Morocco, A Visual Journey
May 27th, 2018, 06:31 AM
#21
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I would be remiss if I didn’t mention our driver/guide, Salem (Salam) Karaoui, who runs a small travel company, Moroccan Family, with his brother. I’ve posted his name elsewhere, so I don’t want to be accused of aggressive hustling here (!), but I can’t recommend him highly enough!
https://moroccan-family.com/
https://moroccan-family.com/
May 27th, 2018, 10:49 AM
#23
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Hi,
Thank you so much for sharing! I have been waiting for your report as we are traveling to Morocco towards the end of the year.
Your pictures are beautiful!
I noticed you did not use Berber Space as your driver/guide. I have been in contact with them to be our transport as our itinerary is very similar to yours.
Now I will also contact Moroccan Family. I have already booked most of our hotels/riads.
Looking forward to reading and seeing more about your journey!
Thank you so much for sharing! I have been waiting for your report as we are traveling to Morocco towards the end of the year.
Your pictures are beautiful!
I noticed you did not use Berber Space as your driver/guide. I have been in contact with them to be our transport as our itinerary is very similar to yours.
Now I will also contact Moroccan Family. I have already booked most of our hotels/riads.
Looking forward to reading and seeing more about your journey!
May 27th, 2018, 11:11 AM
#24
Original Poster
Live2Travel,
i used Berber Space as my original agent but he contracted with Salem of Moroccan Family to be the driver. I’d recommend going directly to Salem as he was wonderful and you don’t need to go through Berber Space as he does not do the driving anymore.
Yestravel, so glad you’re enjoying the Asilah pix! It was a gorgeous day and fun walking around the medina. We were told that in the summer, it gets really crowded but that day was fun to stroll and get a taste of the town.
i used Berber Space as my original agent but he contracted with Salem of Moroccan Family to be the driver. I’d recommend going directly to Salem as he was wonderful and you don’t need to go through Berber Space as he does not do the driving anymore.
Yestravel, so glad you’re enjoying the Asilah pix! It was a gorgeous day and fun walking around the medina. We were told that in the summer, it gets really crowded but that day was fun to stroll and get a taste of the town.
May 27th, 2018, 01:26 PM
#28
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progol, I'm very much enjoying reading about your experiences and impressions of Morocco. All much enhanced by the addition of your lovely photographs. Your use of light really enhances the complex patterns and geometry of Moroccan design!
I look forward to your next chapters!
I look forward to your next chapters!
May 27th, 2018, 02:52 PM
#29
Original Poster
rje, I’m pleased that you’re enjoying the impressions of my recent trip to Morocco and especially in your very kind words about the photography! Thank you!
And more photos to come....
And more photos to come....
May 28th, 2018, 03:31 AM
#30
Hi progol!
Really enjoying the photos and details. You're right, IMO. As engaging as Morocco is (and we loved it), there are certainly things that present a challenge as you go. Sometimes just walking down the street can lead to a surprise interaction with someone
Really enjoying the photos and details. You're right, IMO. As engaging as Morocco is (and we loved it), there are certainly things that present a challenge as you go. Sometimes just walking down the street can lead to a surprise interaction with someone
May 28th, 2018, 05:33 AM
#31
Original Poster
So glad that you're enjoying the photos, CC! It's fun reliving the trip as I post these photos. We did love our trip, and really enjoyed the chance to experience such a range of places. There were lots of "Wows!" along the way, and sometimes hard to take it all in. And yes, there were many times walking along a street would bring a surprise or strange interaction with someone..... or something!
May 28th, 2018, 05:41 AM
#32
Original Poster
We had driven as far north as Tangier, but didn't really have the time to stop in the city. By that time, we were really ready to drive on to Chefchaouen, known as the Blue Pearl. There are many theories as to why the city is painted blue, but rather than rehashing what others have written, I'm posting a good site for those of you who are interested:
https://theculturetrip.com/africa/mo...cos-blue-city/
It's not as if Chefchaouen is the only town with blue walls in the medina; we saw that both Asilah and Rabat had blue walls, too - it's just that Chefchaouen is VERY BLUE! It's a pretty town, but in all honesty, it's about the fact of its being blue that makes it such a popular place. And everywhere we went, there were lots of people taking lots and lots of photos of BLUE walls ands steps and whatever else. There is one spot that is very popular - you'll all recognize it when you see it - and there were actually people lined up to take THAT photo. And yes, so did we. I asked my husband to take a photo of me on these steps -- and it's definitely one of my favorites:
The VERY popular spot to take a photo in Chefchaouen - take a number and stand in line for this shot!
https://theculturetrip.com/africa/mo...cos-blue-city/
It's not as if Chefchaouen is the only town with blue walls in the medina; we saw that both Asilah and Rabat had blue walls, too - it's just that Chefchaouen is VERY BLUE! It's a pretty town, but in all honesty, it's about the fact of its being blue that makes it such a popular place. And everywhere we went, there were lots of people taking lots and lots of photos of BLUE walls ands steps and whatever else. There is one spot that is very popular - you'll all recognize it when you see it - and there were actually people lined up to take THAT photo. And yes, so did we. I asked my husband to take a photo of me on these steps -- and it's definitely one of my favorites:
The VERY popular spot to take a photo in Chefchaouen - take a number and stand in line for this shot!
May 28th, 2018, 06:07 AM
#33
Original Poster
But back to Chefchaouen - we stayed 2 nights in a very charming and traditional riad, Riad Cherifa, very comfortable, excellent breakfast, excellent service. There really is not much to do in the town other than wander the medina and take lots of photos, and poke around the shops. We discovered a very traditional marketplace which we loved. There is a waterfall at the end of town which is nothing special -- although we enjoyed watching couples coming buy to have their photos taken. I'm not physically able to hike, so wandering into the Rif mountains was not an option. So though I'm happy enough we saw Chefchaouen, I wouldn't rate it as one of our favorite places. And if I were forced to make a choice, say, between Essaouira and Chefchaouen, I can now say it's a no-brainer - Essaouira wins by a mile. Still, Chefchaouen is very visual and makes for lots of fun pictures.
Little boy blue!
Little boy blue!
May 28th, 2018, 06:37 AM
#36
Original Poster
And here I was, in a rush to get to Chefchaouen, and I forgot to post the shots as we were beginning to drive through the Rif mountains....
Driving through the Rif mountains
The unofficial "entry" to Chefchaouen
"Let me in!"
Driving through the Rif mountains
The unofficial "entry" to Chefchaouen
"Let me in!"
May 28th, 2018, 06:52 AM
#37
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Thank you for everything!!
Your pictures are really beautiful, so colorful!! The picture of you on the steps is absolutely amazing!
“I am not physically able to hike”.....You were able to manage Chefchaouen as I heard it is very steep?
Your pictures are really beautiful, so colorful!! The picture of you on the steps is absolutely amazing!
“I am not physically able to hike”.....You were able to manage Chefchaouen as I heard it is very steep?
May 28th, 2018, 07:11 AM
#38
Original Poster
Live2Travel, glad to help! And both my husband and I felt that COLOR was the theme of the trip!
About managing Chefchaouen and physical problems - I was able to manage the town because I could stop and rest if I needed to; the medina is hardly on an even plane, but there's one longer street with many smaller streets running up and down off of it, so it was manageable. Taking a hike, which requires more constant uphill walking, would be a problem for me. I did get tired at times, but I could stop and rest (or shop!).
The location of where that photo of me was taken is one you'll see frequently in pieces about Chefchaouen!
About managing Chefchaouen and physical problems - I was able to manage the town because I could stop and rest if I needed to; the medina is hardly on an even plane, but there's one longer street with many smaller streets running up and down off of it, so it was manageable. Taking a hike, which requires more constant uphill walking, would be a problem for me. I did get tired at times, but I could stop and rest (or shop!).
The location of where that photo of me was taken is one you'll see frequently in pieces about Chefchaouen!
May 28th, 2018, 09:55 AM
#39
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The photo "Driving through the Rif Mountains" with its peaks, sky, clouds, green fields is spectacular !!!!! Sooo beautiful!!
(Oddly enough , it's almost the spitting image of one I took at a farm on the South Island of New Zealand.)
(Oddly enough , it's almost the spitting image of one I took at a farm on the South Island of New Zealand.)
