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MOROCCO,
NORTH AFRICA SECTION PAGE
Gnawa
Essaouira Music
Festival
Moroccan
Travel Market, Marrakech
Return
to Mogador
By
Jerry W. Bird. Impressions after seven
years.More->
Berber Wedding Fair at Imilchil
by
Muguette
Goufrani
 My
father, who operated a tour company in
Morocco and France for many years, took me
along with a German tour group to visit a
traditional "Wedding Fair" at Hadiddou
Imilchil, a Berber village in southern
Morocco. While I knew that many Berber
Fairs combine a local Saint's Day with a
regional market event, only at September's
'moussem' (pilgrimage) of Imilchil, have I
seen such a colorful pageant, with instant
engagement, and a mass exchange of
marriage vows. Berbers have inhabited
North Africa for centuries, some being of
Caucasian ancestry, with fair complexions
and blue eyes. Visitors may think of
Berbers as exotic outsiders, yet they
preceded the Arabs in settling Morocco,
and they remain the country's main
culture. This is expressed by the phrase,
"Morocco is Berber - the roots and the
leaves of freedom."
More->
History
and Culture
Most
Moroccans are Berbers, Arabs or Moors
(people of mixed Berber and Arab descent),
whose ancestors built the mighty Moorish
empire that once ruled Spain, Portugal and
most of Northern Africa. Most Berbers
dwell in the mountains, while the Arabs
and Moors live on the plain and desert.
Most cities have a European section a
Jewish enclave, and a Medina (Arab-Moorish
section). Over the past 3,000 years, its
geographic location has given Morocco a
strategic importance far beyond its small
size. The country has taken the best from
the Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Berbers,
Portuguese, Spanish and
French.
About
Royal Air Maroc
by
Muguette Goufrani
Early in my career as a Travel industry
professional and travel agent, I had the
pleasure of working for Royal Air Maroc
and flew on many of their routes. that's
why it was great news for me that ATA is
holding its next big event in Morocco and
that Royal air Marco is the official
airline. Here is some information about
this quality air carrier. For more than 40
years, the airline has built an
international network covering 37
countries and 58 destinations, to make the
world increasingly accessible to you.
(continued)
Splendid
Handicrafts of Morocco
by
Habeeb SalloumIn this rushed 20th century
there are not many of us who know that in
Morocco there still exists a medieval
world of craftsmen who are creating, with
their hands, masterpieces of art.
Incorporating a synthesis of the
Libyco-Berber, Mediterranean, Middle
Eastern, African and Andalusian artistic
traditions, these artisans have a long and
honored history. (continued)
Mistral Travel: 55, Moulay
Idriss, Essaouira, Maroc
Tel/Fax: (212) (0)54476129, E-mail:
contact@mistraltravel.com
Web Site: www.mistraltravel.com
The
Great Cities of Morocco
This
series, which appears in Africa Travel
Magazine's Northern Africa World Edition,
features photos and excerpts from our
editors' Grand tour, including:
Casablanca,
Essaouira,
Fès,
Agadir,
Marrakech
and Rabat.
Muguette is adding a current profile on
Tangiers.
Discovering
Marrakech
A
destination where one may enjoy the
customs, culture and pleasures of laid
back tourism, Marrakech is loaded with
outstanding attractions, events and
accommodation . Its conference facilities
are a magnet for international events,
trade missions and summits.
Continued
Tourism
Attractions in
Abundance
by
Helen C. Broadus
Morocco, North Africa is home of the
continent's oldest monarchy and is one of
Africa's main tourist destinations,
bringing in more than 3.3 million tourist
representing an estimated 1.8 billion in
foreign currency in the year 2000. In
1996, I had the pleasure of visiting
Marrakech, Morocco as a delegate to a
travel and tourism conference. It was
truly a fantastic experience
Continued
Majestic
Mountains, Romantic Kasbahs and
Deserts
by
Habeeb Salloum
For two days we had explored Fez,
Morocco's historic city, glorifying in its
ancient section which remains enclosed
within its ancient ramparts. Inside no
auto is allowed. Only donkeys contest with
humans the few feet wide medieval streets.
Seemingly, we had traveled back a thousand
years in time. It was a fabulous beginning
for the trip we intended to take across
the Atlas Mountains to the land of kasbahs
(mud castles) and deserts.
Continued
Moroccan
Culture
by
Karen Hoffman
Our one-day adventure began in Marrakech;
an enchanting walled city at the foot of
the Atlas Mountains. We drove about 48 km
into the mountain foothills to Imlil, a
charming hamlet which was the starting
point of our trek. We were welcomed by the
villagers with mint tea and a delicious
array of Moroccan pastries. The mountain
guides gave a briefing on the area, and on
the culture and tradition of its
inhabitants, the Berbers ("Chleuhs").
(continued)
Happy Returns to
Mogador
Rediscovering
Essaouira and other popular destinations
in Morocco. More
View
our Northern Africa World Edition Now in
Progress
Download a pdf copy of this new
magazine edition which will feature
Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan,
Tunisia, Western Sahara. More.
Link
to "The Travel Source" for
Morocco:
The comprehensive website has background
on all of Morocco, its great cities,
cultural attractions, travel options and a
variety of tours. More
Background
on Morocco
The
Kingdom of Morocco is located in Northern
Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean and
the Mediterranean Sea. Slightly larger
than California, with a similar lengthy
coastline (3,500 km) and separated from
Europe by the strait of Gibraltar, Morocco
is one of Africa's top five travel
destinations. The country has a population
of over 30,600,000, and while Arabic is
the official language, French is often the
language of business, government and
diplomacy. (continued)
Great
Cities and Grand Tour of Morocco
Africa
Travel Magazine will launch its Grand Tour
Of Morocco Edition soon On this page are
some brief capsules, with links to stories
and items about Morocco. Above is an index
with links to our photo gallery, with
images by our editorial team and the
Morocco National Tourist
Board.More->
Great
Cities and Grand Tour of Morocco
Africa
Travel Magazine will launch its Grand Tour
Of Morocco Edition soon On this page are
some brief capsules, with links to stories
and items about Morocco. Above is an index
with links to our photo gallery, with
images by our editorial team and the
Morocco National Tourist
Board.More->
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