June 4th, 2009
When I am not in a hotel in Morocco, testing a soft bed or riding a mule, I just live like everybody else. I wake up early (even though I would prefer waking up at noon, I still have to pay my bills), I grab my bike and ride it as fast as I can to the office (trying to be on time… just trying!).
I work in Montreal, where the sun takes ages to come. Summer should be there, but instead of enjoying it, we still have to wear sweaters and drink hot coffee. And believe me, this is truly not a consolation, especially when you know what the famous green tea served in Marrakesh riads tastes like. Fortunately, the nice team I work with warms me up a bit, what allows me to forget about how it’s like outside. Philippe (technical manager) is found of all-made meals. He likes to use the microwaves, so everybody in the room can enjoy very nice smells.
When he is not helping me out with my computer, Anthony takes good care of the website, but never without his coffee. He likes playing on words with Philippe, sometimes leading to good laughs. Finally, there is Tina, our graphic designer. I enjoy watching her playing with shapes and colors, she uses the mouse as a painter would use his brush. At the end of the day, the rain on my way to work doesn’t bother me anymore.
Tags: coffee, Marrakesh hotel, Marrakesh riad, Morocco hotel, Morocco riad, website
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
June 3rd, 2009
After a first visual approach of the city of Chefchaouen, I join Dar Dalia riad, located in the heart of the Medina. It is a nice guest house with four bedrooms. However, my attention just focuses on the smallest one, which is as blue as the city’s houses. I even have a private terrace with a magnificient view of the mountains around, where I can quietly take advantage of the last rays of sunlight.
Blue room at Dar Dalia
I really appreciated the “at home” comfort in Dar Dalia. Beds are comfortable, rooms are well arranged and the adornments are really nice. Remy, the owner, offers a real, simple and warm welcome: tea and delicious Moroccan cakes. If you arrive during the day, he will come to pick you up at the car park. However, you must be aware that if you come at night, you will have to walk a bit with your bags.
Breakfast room at Dar Dalia
After waking up, I can feel the pleasant early freshness from the terrace. On the menu, hearty breakfast with a great goat’s cheese and walk in the mountain organised by Remy. He knows all about the region: the best places for trekking and the most beautiful spots to see. Indeed, I refer to Ras El Maa source (3 km away from Chaouen), National Park of Talassemtane where landscapes are absolutely gorgeous, and God’s Bridge in Akchour, a majestic natural stone bridge which spans the Oued Farda river.
God's Bridge in Akchour
Tags: Chefchaouen hotel, Chefchaouen Morocco accomodation, Morocco hotel, riad Morocco
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
June 2nd, 2009
Waken up by the hostess, I quickly pick up all my belongings, spilled all over the floor. A first step out of the plane and I delightfully feel the heat and the sun. That’s it, I am in Morocco! I feel like I’m Candide (in Voltaire’s novel), everything is perfect in the most perfect world ever! Morocco will be mine for several weeks and I will try to reveal its most wonderful secrets…
Chefchaouen and the Moroccan Rif
My first quest heads to the North of Morocco, in a mythical and singular city called Chefchaouen. It is at an altitude of 600 m between two mountains which are perfect for those who like trekking and walking. Besides, these two massifs gave its name to the city. Chefchaouen means indeed “the two horns”.
Chefchaouen, the Great Blue
When I got into the city, I felt like I was in “The Great Blue” (Luc Besson’s film). All the houses are in blue and white and the small alleys bring a mystical aspect to Chefchaouen. I felt like I was Alice walking in Wonderland. There are many restaurants where you can taste Moroccan specialties and several hotels and riads located at the heart of the Medina where you can enjoy your stay.
Pretty alley in Chefchaouen
I reached the principal square, Uta el-Hammam, overlooked by the Kasbah remparts and the great mosque. In summer, the Kasbah’s cells are very pleasant… you can find refuge to feel their coolness, before going for a walk around its orange and jasmine scent garden. From the tower, the view of the Medina is unbelievable. It is so white and dazzling that you often can’t watch it without sunglasses…
The Kasbah
Tags: Chefchaouen Morocco, Chefchaouen tourism, hotel Chefchaouen, Kasbah Chefchaouen, Medina Chefchaouen, riad Chefchaouen
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
June 1st, 2009
Because a good journey has to be well planed (especially if you want to avoid some “I told you so!” from your partner), I wrote you a special survival guide in order to spare you bad surprises and also to prevent you from having some of my most traumatic experiences…
You must know that if you want to reach Morocco, you have many chances to go on a plane… If you have never been on before, you should prepare yourself psychologically and be aware that you will not really have your feet on the ground. In other words, forget smoke breaks at each station and phone calls to mum and dad to tell them about your journey. Except these small details, you will realize that plane is one of the best means of transport. You don’t have to leave you seat if you need a drink and you can snore with serenity during the whole flight with no risk of missing your stop. Moreover, the earlier you book your flight, the cheaper it is.
Before reaching the airport, don’t forget to check the luggage weight. You will so avoid to pay an additional charge for each extra kilo, and you will not have the biggest shame of my life, which consisted in opening my luggage in front of everyone in order to transfer my underwears to my hand luggage. If you still have room in your bags, don’t hesitate to bring one or two bottle of water. Although water is drinkable in big cities, you still may be ill, especially when you forget to ask the waiter to open in front of you the bottle of water you just ordered (true story…).
You also have to know that your passeport must be valid for at least three months before your entry in Morocco (would be sad coming back from a holiday you never had). If you need help to pick a place to stay, here are some offers: hotels and riads. Think of ordering your dirhams (Moroccan currency) at your own bank, it will rather be less expensive than changing your money at the ariport. It is also unnecessary to come to the airport three hours before your plane take-off, as many air companies advise you to: two hours are widely enough and you often avoid the line. Moreover, any sharp or cutting object must be removed from your hand luggage (you will cut your nails later). You must not bring any liquid either (thus, your all-new Dior® make-up remover will not be confiscated). Here is a little trick for those wearing lenses: put the solution directly in your lens case and let your cleaner lotion in your luggage. You will be able to remove your “eyes” in the plane and put them back on when you arrive.
Although Moroccans often speak English, you must know that Arabic is the official language. So, just in case you decide to visit the most distant regions, here are a few words and expressions you might find useful… Hello = labas; good bye = besslama; thank you = choukrane; this djellaba is very beautiful but I don’t want to buy it = jellabtek ghzalla oulakin choukrane ma bghit hach; I am sorry but I don’t understand a word that you are saying = smeh liya ma kan hderch al arbiya.
Tags: airport, flight, journey, Morocco, plane
Posted in General | No Comments »
May 30th, 2009
Because we are not all rocket scientists (me in first position), here are few words dedicated to riads, these traditional Moroccan houses, entirely closed to the outside. They are organized around a central patio which often goes with a fountain (very stylish). Real pattern of the traditional Arab-Muslim housing, riads (meaning “garden” in Arabic language) were made to accommodate 3 or 4 generations of a same family.
Each of these houses consists in a square or rectangular garden around which the 3 or 4 wings of the house are established. Two alleys paved from zelliges sometimes cross the garden to meet around the fountain. They delimit four flower beds made with several vegetal species: rosebushes, bougainvilleas, honeysuckles, hibiscuses… I let you imagine the very pleasant smells titillating your nostrils. Some fruit trees (lemon trees, orange trees, fig trees,…) provide you the soothing shadow you badly need during hot periods. For Muslims, these four flower beds symbolize Paradise on Earth.
Once abandoned by the wealthy inhabitants who preferred the new and modern districts, riads are nowadays reorganized in order to benefit from modern comfort (we don’t want to refuse it) and sometimes are transformed into riad-hotels. Believe me, these one thousand and one nights castles do not only exist in tales…
Riad Les Oudayas, located in the city of Fez
Tags: hotel Fez, Moroccan houses, Muslims, riads
Posted in General | No Comments »
May 27th, 2009
Little or big, single or in love, short brown haired-girl or handsome blond with the perfect hair (like Californian surfers), who has never dreamt about going all over the world? Unlimited sunbathing on the beach, visiting the greatest places, discovering the most extraordinary flavors… I can tell without a doubt that there is nothing greater than quitting your everyday life. Indeed, I am new on Odicy and I will be your “private traveler”, always looking for new escape topics.
Obviously, you can still change your habits by planing a little trip on Sundays (only 60 km away from home, because you are working tomorrow!), by having a rest at granny’s (there is no TV, this is a real change) or by spending the weekend with your lover in a beautiful three stars hotel (with a great non-heated outside pool, it is a pitty that it has been raining for two days).
You must admit that it is much more exciting seeking to conquer a new country and a new culture! You can often discover unknown plants and a different food, sometimes you can speak another language (this is good for your Spanish level) and when you come back, you have so many things to tell. So, let me take you to my discoveries, let me entertain you with my anecdotes and come and see how life is elsewhere.
Tags: discovery, escape, travel, traveler
Posted in General | No Comments »