Besides my birth country (Egypt), I have never travelled to another African country until I went to Morocco! I highly recommend this little gem of a place. There is so much to see and do, and the people of Morocco are friendly and accommodating!
We wanted to be in the heart of it all, so we chose Marrakech, and stayed in the medina, which is a densely packed, walled, medieval, city dating to the Berber Empire, with maze like alleys where thriving souks (marketplaces) sell traditional textiles, pottery and jewelry. A symbol of the city, and visible for miles, is the Moorish minaret of 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque. We stayed at a traditional Riad-Dixneuf La Ksour with Moroccan architecture and the typical pool in the middle of the court yard.
Medina
Our Riad had different packages for site seeing, connected spa, as well as half days and full day trips out of the Medina. So with a bit of research and recommendations we decided to start our venture with the Medina (old and new) and visiting the neighboring mosques, museums and of course a visit to the Jarden Majorelle
The garden of the Villa Oasis, adjoining the Jardin Majorelle, was built by the painter Jacques Majorelle. Beginning in 1980, it became the home of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé. It is absolutely stunning and a must see. There is also a YSL museum there showcasing Yves most beautiful pieces, along with a bit of his life accomplishments.
We then toured the Museum of Marrakech, the Jemma el Fnaa, Bahia palace, and Saadian Tombs, which made for a very full day! We had a wonderful dinner and visit to the gorgeous La Mamounia Palace Hotel (where Sex and the city 2 was filmed). It's a great hotel for couples or families and might be our next destination when we are back in Marrakech.
Essaouira
Our second day we ventured out to Essaouira. Essaouira is a port city and resort on Morocco’s Atlantic coast. Its medina (old town) is protected by 18th-century seafront ramparts called the Skala de la Kasbah, which were designed by European engineers. Old brass cannons line the walls, and there is some amazing views. There is super strong trade winds that are called "Alizée" that make the city’s crescent beach popular for surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing. There is also 4 wheel riding, camel, and horseback riding on the beach, which Anthony and I took part in.
Essaouira is also known for its art culture and was pretty popular in the hippie era. As Anthony and I are art lovers and collectors, we had to come see this cool place and of course buy some art! There was so many galleries lining the streets but we particularly found Galerie La Kasbah had the biggest collection!
Most of all don't forget to stop on your route to check out the goats that feed off the argon trees. The goats are literally mounted right on the tree branches. A sight that's pretty cool and unforgettable for sure!
Ourika Valley
Our final venture took us to the Ourika valley, which is one of the most popular day trips from Marrakech. The location is in the high Atlas range. There is lot's of things to do in this valley, but the main attractions would be the many waterfalls that reside in this area, along with the Berber people, who still till today practice a traditional way of life. We started our journey at the Setti-Fatma village to see the waterfalls, traditional markets, and traditional Berber homes. The hike up is pretty steep, so make sure you are up for it and that you have the right attire on. On our way down we were treated to a nice lunch, where locals came around with traditional music and songs. Anthony had a good time joining them. Ha Ha....
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