, textile and flourmills, along with oil processing. Cereal grains, olives, grapes and beans are the major crops of the area. Farming, raising sheep, cattle, and goats is still a stable way of life just along the city’s outskirts.

The Fez Medina has been named to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

By JBT Correspondent: Carole Morris
Morocco Travel at Journey Beyond Travel

Is the tour operator specialized?

Does the trip provider offer you the type of trip that you’d like to go on? If you are into large bus tours that simply take you from one five-star hotel to another, then you’ll have plenty of tour companies to choose from. However, if you are looking for something different, intimate, cultural, or perhaps active, find a tour operator that deals with these sorts of adventures.

How many destinations does the tour operator specialize in?

If you decide to work with a large travel and tour agency, they might offer holiday packages in several different countries. These types of companies could be labeled as the “master of none”. While they might offer decent prices on tour packages throughout the world, that doesn’t mean that the trip is going to be tailored to your needs. In a world where nearly 80% of travelers book tours on the Internet, it is best to find a tour operator who is specialized for the area in which you want to travel.

Where is the tour operator located?

An operator that is located in the country that you would like to travel is worth more than gold. Someone who books tours from an office in New York City, for example, is not going to be able to offer you the minute details of the country that a specialized agency will be able to do. If the company does book tours and trips from outside the country they operate, then they should have a representative office in the country in which you plan to travel. If you need help while on your journey, then don’t expect the travel agency in NYC to do a whole lot.

Does the tour operator offer personalized or customized itineraries?

A tour operator should offer a variety of Morocco itineraries to meet different travelers’ needs. For those who are the more active type, an itinerary that includes hiking in the High Atlas Mountains, for example, is an option. Other travel groups or families might decide that they would prefer a comfort trip with some cultural highlights. Agencies that can offer a variety of holidays that are crafted towards your own style of travel should be highly regarded.

How responsive is the tour operator to your e-mails?

Does the tour operator whom you have contacted respond to your request for information within a day or so? You can judge how much a tour operator cares about its customer relations with not only their initial response, but also their follow-up responses in helping you put together that perfect itinerary. A tour operator who calls you at your convenience and checks in to see how your plans are coming along is a responsive and responsible one who will also keep in communication with you up until the day you depart.

How much information does the tour operator make available to you?

A tour operator who specializes on Morocco, for example, should be an expert in their respective field. If you found them by searching on the Internet, which travel website did you find their reference? Finding a tour operator who is located in the upper search engine results means that the agency has done a lot of work in order to promote itself on other travel websites who are willing to vouch for its credibility. It has nothing to do with paying their way to the top. These are organic listings and to get there isn’t an easy accomplishment for any operator who is not legit and of some reputable quality.

Additionally, a tour operator may or may not be able to book flights for you. But, they should be able to recommend flight options that will save you money. They might also be able to arrange in-country airport pick-up that will save you hassle upon arrival. The more information the tour operator in Morocco can outline about the country you’ll be traveling in, through information packets or online articles, news, and reading material, the better prepared you will be in the end.

Does the tour or vacation agency meet varied price needs of their clientele?

A tour agency that offers a variety of itineraries in Morocco means that they know the country well enough to offer different levels of services to their clients. Unbelievably high prices means that the agency is targeting a certain elite market, or it means that the agency is not working out its itineraries to save its customers the most they possible can for any particular itinerary. It makes sense that the more days you wish to travel, the varied activities you’d like to do, and the type of accommodations and transport you prefer will all be considerations taken into account for the final quoted price. If an agency is willing to help you work out the price structure to make it more affordable to you, then you know that they operator puts its customer relations first and wants your business more than anyone else.

As a side note: Some people searching for great Morocco travel bargains and budget trips want to acquire as much information about the country and itineraries as possible. In some instances, a travel specialist might ask someone who wishes to arrange an itinerary for a ‘trust deposit’ (that will be applied to the future sale) for the services they wish to have rendered. A tour operator has to ensure that before she or he gives out too much of the company’s valuable information that the travelers are actually going to utilize the agency’s full services. This deposit guarantees a traveler and an agency will remain faithful in their collaboration. An agency cannot offer its services free and a ‘trust deposit’ ensures that the agency’s valuable time will be properly remunerated.

Overall, a good Morocco tour operator will be able to answer your questions and give you the individual attention to detail you deserve.

A quality tour operator in Morocco should:
1. Be responsive
2. Understand your needs
3. Arrange the best prices possible
4. Provide testimonials to their service
5. Provide you thorough information about the country
6. Offer a variety of services
7. Offer a variety of activities
8. Answer your questions even after the sale
9. Ensure that every detail of your in-country itinerary is arranged
10. Request feedback to better their operation

These top-ten Morocco tour operator rules are the basis of forming a trusting relationship between the travelers and the tour operator agency. For those who are searching and want to make sure that their travel dollars will result in the quality of experience they deserve, they should hunt for an agency that meets all the abovementioned criteria. Once the itinerary is fully arranged and booked, its time to prepare for the adventure of a lifetime!

Brought to you by: Journey Beyond Travel

The Ministry of Social Development, Family, and Solidarity is attempting to use donor monies and sponsorship from companies in order to integrate Morocco’s beggars into the economic fabric of the country. The program, which is being appraised because of its attempt to integrate from a social level will also attempt to discourage begging and raise public awareness that giving money isn’t necessarily going to help beggars in the long run, especially when children are being hired to play the role of a beggar – teaching them bad habits and keeping them from school.

In some strong words, Minister Abderrahim El Harouchi spoke about what he calls an “epidemic that weakens Moroccans’ honor and human rights…” The goal of the program is to help Moroccans who might be living on the streets integrate and help Morocco as a while move forward in a positive direction. The National Human Development Initiative will oversee the entire program, beginning in Casablanca and seeing different components and regions added over time.

Interestingly, the program has separated the beggars into three classes or types: those in need, those who are deviant, and those who are simply out of work. While the majority of beggars are men, nearly 45% are women. The government has dedicated nearly 40 million Moroccan Dirhams to the project in order that it can begin its implementation. Many see it as a step in the right direction that will utimately help tourism in Morocco, but also the society at large.

Brought to you by: Morocco Travel News by Journey Beyond Travel
Source: Imane Belhaj for Magharebia

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The new treatment, which will be released over the next year, will cost twice as much for adults as for children, because they need twice the dose of effective treatment. The total cost will be USD .50 for children and USD 1.00 for adults – the cheapest treatment ever released.

Robert Sebagg, who spoke at the news conference, said that the new treatment is a partnership between Sanofi-Aventis and an initiative known as called DNDi (Initiative pour des médicaments en faveur des maladies négligées). The factory that will produce the malaria treatment, located in Casablanca, will produce millions of doses per year that will be taken and marketed in the sub-Saharan African countries most in need. Many hope that the un-patented production and sales will keep the cure affordable for those who once couldn’t afford the medication.

Brought to you by: Morocco News at Journey Beyond Travel
Source: Maghreb Arabe Presse

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Many who were released from the Moroccan prisons were those with chronic illnesses, with physical handicaps, and over 150 elderly people, along with nearly 425 foreigners. The motivation for the massive release and sentence reduction was rooted in the Mohammed VI Foundation, in which one of its goals are to promote the reintegration of prisoners into society.

With Morocco’s recent vote to ban the death penalty and recent humanitarian works seen as progressive by groups such as Amnesty International, along with moves that have opened up women’s rights in Morocco, the country is setting an honorable standard that even first-world countries can look up to.

One spokesman for the Ministry of Justice claims that the release of the 9,000 prisoners will take a little more than a week. Morocco contains over 50 prisons, each that house just over 1,000 prisoners. Prison conditions in Morocco are anything but ideal, but certain NGOs are working to help the country meet international codes. Some of those released were suspected Islamic radicals, but who were later found not to be directly associated with any outlawed activities.

Brought to you by: Morocco News by Journey Beyond Travel

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The Moroccan government is literally inviting foreign investment entrepreneurs to its doorstep in order that Morocco tourism keeps with its full-stem-ahead plan to have over 10 million tourists by 2010. With Morocco being one of the most alluring, exotic, and open Islamic countries to tourism, westerners are flocking to cities such as Fez, Rabat, and into the countryside to experience the Berbers of the High Atlas Mountains. One city is also getting more tourism that it has ever had – boiling over at its edges – Marrakesh.

With foreigners now owning and running well over 1,000 riads (or old-style Moroccan homes turned into a type of bed and breakfast), the boom doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Whether they are flying in for the weekend, or beginning a tour of Morocco for a month full-fledged backpacking adventure, tourists are filling each flight into the city.

Those voyagers of long ago involved in the sub-Saharan trade routes would have never guessed that their beloved city would be the home of million-dollar celebrity homes surrounded by more than a dozen golf courses near Marrakesh. Neither would they have guessed that the Djamaa El Fnaa square would be ablaze each night with tourists sporting expensive camera gear to catch a glimpse of the magic.

The local Marrakesh population has mixed feelings about the recent boom. Even more traditional and conservative families have opened their doors welcoming outsiders not only so that the city will reap the benefits of outside wealth, but also so that the outside world can get a glimpse of just how friendly Moroccans can be. Morocco is a country that Europeans have frequented for decades – much more than those farther west. With all the publicity going into tourism, exoticism, and the allure of a country where some traditions have never changed – those across the Atlantic are now hearing about Morocco much more than they have had before.

With a grand influx of tourism, however, there are some negative aspects, such as sex tourism and even reported cases of child abuse tourism. While the security in Marrakesh has always been tight, and with a new tourist police on patrol, there are still cases that slip between the cracks. The problems are also rooted in the huge gap between the rich and the poor; something that properly routed tourist practices can help to lessen. Marrakesh will always have the appeal of its magical name. And, while tourism will only rise in Morocco, it is up to the well-meaning tourist to respect, learn, and share with the local population.

Brought you by: Morocco News by Journey Beyond Travel

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Fears and Denver, both residing near Terre Haute, Indiana, will be flying to Ouarzazate Morocco (famous for its Morocco film studios where movies like Babel and The Gladiator) were shot. The race in English is known as the Marathon of the Sands and is in its 22nd year.

Only about 500 other runners from around the world are going to participate in the elite event. Each year, the winners of the race are a set of Moroccan twins living in the Erfoud area, who also receive international sponsorship for their endeavors. While Fears and Denver may not win the event, simply finishing the grueling course will be an accomplishment worth lots of praise – especially from their families who are supporting what many call a “crazy” attempt.

The race is put on by an international organization known as Dreamchasers Outdoor Adventure Club, LLC. The official race predictions call for temperatures nearing 120 degrees (well over 45 degrees Celsius). Furthermore, of the 500 involved in this years event, around 25 are making the pilgrimage from the United States to experience conditions they have never faced before. Besides the regular aches, pains, and foot problems that come along with a regular marathon, the Marathon of the Sands requires participants to carry anti-venom pumps in case of scorpions, ultra-light but effective sleeping bags (temperatures can drop to near freezing at night), along with enough food for the entire race, which includes special energy bars (worth a whopping 2,500 calories each), salt tablets, energizer powder, and other high-calorie, low-weight foods. Each participant will receive around 9 liters of water daily, along with two 20-ounce bottles to carry along.

Physically the two runners are sure of their chances at success. What makes this race different than any other, even the yearly Marrakesh marathon, however, are the elements. The six-stage event includes the first three days at 20 miles (~40 km), another day of 50 miles (nearly 100 km), and the last two days a full marathon, following a final 10 miles (or 6 km), respectively.

View their training & race journal here: www.michelobultraadventureteam.vox.com

Brought to you by: Morocco Travel News at Journey Beyond Travel
Source: The Tribune-Star, Indiana – by Deb McKee

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The women, who are given different duties, can do just about anything that men can do in the mosque – everything but lead in prayer. Their role is to help women better understand Islam and to help balance a religious society often controlled by men. The Moroccan minister of religious affairs has said that society on a whole will benefit from the new Mourchidat inserts. The role of Moroccan women, especially in religion, is viewed by many on the governmental level as beneficial to ensure they are properly represented on all levels of society.

The idea of women leading discussions is both innovative and somewhat confusing, admit some skeptics. Even if the idea is excellent, what has to be less abstract are the terms and exact roles of the women participating. While some of the women are gearing to fill their roles quite well, others have been found to hold sympathies to certain illegal political groups residing in the country. Those supporting the women in their newfound freedoms want the best for everyone involved, especially when it comes to a region of society that has been for centuries controlled only by men. Some critics say that the women will be pawns for certain organizations, but optimism seems to outweigh any doubts that it is another step in the right direction on a country that is opening its doors to innovative and progressive ideas.

Brought to you by: Morocco News & Travel at Journey Beyond Travel

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In a recent study entitled “Arab Reform and Foreign Aid: Lessons from Morocco,” two authors toured, visited, and asked questions to members of various organizations around Morocco in order to learn more about how the people’s viewpoint and the view from those in power aligned. In essence, the study concluded that the current King, Mohammed VI is held in high esteem for his social reform efforts over the last years. Reform is at the top of his agenda, but as many agree, the result of it all will take years to realize. As one political professor stated, “Changes in Morocco are occurring. The pace is steady, which is much better than too fast or not at all. The current feeling of the people is that Morocco is moving along with the proper momentum that it can evaluate itself along the way”.

Additionally, Morocco has opened its doors to encourage more participation with its citizens in voting for reform. Indeed the country is already working towards its attempt to broaden its legislation to meet the highest standard of human rights. In Morocco’s recent decision to abolish the death penalty, which is being hailed by both Amnesty International and the 99 other countries who no longer have capital punishment clauses in their constitution. Citizens of Morocco feel they have more political freedom than ever. Even journalists are pushing their own borders to see where that limit might extend. While the government doesn’t yet allow 100% freedom of the press due to certain factions, magazines and newspapers that critique the government and its leaders are finding their way to newsstands without much reaction. So, Morocco has opened its doors with civil freedoms much more than other Arab states, many agree.

According to many organizations, including NGOs (non-governmental organizations), Morocco is an exemplary model for the way reform takes place in Arab countries. The reason Morocco is seeing success is that it has openly adopted specific plans of reform into its long-term agenda. The modern King Mohammed VI wants democracy and is working to promote it throughout his country. This success is also linked to the fact that the country started its own reform process itself – it wasn’t started by any outside organizations. Morocco only needs some help with the logistics and financing of such reform. But, the country has already embraced it wholeheartedly. Furthermore, Morocco has not shunned its political parties involved in the process. Democratic, Islamic, and women's groups all hold seats in parliament. Keeping communication open and a willingness to compromise keeps every party involved. In what is being dubbed “The Moroccan Experiment,” the world is watching and even more are visiting a country that is leading the way in a balance of the old with the new.

Brought to you by: Morocco News & Travel from Journey Beyond Travel
Source: Magharebia (Washington D.C.) 16/02/07

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Director Gavin Hood has had his eye on Morocco for some time now, trying to find what might be the perfect location to shoot his political re-making of the events at Guantanamo. The film, based on a true story of a CIA analyst who witnesses the brutal interrogation of an Egyptian chemical engineer who is suspected to be involved in a terrorist ring. The movie will star Meryle Streep, Reese Witherspoon, Peter Sarsgaard, and Jake Gyllenhaal.

The palace in Marrakesh known as El Badia has been transformed into Guantanamo with Moroccan actors wearing the somehwat humilitating orange jumpsuits found in the American camps. The scenes that take place in Guantanamo, which will be filmed in Morocco are schedule to last up to two months. Also in Hood’s filming schedule are shots that will be shot in Essaouira, where the famous Orson Welles once shot scenes for Othello.

Following his stint in Morocco, the film about Guantanamo will have remaining shots to be filmed in both South Africa and the United States.

Brought to you by : Morocco News at Journey Beyond Travel.

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Sijilmassa was founded by the ever-rebellious Moroccan Berbers living in the southern region that wanted to form their own form of Islam, as they didn’t agree with the more orthodox practices of the more northern regions of Morocco. The area was quite wealthy mostly due to the very fertile Ziz River and the Rheris River that were slightly diverted to run through the area. The fertile region coupled with its importance as a stopping point along the Salt Road trail to West Africa meant that its power and importance grew rapidly, which is one cause that the city later became divided and why civil unrest and an eventual civil war led to its downfall.

Some recent scholars who have studied the area, namely one Dr. Ron Messier, are interested in the actual importance of the region. Some historians believe that Sijilmassa in Morocco was never really one, united ksour, but more a conglomeration of several ksours that simply lived along the river. The city would have been about 8 miles (about 15 KM) long from one point to the other. The gate to the city is located just past the Oued Ziz (Ziz River) on the north side of the city, known as Porte Errih, or Bab Errih.

The area is the home to the Alaouite Dynasty, who thought Sijilmassa as a shrine to their ancestry. Made into the capital of the Tifilalt region, the town’s main ksar hasn’t been restored to its grandeur, but the route is still visited by tourists doing the route touristique. Recently, the Moroccan Institute of Archeology and a State University in Tennessee in the US have funded a joint venture to uncover more relics from Sijilmassa’s past.

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The entire area surrounding the Mediterranean Sea has always been a hotspot for earthquakes. Much like the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Mediterranean plates are as old and agitated as any on Earth. Morocco, which usually gets a few minor tremors a year, has had its own share of earthquakes that have not only wiped out entire cities, but has cost thousands of people their lives.

The US Geological Survey, an organization that oversees seismic activities around the entire globe, said that the earthquake was rated at a 6.1 on the Richter scale. Its exact location was 335 KM from Lisbon and about 340 KM just northwest of Casablanca. In Rabat, several people claimed to feel the tremor that others had dismissed until they heard that an earthquake actually occurred.

What followed the quake was a minor disruption of cell phone use across the country and a clogging of other landlines due to the minor scare. Those who felt the earthquake at its core in the cities along Morocco’s coastline were taken aback, forced to think about the devastating earthquake in 2004 that left thousands without power and electricity for weeks on end. The infamous Agadir Earthquake, that occurred in the 1960s flattened the city, but was quickly rebuilt thanks to European aid, namely from Germany.

Other cities located inland from Morocco’s coast also felt the tremors that caused pots, pans, and other appliances to rattle on their shelves. No one in the internal areas of other countries affected was hurt. Only some people near Lisbon were evacuated in preventative measures meant to keep people away from structures should the earthquake have produced any strong after shocks. For now, citizens of all the surrounding countries are thankful that everyone was safe and that no real damage was incurred.

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Karim Ghellab, Morocco's minister of transportation stated recently, "It's not easy to predict a date yet, but it is a project that will happen". The tunnel will be beneficial to both continents, linking lands that will be a part of the Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Zone. Morocco, which has seen a tremedous influx of tourists from both Europe and elsewhere are on track promoting their 10-million tourists by 2010 campaign. Tangier has already been undergoing a massive makeover in order to attract foregin investors. Additionally, interstate sytems are being built to match the goals. Recently, Morocco and Europe officially signed an open sky agreement that allows low-budget carriers to land in the country with hardly any taxes.

The Swiss firm running the geological tests have confirmed that the tunnel will have to connect Morocco and Spain at points where the depths of the water are not so great. In some areas between Morocco and Spain, the Mediterranean is 3,000-feet (about 1,000-meters) deep. Ghellab went on to say, "We’ve already done a tremendous amount of work to make this dream come true, to go from an idea—a concept that is just philosophical—into something we can transform into reality.”

Europe and Africa wait on the day that construction will begin. Working in the depths of the Mediterrean will be an engineering marvel, to say the least. The Strunnel* will link Cape Malabata to Punta Paloma at nearly 1000-feet (about 300-meters) below sea level.

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*Strunnel is a phrase first coined by Journey Beyond Travel.

Starting with the highest peak in the High Atlas Mountains with Djebel Toubkal (Jebel Toubkal), you’ll have to start your ascent in Armed (Armedi, Aroumd, or Aremd), a town that reminded one local traveler of “a reversed-mirror image of how Ait Ben Haddou probably used to look”. Most Morocco travel guide books describe the starting point at Imlil. This is somewhat of a falsity because Imlil is nothing more than a roadside stall where you can fuel up for your journey. Additionally, if you haven’t arranged one beforehand, there is a plentiful amount of Berber mountain guides available to take you to the summit. No set pricing system exists, but if you don’t hunt around and bargain, you could pay five times as much as someone else. Climbing to the summit of Toubkal, you’ll need one day to the refuge and another to summit and come back down to Armed (Armedi, Aroumd, Aremd) and Imlil. The peak sits at a whopping 4167 meters or well over 13,000 feet.

For those travelers who are not decently fit or who do not acclimate well to higher attitudes, you want to prepare yourself for the hike. Before you visit or take a tour in Morocco to do some climbing and hiking, whether it is in the Mount Toubkal National Park or elsewhere, it’s a good idea to be able to walk three to five hours at a time. Did we mention, uphill? For those who are fit, you’ll need to bring certain supplies with you. Comfortable hiking shoes or boots, along with clothes and gear that you can layer are highly recommended. A rain jacket, fleece, and breathable under garments are essential. If you are hiking in the winter months, it is a good idea to bring a tent, emergency blanket, and a below 0 degree sleeping bag. Winds can pick up and snow can blow without notice.

Additionally, unless you are quite savvy about hiking, trekking, and survival if the weather turns bad, it isn’t a bad idea to hire a local guide – one that has lived in the area his entire life. In the summer months, it might be less necessary. Remember, though, Toubkal can have snow on it from November through May each year. And, in summer, rains and sudden storms can wreak havoc. In the winter months, crampons are necessary. Hiking or walking poles are a great item worth their weight. Some of this gear can be rented in Imlil. Mountain guides will also bring along a mule guide and muleteer to carry baggage and supplies for an extra cost.

From Armed (Armedi, Aroumd, Aremd), you can start your ascent towards Sidi Chamarouch and towards the Toubkal Refuge. (BTW: If you are coming from March through June and September through December, book ahead if possible for your night (or two) in the Toubkal Refuge, once known as Refuge Neltner.) Here, you’ll run into the few people who actually live at the place and the other pilgrims who visit the shrine of near the waterfall to be healed or released from their impairment. Non-Muslims cannot cross the bridge that leads to the holy shrine.

Continuing onward, the trail continues for most hikers another three to four hours and eventually leads to the Toubkal Refuge, located snugly at 3207 meters, or well over half a mile high – the snow line in the latter spring months. The next morning after your initial ascent is the best time to venture up to the top of Djebel Toubkal (Jebel Toubkal). The most popular route that you can take (by hiring or following a guide) is called the South Cirque. It begins just behind the refuge and will take an average, fit hiker about three hours to summit. The more arduous track that many guides will not mention unless you are in top shape is the North Cirque route. On this route, you’ll not only be able to see the remains of a plane crash as a cairn. The final stage of getting to the top, on either route, requires some scrambling and in the winter, some snow hiking. But, zigzagging your way up, the ever-present pyramid tri-pod marks the top. Enjoy!

Source: Morocco Tours, Excursions, and News – Journey Beyond Travel, Morocco News

The move has been under way for some time by King Mohammed VI and Ben Dhikri, who works with the Consultative Committee on Human Rights. The delegates met in Paris for a two-day conference that was to bring the agreement to a full understanding. Amnesty International and the Committee are working with other North African nations and Morocco has been the first to heed the calling.

Morocco which has been taking the steps necessary to modernize itself with advancements its internal policies in education, health care, women’s rights, and tourism, will be highly regarded by its neighbors in Europe. Abolitionist groups in the United States, a country that has yet to abolish its own death penalty laws, are watching with fervency.

In order to appease skeptics to the change in their penal code, Dhikri has stated that since their State is one of Islam, then it must know that the “positive aspects of Islam need to be stressed. It does not order people to kill…”

Morocco, which will finally eliminate the death penalty clauses in their constitution, has not used capital punishment in more than a decade – meaning that they have already eliminated it in some sense as abolitionists, but this step will finalize an issue that will mark another step in Morocco’s steady rise in the global community.

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Source: Press Release, Paris, www.ADNKI.com

In a recent report written by Catherine Moye, she talks about the initiative set to turn the still remote High Atlas Mountains into a thriving multi-million dollar active resort getaway. And, not only will the area attract skiers, but golfers too. In what will become Africa’s only combined ski and golf resort, hotels are going to be popping up everywhere. Near the Ourika valley, the price of land has already skyrocketed as the rich (and sometimes famous) fall in love with the area and build their getaway home.

The Moroccan sun, however, is as intriguing as the culture and geography. Many developers claim that the area will be one of world-class skiing and golf. But, according to the editor of The Good Ski Guide, the plans will be foiled by mother nature – the sun is simply too hot and the slopes too high to invite anyone who is not in top shape. Moroccan and foreign developers’ rebuttal is that the lower slopes will be equiped with the best snow machines around.

While the exotic and rural nature of Morocco will be affected to some degree by the advancements, many agree that the move will be good for the local economy and the economy of the country as a whole. Naturalists and environmentalists are against the overdeveloping of Morocco’s beautiful natural scenery. They argue that the area could be developed much more affectively and with much less expense if its potentials in ecotourism were fully promoted and developed. Then, the area would still keep its natural charm and allure while the rest of the world ‘overdevelops’. No matter the argument, what is sure is that Morocco is moving full speed ahead with its plans to become, quite possibly, one of the world’s most sought-out destinations.

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Morocco’s Office of Forests and Water, who receives outside funding for numerous environmental activities, has agreed to hire the necessary workers and find the best places where the trees will prosper. “I have seen new trees planted here in Ifrane already, but I’m not sure if it is a part of this program,” said one resident working in the country as a professor.

The initiative was brought about in Nairobi during the UN Convention on Climate Change. The new program in Morocco will cover an estimated 35,000 hectares in places that are considered damaged. Morocco, where many residents subside on their agricultural production, will have to be educated about the program and learn that the continued planting of their forests will mean a greener future for everyone.

Brought to you by: The Morocco Travel Team at Journey Beyond Travel

Source: Maghreb Arabe Presse

Muslim leaders in the country who wish to build a new mosque will need special permission and be required to jump through several hoops to be allowed to construct new religious centers. The authorities in Morocco will now require any group wanting a mosque to form an association. Following, they will have to prove where the funding for the mosque is coming from and who will be in charge of overseeing that the proper legal routes are followed.

Ahmed Toufiq, the country’s Minister on Religious Affairs, saw that the bill was passed rapidly through parliament. He was reported as saying, "No one will now be able to use places of worship for other ends and there will be no more clandestine mosques."

Some fundamental religious groups have called the bill unfair stating that those in rural villages will now have an even harder time constructing places of worship.

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Source: www.adnki.com

The local media in Morocco reported that the boy was left at home with his younger sister. The sister went on to school and the boy continued playing what more than one child have been playing as a game.

Residents and travelers in Morocco blame the leak to the media, which captured the execution of Saddam Hussein on camera phone. Children exposed to the violent scenes have been acting them out, not only in Morocco, but in Algeria and Saudi Arabia as well. The morbid scene has caused more than three children to perish, as they attempt to hang with or without the presence of other youth who might chant what they heard by the mob-like crowd before Saddam’s death.

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Source: SomaliNet

In recently passed legislation, according to the report published by three University students in the Common Ground News Source (CGNews), women now have the right to self-guardianship, divorce, and child custody. Furthermore, the King has limited the rights of those who wish to practice polygamy, making the requirements quite difficult to obtain. Additional changes were the legal age of marriage and sexual harassment laws, all prominent issues on the forefront of Moroccan society.

Western countries have given kudos to Morocco’s attempts to do what many agree is a step in the right direction. Conservatism in Morocco’s government, however, had to be swayed in what has been called “a careful wording” of the amendments to Morocco’s constitution. Traditionalists, often still lingering in office from the previous King’s rule, have held staunchly to what they argue is Islamic code.

In Morocco, travelers can easily see that King Mohammed VI and his family set the example of a modern family choosing their own religious path. Some Muslims argue that women are not required to wear the veil, to cover their hair, or dress in any specific way; it’s all a matter of interpretation. In fact, King Mohammed’s wife, Princess Lalla Salma, is heavily involved in pushing even further the rights of women, including greater inheritance rights and protection from sexual abuse.

Morocco has always been pulled in different directions and influenced by Western and Middle Eastern ideas and thoughts concerning civil liberties. Wanting to maintain their Islamic identity, but wanting to open the doors, regardless of how carefully, the royal family and other liberal members of parliament agree that the changes are a positive step ahead. The students who reported in this article were aware enough to state that Western activists working for the rights of women in Islamic countries should also be aware of “ethnocentric definitions of rights and norms” so that compromise, collaboration, and cultural consideration are at the center of their debates. Many agree that change has to take place from within and that the outside, namely the Western world, needs to allow it to do so organically.

Source: Murai Yusuko, Kathleen Martinez and Meriem Boulekbod. Common Ground News Service (CGNews)

Africans, including Moroccans, can pay smugglers anywhere from 800 to 1000 euros in a gamble that includes risking their own lives. Much of the smuggling occurs with unfit motorboats that can hold 10 but carry groups of 20 or more into the Canary Islands or across the