The Kingdom of Morocco is a country in western North Africa,
bordering the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
It almost touches Spain at the Strait of Gibraltar. The population is ~33 million
people (about the same as California, USA).
The full name of the country (in Arabic,
المملكة المغربية ,Al Mamlaka al Magrib)
translates to "The Kingdom of the West",
the most
western spot in north-western
Eurasia. The country is called "Morocco" in many languages because
Marrakech was its former capital and most important city.
Click on any picture to enlarge it.
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This map of Morocco
is an approximate overview of our itinerary. We started in Casablanca and
made a clockwise journey through the Imperial Cities, (Rabat, Fez, Meknes,
Marrakech) with interesting stops including the desert and the
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
of Volubilis and Ait ben-Haddou. |
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The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca dominates the city and the skyline.
Partly erected over the Atlantic waters, this enormous mosque can hold
25,000 within its prayer halls and another 100,000 on its plazas. This is
the second largest prayer hall in the world - three times the size of St
Paul's Cathedral in London. The Hassan II Mosque has the tallest religious
minaret in the world. Construction lasted six years (1987-1993) and involved
some 12,000 personnel. |
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We visit Rabat's
fortified Kasbah des Oudaias. Now and formerly the capital of Morocco, Rabat
has a European elegance and distinctly Islamic character. Note the fly on
the decorated doorway (C). (R), Jerrold Patz at the Kasbah walls. |
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The Hassan Tower in Rabat and the unfinished mosque surrounding the tomb
building. |
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Jerrold and Naimah
at the Hassan Tower (L), and the tomb within the mausoleum (R). |
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Jerrold and Naimah at the massive gate to Meknes imperial stables and
granaries (L). (R) Naimah inside the massive granary. |
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The impressive Bab
el Mansour gateway to the old imperial city of Meknes. |
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Tomb of Moulay Idriss el Akhbar, a descendant of the Prophet Mohammad. |
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Ruins of Volubilis,
a UNESCO world Heritage Site,
the largest of the Roman colonies established in Morocco between the 1st
Century BCE and the 2nd Century CE. Excavations here are of about 30% of the
site. |
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Volubilis is noted for its intense and varied mosaics, now over 2000 years
old. Efforts are being made to preserve them as a world and national
treasure. |
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Jerrold Patz at the
Volubilis ruins (L) and a picture of our small traveling group (R). |
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The souk (marketplace) in Fez. (L) colorful olives and (R) multiple
varieties of dates. |
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Morocco is famous
for its colorful and supple leathers (camel, goat, sheep, and cow). This is
one of the largest tanneries in Fez. |
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Naimah on a camel in the Erg (sand dunes) outside Erfoud (L). (C) Naimah and
our tour guide Hassan, and (R) Jerrold Patz with a young camel. |
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Tunnel Zaabal
cutting through the Zis Gorge on the main road to Erfoud. The tunnel is also
known as the Tunnel du Legionnaire as the French blasted their way through
the mountain to open a passage to the south.
French Foreign Legion legion
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A Kasbah style hotel in Erfoud (L) and (R) a nomadic encampment in the Atlas
Mountains. |
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Naimah at a
decorated courtyard doorway at the Kasbah Hotel Xaluca in Erfoud where we
stayed (C). A shot of our whimsical bedroom (R), and a full shot of one of
the hotel wings (L). |
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The Erg (sand dunes) on the south-east of Morocco, near the border with
Algeria (L). (C) Naimah and I lead the camel caravan up into the dunes, and
(R) Naimah and I pose with my friendly camel. |
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We drove in 4x4
'Jeeps' until we could no more, then we mounted camels to climb the Erg (L).
We are faw away from anything except the sand. Here, we are backlit
and radiated by the setting sun (R), a scene not unlike those scene in
"Close Encounters of the Third Kind".
sunset
in the desert |
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The sun drops into the Erg and leaves an afterglow (L), then almost total
darkness (R).
sunset in the desert
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The Todra Gorge
situated on the remote east side of the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco (L).
Naimah in a Berber scarf overlooking Ait-ben-Haddou, another
UNESCO World Heritage Site. |
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A view of Ait ben-Haddou (L), a closer detail (C) and a roof-top view of the
ksar (R). |
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The gateway (L) at
Ait-ben-Haddou, where the movie "Jewel of the Nile" and
"Gladiator" were filmed. (R) Naimah
on a donkey crossing the river to the fortified town. |
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A view of the snow-capped High Atlas Mountains (L). A new mosque sits next
to a crumbling mud-brick fortified town (R). |
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The final resting
place of the ashes of Yves Saint Laurent (L), and a variety of succulents
(cacti)
(R) at the Majorelle Botanical Gardens,
Marrakech. |
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The varied colors and smells of the Marrakech souk: spices piled high in
conical towers (L). A display of tagines (R), the traditional cooking pot of
Morocco. One of these pots followed us home as a souvenir. |
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Marrakech is home
to the Saadian Tombs, resting place for the dynasty that ruled from
1525-1659. Neglected for years, these tombs represent some of the finest
examples of Islamic architecture in Morocco. Shown are the historical plaque
(L), a detail of one of the interior archways (C), and the actual tombs (R). |
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The Djemaa el Fna has been the hub of Marrakech activity for centuries. Part
marketplace, eatery, and circus, it is another of Morocco's
UNESCO World Heritage sites. The name (place
of the dead) derives from it being a former site of public executions. (L) A
view of late afternoon activity including all the smoke from various cooking, (C) one of the many food stalls, and (R) a
dried fruit vendor. Not pictured were the acrobats, snakes, monkeys, and
fortune tellers. |
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We began this
adventure in Casablanca and fittingly end it there. We are humbled standing
at one of the immense doors of the local royal palace (L). Another photo of
an ornate doorway (R). |
In Hollywood, every movie has a happy or tearful ending. We got both: We ended our journey at Rick's Café, modeled on the one
in the namesake movie Casablanca. Here, we find (L) the lighted sign
of the cafe and (C) the reverse side of our souvenir menu, and (R) an
interior view of the Café
{thanks Judy for the shot}.
"Step into The Legend" --- indeed. |
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