From Atlante to Sahara. My trip in Morocco

Morocco country so different and full of natural wonders

 

Curti - Paris - Casablanca

Unfortunately, since we travel from Rome this morning we wake up at 5:00, do a nice breakfast and road to Rome. At 7:30 we are on the GRA, the usual traffic and lle 8:30 we will host Italy and parking our car for the next few days. Arrived at the airport stumbled in the first unexpected holiday, or a delay of about 1 hours ... nothing special. Finally we leave after about two hours we are in Paris CDG and finally after 3 hours in Casablanca. After completing the usual boarding pass quickly pass customs inspections. The train station is conveniently located nell'aereoporto from here you can easily reach Casablanca in about 30 min (Dh 30 per person). Trains in Morocco have been a real surprise, fast and efficient you can see fares and destinations on the site dell'ONCF (www.oncf.ma). Arriving at the station house Voyagers remain somewhat puzzled about 6:00 and dark is not see nobody on the streets. Take a taxi that will take us to our hotel the first Galia (not exceptional). Posiamo backpacks and we (always with a taxi) to see the Mosque of Hassan II, the only true meaviglia of the city with the highest minaret in the world just over 200 m (!!!). Suddenly the streets are crammed into this course is the month of Ramadan and everyone was eating. Advantage for Ne we eat, we head first to the porte du pesvhe but unfortunately is closed, then we go to the nearby Ostreie (looks like) ... good but not the maximum.

Casablanca - Marrakech

Descend in search of something to put on the teeth but (of course) and '... all closed as a restaurant / bar would be open only to tourists. A difficulty we can find a bakery that sells only a few croissants (untuosissimi and burned). After breakfast we go to the station at 9:05 the train to Marrakesh (3h cost Dh 75). All the talk is local Moroccan Arabic (a dialect quite different from the native language) that a good French ... then you meet other people (merchants) who speak English and Italian. The train runs on tracks placed in the middle of the desert rock (Hammad) do not see anything for Km and Km and is' a warm .... and 'October (!!!!). Once in Marrakech we reach our hotel, the Toulousain situto very nice area Gueliz. Marrakesh and 'markedly different from Casablanca moolto more' nice and clean. First stop on our tour, and 'the Koutoubia, with its distinctive minaret, from them' we head to the central square Djemaa el-Fna by the local semplicemete the place. The square and 'very large, there' a lot of people among the tourists, merchants, vendors of water and make disciples of monkeys (!!!). Let's eat in the restaurant Chez Chegrouni where you can sample the local dishes: couscous and tajine .... excellent. After lunch we decide to infiltrate the souq, first with the guide in hand I try to move ... but it is precisely nothing, and then decide to drag us passively from the crowds of people. It meets the leather souq, one of brass and carpet il piu 'bello (I think) or that of spices. When we go back we see how easy it is to lose on the road we meet many tourists deisperati ... but as the guide suggests, following the flus of people and with a little 'luck is coming (sooner or later) movement. Another step and 'the royal palace nice but not the maximum.

Marrakech - Ouarzazzate - Tinerhir

This morning we wake up calmly (strange is happening too often), we breakfast in a coffee shop (14 Dh) and we go to do some photos to the walls of Marrakesh. After purchasing bottles of water we go to the office of Budget located near our hotel to pick up the car ... vbellissima a renault clio sedan (with air conditioning). Let gasoline (full cost Dh 420 .. dear petrol here in Morocco). At last part, after some "grated" gear .. right ... we used to unravel "easily" in the trafficking of Marrakesh. Currently the road is very good, asphalted and the limit is 100 km / h. Shortly after we reach the Atlantic, began to rise and increase share of curves. We must be careful because behind every corner there could be a sheep, or worse, a machine that takes too much away to the curve ... eyes open. The landscape is particularly so many clay Indian figs, and many vendors situated on the roadside to sell sparkling mineral to which the area is rich. Atlas surpassed the road becomes very easy and you can catch up. Ouarzazzate to arrive and we stop the Kasba of Taourit to make some photos, just starting at a time of Tinerhir. The Kasba is nice although the best view throughout Morocco (at least the part that I visited I) is located just outside Ouarzazzate on a hill peccanto which is a bit distant. The road is easy to Tinerhir you travel often to "tablet" except when attrversano the beautiful Berber villages. Even here on the street is faced with many children beware!. Arriving at our destination we stop at the Oasis (gentilissimo personnel), the whole matter was covered in 6 hours, we go to eat in the restaurant (excellent) of the hotel and then immediately nanna Tomorrow will be tough.

Tinehir, Merzouga, Midelt

After a good petit dejune comprises a fresh pressed orange juice, coffee and milk and slices of bread, we are quickly in the car. Throughout the keeper's breakfast with a smile "dazzling" by telling us the company makes various anecdotes about his family. At 7:20 we start the first stage only the gorges todra, the road is pretty good you cross the beautiful Berber villages, and many palms. At one point the road becomes a lane and then we must be careful especially in curves. Finally at some point come to the gorge petite (small throat) really a fantastic show, the light almost disappears so high is the throat. A few meters away, and come to the great gorge, less spectacular in the first. I must say a nice diversion only 15 km from Tinnerhir. Every time we stop on the roadside to make some photos, children bring us closer ticking from scratch. We continue the road to Merzouga, also in good condition, the rocky desert begins to give space to that of sand. Often the road is lightly covered with sand and we must do a little slalom. From Rissani not immediately find a detour to Merzouga because the locals have removed the name from the road signs (however we understand by mileage 32 km). On the way we stopped by a block (one of many that we will find along the way) we are at about 50 km from the border (in dispute) of Algeria. At some point before we see the mountains towering orange dunes are ...! and those who imagined they were so high ... impressive. Quickly arrive at Merzouga, we ignore the usual fox guide (argh!) And we head into a small dirt road to a cafe at the foot of duen. Park your car and then via the desert ... Beautiful, amazing, these high hills of sand ... that strange feeling. The sand is very hard not sinking at all unless one decides to walk quickly down the slope of the dunes. Followed by the usual driving we do a walk, do a warm unbearable. With the heart in the desert (Erg Chebbi) starting at a time of Er Rachid, back over the road is sliding with respect to stretch-Ouarzazzate Marrakesh. Midelt to arrive at 17:00 after 10 hours of travel (1 hour total stops). We stop at the Roi de la Bierre quite nice with nice owners. Having placed our luggage we go to the most famous restaurant of the village, the only one that serves the restaurant vegetable tajine Fez. These are the six and then wait until the manager serves the premises waiting to "break" the daily fasting. At the end of (good) meal I decide to sample the local tea with mint (atay) great. On the way to go to the restaurant meeting of the kids who play soccer, I watch them, and then drive the ball, the kid with the ball makes me a nod with his head and stretching the ball to me (like punishment to two), I take .. leapfrogging e. ..... out! (that figure).

Midelt - Fes

As usual also this morning we wake up at 7:40 and soon we are in the car. Azrou quickly come to where there is a beautiful forest of cedars (but like yesterday we were in the desert!), Home to monkeys strange (you'll see them on a leash in Marrakesh). Once we get to Azrou Ifrane real handful in one eye, because there are many little cottage that fit the landscape (and architectural) seen up to a few km ago '. 11:00 arrive in Fes inhaled after 1100 kilometers (not bad). We deliver the car to the office of budget and go to the hotel (Royal Hotel). The first stop of the day is the Medina of Fez, arrived by taxi at Place er Rsif, from here we enter the souq. After a vain attempt to understand what path to follow, and renounce "to hire" a boy who will take us around for about 30 Dh (Mohamed, if you are interested I am giving you her phone number). Quickly leads us into a shop (of course) strategically located at the edge of the dry cleaners. Go up on the terrace you can enjoy an impressive view, there are many small pits containing a variety of colors and you see people diving head ... very impressive. Having purchased the carpet for the relatives go around the streets of the median. Are very close and we must be careful to donkeys passing that often .... Visit the besllissime mochee (the most beautiful is the Andalusian Mosque) and the school of the Koran. Thanks to the little boy can see the medina in 2 hours would have been otherwise impossible. After taking the usual medina taxi and we look at the Dar el Makhzem .. nothing special compared to the dry cleaners.

Fes - Rabat

This morning we take the train at 9:00 that will lead us to Rabat in about 3 hours and 30 min (Dh 72.50 per person). Rabat is a very nice city, is a very relaxed atmosphere, the road opens before the station is very nice. The hotel of choice was the splendid but it was closed for work, then we went to Royal, but as the owner tells us the price stated on lonely is wrong (cost 434 Dh !!!). Last stop is the hotelde la Paix, that even if they appear a loculus is very nice and comfortable. The first stop of the day is the Kasba of Ouadias you must bypass the usual fox guide (revenue from close to the sea) and path to plataforma du semaphore from where you can enjoy a splendid view of the Atlantic Ocean and the tower of Hassan. Inside the Kasba, there are many small streets colored in blue .. very nice. Last stop on our tour is the tower of Hassan, in fact, was a minaret, but has not been completed. Near the Tower of Hassan stands the Mausoleum of Mohammed V very nice decorated in typical Moroccan style.

Rabat - Casablanca

Today we close the round "take the train leaving at 11:00 and takes about 1 hour and 30 min (Dh 29.50). Arriving in Casablanca stop in the lovely (and expensive, 300 Dh) hotel Noailles). We do a little walk around the city and we Poia nanna ... tomorrow we go back home.