Morocco?

[imcarthur]

Starting to plan a vacation for 2013. We're thinking about Marrakesh & a tour into the southern High Atlas area. Since we would fly via Paris CDG, we would tack on some nights in Paris to finish with style. Paris, I know well but Morocco - not at all. Has anybody been?

Ian

[motion]

I asked my brother about Morroco - he's been there many times - and he said avoid at all costs. FWIW.

[BRPORSCHE]

Ian, I was just listening about Morroco on NPR this morning. Doesn't sound like a place I would want to go at the moment. Then again I just had some co-workers backpack through Egypt for two weeks and they came back alive.

Ya just never know.

[chocolatelab]

How about the Maldives? Ops scratch that. You see the nonsense there?

I heard that all the mayhem in Egypt is confined to one tiny area. The rest is fine. Kinda like wildfires in Southern California. You would think the whole state is on fire.

I bet Morocco would be a mind blower. The history has to be stunning.

[TheMentat]

My mom went there with a bunch of old ladies... She really enjoyed it, but it was definitely an eye opener for her.

As a side note, she even got a root canal done there! Apparently they used all sorts of old-school gear for it... not something she wants to repeat!

[Noah930]

I visited Morocco about 10 years ago. It was definitely an interesting and historic place to visit. To see the Medina of an ancient city like Marrakesh or Fez is incredible. The architecture is incredible, as well.

At the same time, I recall thinking that the only 2 things that looked happy were kids and dogs. Because neither knows any better than the crap lot in life that they have. I realize that may seem judgemental. But it seemed like everyone/thing had a hard life: most of the people, the animals--those are working horses, camels and donkeys--not the pets that we have in America, etc.

[imcarthur]

We ran across a web article tonight that described the two Morocco's - the real & the tourist version. But tourist $s help.

Security? A non-issue really from the travel forums. Safe except for the usual scams. Lots of annoying vendors & cheating taxi drivers.

And my wife won't let me drive . . .

Ian

[Jim Bremner]

I love the food!
tea, not so much

[Dottore]

Take me to the Casbah please.

Nothing quite like smoking some black oily hashish on a rooftop in Marrakesh as the sun goes down, listening to the muezzin, and having your waiter bring you endless buckets of fresh pomagranate juice, roast pigeons, lamb skewers and bowls of tabbouhleh.

[imcarthur]

I figured you had been there Dottore. My wife has already read me a few articles about the dangers of hashish use in a Third World country & their jail system.

We are thinking about a few days souking in Marrakesh & then a 4 day casbah & desert tour over the Atlas Mts in Erg Chegaga. Including a camel & 4x4 trek after the road ends & a night in 'deluxe' Berber tents in the western dunes of the Sahara. Part of the trek is on the old Paris-Dakar route. About $400 pp for accommodation, transport, private 4x4 & driver for 4 days. Finishing Morocco with a 4-5 day condo rental in Essasouira on the coast to chill.



Ian

[72doug2,2S]

Sounds like an unpleasant place.

Drinking alcohol in Morocco

Moroccans are not too fond of alcohol. It's considered "haram", not allowed. It's often associated with crime. While they are allowed to sell and drink alcohol, they are not allowed to display alcohol in plain view.

This means you're not allowed to carry a bottle of alcohol in the streets unless it's in a bag and you certainly can't drink it in the street.

The bars in Morocco don't have terraces facing out to public places. Most of them have blinded windows.

This makes the bars dark and quite unwelcoming. Most women who enter these places are automatically assumed to be prostitutes.

[imcarthur]

Liquor is not a problem. From Frommer's:

"Morocco is by no means a dry country, but drinking in public is still frowned upon and is extremely ignorant if practiced near a mosque . . . Most upscale restaurants, however, will have a liquor license, and should be able to offer beer, if not also wine and spirits. Many tourist hotels will also have an attached bar . . . Morocco has three local brands of beer -- Casablanca, Stork, and Flag . . . There are also a few surprisingly palatable Moroccan wines available . . . The supermarket chains Acima and Marjane are found in various cities throughout Morocco, have well-stocked liquor stores, and have even been known to stay open for non-Muslims during Ramadan . . . "

Ian

[72doug2,2S]

Still, it sounds like you'd be drinking with prostitutes.

[imcarthur]

Originally Posted by 72doug2,2S

Still, it sounds like you'd be drinking with prostitutes.

You mean like Vegas? I have managed to avoid hookers for 57 years so I don't think it will be a problem. I am just glad they don't have baby-throwing gypsies like Rome . . .

Ian

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by imcarthur

I figured you had been there Dottore. My wife has already read me a few articles about the dangers of hashish use in a Third World country & their jail system.

Yes, but you will do well with just a bit of common sense. Honestly to visit Morocco without a toot of their sensational hashish would be like visiting France without having a glass of wine.

Just a comment: Everything to do with "deluxe Berber tents in the dunes" and "desert tours and treks" will be unadulterated tourist kitsch. You'll be much better off just to hit one or two cities (I'd hit Marrakech and Fez), and spend your time exploring those places. If you feel the need to see some desert, you can always hire a car and drive out for the day. From Marrakech you can take day trips into the Atlas Mountains as well.

You won't get tired of Marrakech if you have a decent hotel to rest up in. Lots to see and do. You might want to rent the "Absolutely Fabulous" Marrakesh episodes to get in the mood. Or read some Paul Bowles.

[imcarthur]

Originally Posted by Dottore

will be unadulterated tourist kitsch

I hear you & I know, but my wife won't let me self-drive since the Atlas Mts are in the way. I will minimize it with a private car & driver & I will tip him well to avoid the leather 'factory' & the pottery 'factory' etc etc. She really, really wants to ride a camel into the desert & do the tent etc. The southern desert seems 'more real' since it's way off-road & the tour buses can't reach it - hence the Erg Chegaga region . . .



Thanks for the reading/viewing suggestions. As for the smokables . . . we will see.

Ian

[72doug2,2S]

Originally Posted by imcarthur

You mean like Vegas? I have managed to avoid hookers for 57 years so I don't think it will be a problem. I am just glad they don't have baby-throwing gypsies like Rome . . .

Ian

Been to Rome, but not Vegas. If you go, please post pictures and your experience. Also, it would be interesting to see how the expenses break down on a comparable vacation to say Quebec city (old town).

Please don't bring any Hashish back through the airport, I don't want to hear about a "Midnight Express" vacation for Ian.

If I were going I'd be on the look out for a new hand made rug. We still have a beautiful rug from Turkey that we hung like a tapestry. But, it looks like Dottore is the expert on Moroccan stays. He might have some souvenir advice. Eh, Dottore?

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by 72doug2,2S

But, it looks like Dottore is the expert on Moroccan stays. He might have some souvenir advice. Eh, Dottore?

Not really the expert, but I have been there a few times.

The only thing worth bringimg back IMO are some nice jalabas. These are the original hoodies. Long hooded robes that the men wear. They are hard to beat for wearing around the house. Even easier on the nutsack than lululemons!

You find them everywhere, but look around for some fine ones. And you need to bargain fiercely for everything in Morocco.

[Dottore]

Ps.

Be careful about buying the leather stuff that is everywhere. It's incredibly cheap, but its often not tanned properly and really starts to stink after a few months at home.

[72doug2,2S]

Sweet, that would make a great Obi-Wan Kenobi costume.