UK Amazon Kindle Forum discussion
Agony Aunt
>
Has anyone been to Moroco?
date
newest »
newest »
I went to Tanger for a day, I don't recommend it, too touristy so the locals bombard you with stuff to buy we had kids running up to us as we got back on our bus to the harbour trying to get us to buy things. I found it quite intimidating.
We're looking at Marrakech at the moment.Hawkers don't bother me much. Rather used to dealing with them. I just growl at them.
I've never been, but I do know some who have and they really enjoyed it. Don't know where they went, but probably the less touristy places. For an idea of the country you could watch the early part of Michael Palin's 'Sahara' video as he has a section on it.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLXlMS...
From the moment you arrive in Marrakesh, you’ll get the distinct feeling you’ve left something behind – a toothbrush or socks, maybe? But no, what you’ll be missing in Marrakesh is predictability and all sense of direction. Never mind: you’re better off without them here. Marrakesh is too packed with mind-boggling distractions and labyrinthine alleyways to adhere to boring linear logic. If you did have a destination, you’d only be waylaid by snake charmers, out-of-control donkey carts, trendy silver leather poufs and ancient Berber cures for everything from relationships to rent.ADVERTISEMENT
Start at the action-packed Djemaa el-Fna, and if you can tear yourself away from the castanet-clanging water-sellers and turbaned potion-sellers, head into Marrakesh’s maze of covered market streets. Marrakesh’s souqs are like a cold riad plunge pool on a scorching July day: nothing quite prepares you for the shock. Dive in headfirst at any street headed north off the Djemaa el-Fna, and with any luck you’ll emerge exhilarated and triumphant some hours later, carpet in tow.
While you’re in the heart of the Medina, you may come upon a palace museum, stay in a riad guest-house, and venture a dish of piping-hot snails. But it’s worth leaving the charms of the old city occasionally for dinner, drinks, art galleries and fixed-price boutique shopping in the ville nouvelle (the new town). Go with the flow, and become an honorary Marrakshi bahja (joyous one).
Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/morocco/m...
How fantastic does that sound????
Gingerlily (or Cyberlily..) wrote: "I've never been, but I do know some who have and they really enjoyed it. Don't know where they went, but probably the less touristy places. For an idea of the country you could watch the early part..."Oooooo thanks GL!
I haven't been to Marrakesh myself, but I do know a couple of friends who have gone. They've absolutely loved it and come back raving about the place.I think the souqs are a must, from what people have said, and you can basically find the entire Moroccan culture crammed into these markets. The things people ate! Crikey! But they seemed to love it. Grab a camel ride if you go. It know, it's a bit touristy, but it was fun and aren't likely to get a camel ride along Brighton beach so you might as well try out Morroco's take on donkey's. ;)
Erm no thanks.Have had enough camel rides.
I think this holiday will be rather full on. Our week in February relaxing on the beach is really going to be good GL!
I loved Marrakesh, my wife and I went there last year after lovingly dumping the kids with the mother-in-law. Stayed in a great riad not far from the square. Happy to drag the name up for you if you like. Beware the men with snakes and monkeys. Only catch a taxi if your life insurance is paid up. Awesome holiday.
I went to Morocco when I was 9 years old and caught a vile stomach 'thing' which had some unfortunate long-term effects. Apparently the belly beast is lurking in my depths, ready to flare up whenever I visit somewhere it doesn't like. I've since had the pleasure of residing in hospitals in Bulgaria and Mauritius! If you must go, I'd recommend wearing a large nappy during the flight home ;)
Jud (Disney Diva) wrote: "I went to Tanger for a day, I don't recommend it, too touristy so the locals bombard you with stuff to buy we had kids running up to us as we got back on our bus to the harbour trying to get us to ..."I'm not much of an intrepid traveller, I'm afraid. Have called in on Morocco twice on cruises (Tangiers and somewhere else I can't remember) Disliked it for the same reasons as Jud, but that's just me, I know.
A friend of mine from uni took a small transparent bottle and brought me back some sand from the beach. It wasn't sand. It was fine crystal. I've never seen sand like that. Loved it.
I should fix my spelling error in the title...My tummy is fairly lead lined after so many years travelling but we'll be sensible none the less.
We've till not booked flights! Been concentrating on moving house.
Gotta get on that.
I went with my parents when I was 13 and a bloke offered my Dad 40 camels for me, cheek of it !
Dave was once offered a goat for me.He curried it.
Right, I think we're finally sorted.Found a cheap deal through Thomson's.
December 28-31. Direct flight.
Hotel looks decent. Close enough to the major attractions that we should be able to walk. I think.
Gonna go book it later today unless we change our mind...
Just noticed this thread. I travelled around Morocco for 6 weeks in February March this year and I made a mostly photographic blog for family and friends. I'll make it public so you can take a look. It's on my fella Garry's posterous account as we intended to do it jointly, but it morphed to become mainly my photos.http://garrycharnock.posterous.com/
Patti , after changing her mind a few times, is now going to Portugal. Never mind, I'll have a look at the photos anyway.
Wow - some great photos there.
Ooh, thanks. Photography was part of my day job.Portugal should be good, too!
We're still thinking maybe Morroco for Easter. :)
Thanks Anne! Gorgeous photos!
If you do go to Morocco I reckon I'd recommend Fez and Chefchaouen, which is lovely in the morning when it's quieter.
Dave quite fancies Fez.If we go at Easter we'll be able to see more of the country, as we'll have more time.
In which case, try to drive through the Anti-Atlas, which I preferred to the Atlas Mountains - it's drier and more barren so you can actually see the fantastic geology. There's photos on the blog.
I am currently in Marrakech. Our hotel is lovely but too far out, we can't walk anywhere as its not safe and too far. The tour we took to see the city was great but yes beware of the sellers in the souks. Although its an interesting experience. We went all inclusive (never done it before) but it seems to be the thing here that the meals are all buffets. Also the other thing about our hotel is that everyone speaks French and unfortunately we don't speak French so most of the time haven't a clue what's happening. But it's fine cause we are here to relax!
I went to Morocco on a world challenge trip where we trekked through Trogdra (no idea on spelling but thats what it sounded like to me) gorge which was beautiful followed by a trip on camels into the desert which is worth doing just to see the sky (more stars than blank space) but the roads were a bit scary. We were all in a mini bus without seat belts and spent a good portion of the journey asleep on the floor. Be warned that it is very very hot but we did go in the summer. Marrakech was great, we stayed in a cheap hotel and had to put door stops under the doors as the locks weren't the best. We were warned that the girls shouldn't go out without the boys (although that could have been the school being paranoid, we were 17 at the time) and were told to cover knees and elbows in the city, further out was shorts and t-shirts and the locals didn't mind. The sellers do tend to up the price for people from the UK as they assume we are all rich, we spent a lot of time telling people we were only students. The orange juice there is amazing.
Be sure to take a camera as the scenery is simply spectacular. I can't really help much I'm afraid other than to say that our local guide was a lifesaver (at one point he had 2 local boys by their ankles over a cliff for peaking at our girls getting changed - they were behind a rock and the boys snuck above them). You wouldn't want to go anywhere outside the city without one I wouldn't have thought.
Never been - but I do have a book that is Morocco bound.
Which airline is it flying with?
I think it's going by rowing boat - it's a galley copy.
Is it a good time to go? Which city would you recommend?