First visit to Morocco ! - By: Albert Mathew

“We just came back from the other world, from the old town, medina” said one of person I just met in the Comptoir restaurant in Marrakech. “It is two different worlds apart between there and here”. I had to laugh to myself. Yes, Marrakech and Morocco in general can be quite a surprise to many tourists traveling to Morocco for the first time.

Why is Morocco so different? What did that man mean by two different worlds?

The Imperial cities of Morocco have two different parts to them, the old city, called medina and the new part of town. The newer cities that were built mainly during the French ruling are very modern cities, resembling very much any European town. Some of them might have very interesting Art Deco architecture, there are no high skyscrapers not even in Casablanca, but there are modern cities. You will see many restaurants, night clubs, clothing shops, modern supermarkets even McDonalds eateries.

On the other hand the old cities, medinas are places where the cities originated. These parts of towns have small, narrow, cobbled streets passable only by walking people and donkeys with carriages transporting goods. The streets are lined by many souks (markets), where one can buy anything from food to clothing, carpets or spices. There are many homes built in the tradition of the Moroccan culture in the old towns. Many of these homes have been converted to riads. There are type of hotels or bed and breakfast that have rooms around the center courtyards with windows facing the courtyard and not the outside of the street. These riads offer a traditional and authentic accommodation during your Morocco vacation and are very much recommended for your stay in Morocco. There are many lovely squares and old mosques in the old towns. The most famous square is the Djema El Fna square in Marrakech where one can get their teeth pulled out, decorate their hands by traditional henna or just listen to the fascinating story telling.

On your travel to Morocco, you will find many contrasts fancy, top restaurants such as the Comptoir with delicious food accompanied by good wine, music and belly dancing to snake charmers and hungry shoppers to sell you anything with good lesson of bargaining to go along side. But that what makes travel to Morocco so authentic and unique.

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Day tours from Marrakech

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