Morocco - Imperial cities, Casbahs and sea

Arriving at each new city, the traveler finds his past that he did not know most of you: the foreignness of what you are not more or not more t'aspetta crossing strangers in places and not owned.
Italo Calvino - Invisible Cities

This is what I am about to tell is a journey different from those already described above, an unusual journey for me. Do not write of mountains, trekking or nights spent in tents; not describe places wild and almost uninhabited but talk of a country, Morocco, with culture and traditions different from our own but highly touristic and modern, will speak about the beauty of its imperial city , colors and scents of his medinas, the charm of the many who meet casbe and its attractive Atlantic coast. Recently returned from the Lybian desert and about to leave for the Peruvian Andes, this can be defined as a touristic and relaxing interlude between two trips certainly more challenging, like a flat stage in the space between the two mountain stages.
In this trip, despite the hot and muggy that there was in Italy, we found that temperature more tolerable on the Atlantic coast in the morning and the evening was a pleasure to wear a sweatshirt or light jacket, thanks to cold trade winds that blow constantly. Even the water of the sea was cold and this has made many desist from making a bathroom.

 

Milan, Turin, Trieste, Bologna, Rome - Casablanca (Airplane)

With peers in Trieste and Rome landed in Casablanca at 22.30 local time, an hour late. After the formalities of (fast enough) is to expect the rest of the group that came directly from Milan and Bologna. Change 100 euros per head, then withdraw from the bench dell'Europcar the 5 cars from Fiat Uno book. Given the late hour we decide not to waste time trying to contact the hotel but a taxi to drive us up to Guynemer prenotato dall'Italia.

Casablanca – Rabat – Meknes (Car, 280 Kms, 9 total hours)

After breakfast, start at 8.30 for Rabat which takes around an hour and a half by a motorway. Visit to the Casbah Oudaia with its narrow streets white and blue, the Tower of Hassan and Medina. Once in Meknes are expected to Abdel, our guide and owner of Ryad Bahia. Abdel do with a first visit to the ancient walls and gates of Meknes. Arrived at the beautiful and comfortable Ryad Bahia, located in the medina where we dined and then stayed, we do know Bouchra, the wife of Abdel. The fact that both speak good Italian and they are of a kind exquisite did appreciate all the participants the pleasure of their company. The evening stroll along the lanes of the medina has been made to appreciate the cool climate of the evening in Morocco. Everyone thought they found a heat instead of days the temperatures are more than acceptable and makes the evening even freschino.

Meknes – Volubilis – Meknes (Car, 70 Kms, 4 total hours)

Spend the morning visiting Meknes with Abdel as a guide. We start with visiting the Medina district of the carpenters and blacksmiths. This is followed by a mosque, one of the few in Morocco where entry is allowed for non-Muslims. The mosque is the mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, an ancestor of Mohammed VI, the current ruler. It ends with a visit to the old barn and large stables, destroyed by the earthquake in Lisbon in 1755 but which formerly housed hundreds of horses.
In the afternoon we visit the Roman site of Volubilis, site of a beautiful 30 km from Meknes. The place are beautiful mosaics that recall the splendor of ancient Rome. With a small deviation we make a quick visit to the holy city of Moulay Idriss, located near Volubilis. Here is buried Moulay Idriss, founder of Fes but especially great grandson of Muhammad.

Meknes – Fes – Meknes (Car, 200 Kms, 1+1 hours)

Day excursion to Fes Meknes with a return for the night. In doing refueling a car to remove the cap from the tube that goes to the tank. Fortunately have enough petrol to reach Fes el'Europcar where they replace. To find the Fes Youssef approached by driving through Meknes Bouchra. With her visit to the tanneries, the old town, the Jewish quarter and especially many craft shops, even if after the first 2 or 3 were asked not to see others. The visit to the tanneries can be a unique experience because it allows you to closely observe the working conditions which have already been deemed non-human in the Middle Ages. Workers immersed up to his knees in the tanks to dye the skins you add the smell of rotting meat and pigeon guano, an ingredient used in tanning, because it is rich in ammonia. For the visitors, to alleviate the stench that reigns everywhere, are given a twig of mint to keep constantly under the nose. All this while walking on narrow streets up on the bottom of which runs an indefinite streams of liquid.

Meknes – Azrou – Gorge du Ziz (Car, 390 Km, 9 hours)

At 9 Abdel salute and his wife Bouchra and leave for the south. Azrou reached, with a small deviation of about 10 Km on the road to Ifrane, we visit a famous cedar forest inhabited by many monkeys accustomed to tourists, and easily approachable. After many photos and stop for lunch, you depart. Cross the Atlas superando a step that exceeds the 2,000 meters. Finally we reach the 18 to Palmaziz hotel, situated in the ziz gorges in the middle of a beautiful oasis with palms and cultivated gardens. Visit dell'oasi with ziz ford the river, fortunately with a little water, then return to the hotel finally know our guide Ben.

Gorge du Ziz – Merzouga – Obera oasis(Car + Dromedary 150 Kms 9 hours by car + 2 hours by dromedary)

Before leaving for Merzouga Ben leads us to a vantage point where you can admire from the gorges formed by the river that ziz s'infila winding between steep rock walls. Errachidia to a stop order to buy food for lunch that will be consumed in a Berber house. In early afternoon we arrive in Merzouga. The start with dromedaries in the oasis is planned for 17, so there remains time for a refreshing dip in the swimming pool from which we leave the luggage. The trip is approximately 2 hours in the saddle dromedaries not involve any difficulty, only a few complaints for adverse reactions on the parts noble. Arriving at the beautiful oasis we decide to climb the big dune that dominates. To be sure, not all seek the company, someone is resting at the Berber tent, others stop in mid-climb. In 5 we can reach the top. Walking uphill on the crest of the dune is very tiring, his feet sinking in the sand at every step. The difficulty of the climb, however, is rewarded by views that can be seen from the top and the colors of which are colored dunes of the sun to set. Excellent dinner prepared by Berber guides. The evening continues with songs that involve the whole field, no one picks up in the tent to sleep, the night warm and inviting a starry sky sleeping outdoors.

Obera oasis – Merzouga – Todra gorge (Dromedary + Car, 230 Kms, 2 hours dromedary + 8 hours by car)

Alarm clock at 5 and a half and start at 6 with dromedaries to return to Merzouga where we arrive at 8. A quick shower and out again with the car. A stop at the village of Khamlia inhabited by a community of blacks Berbers originating in Mali that cheer us with their songs and their dances. In early afternoon we reached the Gorge of todra. After the accommodation at the Hotel Les Roches, with the guidance of Ben, dating drive the gorges. It does not seem to be in Morocco, were it not for the many casbe you find one might think of being on our mountains.

Todra and Dades gorges - Ouarzazate (Car, 220 Kms 5 hours)

Ben abandons us. Leave the village of Timerhir where, with a bus coming back home. We are continuing towards the Gorges of Dades, like gorges todra. The visit back in the car for about 30 Km
Returned on our steps past Ouarzazate to reach our hotel, the tourist complex The Casbah, situated about 30 km over at Ouarzazate Ait Benhaddou. The complex has a pool and then let us not miss the opportunity to take a refreshing dip. Beautiful view over the casbah terrace where dinner.

Ouarzazate – Marrakech (Car, 220 Kms, 6 hours)

In the morning visit to the casbah, another dip in the swimming pool and 11 for departure to Marrakech. The casbah is outstanding, certainly the most beautiful of those visited. Still partially inhabited them explore all the paths until reaching its top from where you can admire the entire valley.
To reach it riattraversa Marrakech Atlas, meet very characteristic villages and climb up the step-Tizin Tichka of 2260 meters. On hand there are many shops and stalls displaying for sale the beautiful minerals are rich in those mountains. Beware of sellers, if you are concerned do not give you truce and try to sell the mineral at exorbitant prices. They may get there and also at a price 10 times lower than that requested.
Once in Marrakech we sought the help of a local authority which, upon payment of Dh 100, led us to the De Foucauld located in the central area, a stone's throw from the square Jemaa el-Fna or "Hang 'Square", so called in memory of the time when the square was carried out death sentences. Dinner on the terrace of the hotel and walk into the square.

Marrakech

Free day to visit Marrakesh. Visit the Tombs Sadiane, the Madrasa Ben Youssef, a former Koranic school, and certainly one of the most interesting monuments of the city, the palace of Bahia or "favored" and suk always full of life with its typical shops. The greatest attraction of Marrakech is, however, the central square, Place Jemaa el-Fna, which comes alive in the late afternoon. It is the most lively district of the city, a huge outdoor theater with continuous entertainment. Numerous stalls offer excellent squeezed orange or Moroccan dishes. The entire group decides to dine at these stalls.

Marrakech – Essaouira (Car, 200 Kms, 4 hours)

Today we reach the sea. We decide to leave early to arrive in the morning to Essaouira. Suffered a setback: just started one of our cars is buffered by a taxi. The damage is minimal, only the hatchback is slow to close. The taxi driver is proving very helpful, takes the blame and us at the address dell'Europcar where we replace the car. This delay our departure, we arrive in Essaouira, however, to the 13th Informed by telephone the corresponding Alberto Leone is to take us to accompany us to the hotel. After taking possession of the rooms immediately to the beach. Hence the euphoria of the sea proved by many comrades immediately damped. The sun is hot but the trade winds that blow cold and the water of the many to discourage swimming. Only in 5 do a quick dip in the sea. Few minutes, and immediately on the beach to dry. Much better to visit the medina, and full of tourist restaurants, but very interesting and surrounded by fortified walls. Ends the day with dinner in a restaurant inside the medina.

Essaouira

Oggi doveva essere il giorno dedicato al mare ma solo in pochi sono andati sulla spiaggia. In una decina andiamo a visitare una borgata a pochi chilometri di distanza, borgata famosa perché frequentata negli anni ’60 da Jimi Hendrix e da comunità hippy. Il posto è molto bello, ci spingiamo sino alla spiaggia formata da alte dune che arrivano al mare. Rientriamo per pranzo ed in quattro vogliamo provare ad assaggiare il pesce cucinato sul porto. Si sceglie il pesce fresco appena pescato che sarà pagato in base al peso e cucinato sulla griglia. Il prezzo, considerato che siamo in Marocco, non è certo dei più economici ma ne vale la pena. Personalmente ho scelto un branzino di quattro etti con contorno di insalatina e una coca cola; prezzo 100 Dh. Sono meno di 10 euro ma mangiando carne si spende la metà. Pomeriggio passato gironzolando tra la medina ed il porto, uno dei luoghi più vivaci della città.

Essaouira – Casablanca (Car, 410 Kms, 8 hours)

We return to Casablanca. We decide to drive along the coastal road, a little 'longer but much more panoramic. Many stops on top of the headlands to photograph the beautiful and deserted Atlantic coast. For lunch we stop at Oualidia, a coastal village famous for its oysters with a nice beach protected by a barrier from the islets. We do not pull the winds that blow continuously in Essaouira, the sea water is less cold. It was decided to spend a few hours on the beach and spread to the 17th Casablanca is still years away, we arrive at the airport to 21. Tomorrow we have to be at the airport at 5 and a half to put the machines before boarding. Then, as the area free of the hotel, we conclude that it is unnecessary to go into town to sleep for a few hours. Dinner in a restaurant combined with a gas station where we do full cars then, toward midnight, we go to the airport. Some manage to sleep (so to speak) a few hours, others go until dawn.

Casablanca – Italy (airplane)

We leave. Some board directly to Milan or Bologna, the other will greet in Rome with the promise to keep in touch via email.