Posts Tagged ‘Morocco’

Don’t do anything offensive

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

Undoubtedly filled with free-flowing tourist destinations, the dominion of Morocco is often loaded with spirited travelers from all around the planet.  Beguiled by the naturally lovely landscapes, superb beaches, and provoking architecture of villas in Morocco, travellers would doubtlessly find their way to this tiny African heaven.  And once they set foot on this majestic country, the 1st thing they should do is select a cushty place to stay– lofts, five star hotels, or villas in Morocco. 

Of all the types of traveller rentals, villas in Morocco are best for tourists who really want to experience the Moroccan way of life.  Compared to normal hotels and terraces in Morocco, villas can give you more than simply a comfortable resting place.  They also offer features to remind you that Morocco is a wonderfully peculiar country.  So if you are one of the prized guests, you can be certain of living like a genuine Moroccan thru your stay in this country.  However, feeling like you are really in your own house doesn’t mean that you can do everything and anything you need in it.  If you want to act like a genuine Moroccan, you’ll have to go about your everyday jobs the Moroccan way.  These are some yes and no’s to remember :

DO…take time to ask the people working in villas how they are doing

Welcome a beautiful morning by asking the person serving your breakfast how he is’s doing.  Remember that in Morocco, Moroccans don’t just give a short greeting to folk they meet.  Instead, they typically stop and say’Ca va?’ –a sweet way of inquiring about a friend’s’s life.  Staying in one of the villas in Morocco would teach you this tiny lesson of doubt for your neighbors. 

DON’T…smoke or drink alcoholic beverages inside the villas in Morocco

Since Morocco is generally against drinking and smoking, it is advisable for you to offer some vice avoidance during your stay.  You might disagree the dear villa is your home but as a visitor, you need to still show respect to the anti-smoking and drinking practices in the country.  Should you find it hard to withstand a strong craving to smoke and drink, just make sure that you will be respectful enough to wash your own mess. 

DO…invite some of your new Moroccan friends to your villa

By nature, Moroccans are one of friendliest people you will meet.  You can gain pals by simply walking at streetlevel, riding a train, or window-shopping at a boutique.  Moroccans worth the people they meet by inviting their newfound chums for an off-the-cuff dinner.  As a number of one of the villas in Morocco, why not prepare an easy meal for your friends? 

DON’T…do anything that’s offensive to Islam

Moroccan people generally have a strong Islamic faith.  Despite some Moroccan practices that deviate from the traditional ideology of Islam, folks in Morocco still price a personal attention to their beliefs.  As a guest in their country, you do not need to convert to their religion but only value their practices to fully enjoy the Moroccan way of life.  Be respectful of others, especially your neighbors who are also staying in one of the villas in Morocco. 

The complex designs and the considerable array of Moroccan meals in villas in Morocco will leave you a memorable impression.  But best of all, you’ll also learn about Moroccan values that may encourage you even after your stay.

Where do you want to travel in the world? For an idea of where to go on your next vacation, visit famouswonders.com. While you are on the site, also take a look at Tetouan City.

Morocco’s climate varies widely

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

Morocco boasts an amazing variation in terrain and vegetation, with fertile plains near its Atlantic coast, many dramatic mountains and The Sahara Desert. 

Location : Morocco is situated in northwest Africa and is separated from Spain at the northernmost tip by the narrow Straits of Gibraltar.  Morocco’s land borders are with Algeria and Mauritania.  The Atlantic ocean lies to the west and the Mediterranean to the north. 

Land mass : Approx.  446,000sq km

Land use :
arable land 21%
permanent crops 1 percent
permanent pastures 47%
forests and woodland twenty p.c.
other 11%

Mountains

there are many superb mountain ranges in Morocco on which you can climb, hike, ski or ride mules.  The dazzling variety of foliage, natural water features and mountain tops is captivating. 

The mountains are typically heavily wooded, with firs and cedars on the higher slopes.  In winter plenty of the mountains are covered in snow.  Many mountain animals live here, including the bizarre Atalas monkey, together with a massive variety of migratory birds and birds of prey, for example eagles.  There is a huge bird reserve found where the Moulouya brook flows into the Mediterranean sea. 

Amtoudi peak : located south of Agadir.  You may either climb the 20-30 cm narrow, rocky trail along the edge, or hire a mule to do the job for you.  An impressive view awaits you at the top. 

Atlas Mountains : Filling the majority of the northwestern corner of Africa, the Atlas are split into five regions stretching from Morocco, thru northerly Algeria and touching Tunisia. 

Morocco has the Middle Atlas, High Atlas and Anti Atlas.  The High Atlas is the highest range, with Jabal Toubkal stretching to 4,165 metres.  The Middle Atlas reaches 3,350 metres and the Anti Atlas does not reach higher than 2,531 metres, but it still has some awfully rugged landscape.  At the edge of the Anti-Atlas in the intense south, the view is consists of massive, eroded gorges which flow with the streams into the dry, desolate wastes of the Sahara desert. 

Chefchaouen Mountains : located in the north east, south of Tetouan.  The Chefchaouen Mountains have two peaks, Jebel Meggou at 1,625 meters above sea level and Jebel Tisouka with its mosque on top at 2,050 meters. 

Oregano Mountains, Taliouine : found near Tiznit, south of Agadir.  These mountains are covered with oregano and broadcast the scent across the valley.  At the pinnacle of these mountains ( 1,500 meters above sea level ) are two caves utilized by goats for shelter. 

Rif Mountains : located on the northernmost area of Morocco on the north eastern limits of the Atalas mountains.  The Rif mountains are made up of steep cliffs, near the coastline of Mediterranean Morocco where the terrain is rough. 

Sarhro Mountains : found south west of Marrakesh.  They’re a superb winter trekking destination as the desert cools and the High Atlas Mountains become covered with snow.  It’s a remote area embellished with volcanic obelisks, vegetated plateaux, canyons, tiny Berber towns and the traveling Ait Atta folk.  The Sarho are arguably the most charming mountains in all of Morocco.

Setti Fatma : Located at the end of the Ourika Valley in Marrakesh.  It has seven lovely waterfalls, amazing views and mountain long trails for hardened hikers. 

Tafraoute Mountains : located south east of Agadir.  The rocky, pink mountains here are the main attractions.  A Belgian artist, Jean Verame, once painted some of the rocks blue in 1984, though these have now faded. 

Tan Tan Mountains : located down south.  Renowned for its extraordinarily flat top and hollowness in some bits of the mountain. 

streams

Morocco has the most intensive brook system in North Africa.  Its rivers generally flow northwest to the Atlantic or southeast towards the Sahara Desert.  The main brooks of Morocco are the Sebou which runs into the Atlantic, and the Moulouya running into the Mediterranean. 

Deserts

To the south and east lies the Sahara Desert.  The Sahara is the world’s biggest desert and in Arabic its name means’wilderness’.  The Sahara doesn’t fit the standard idea of an entirely flat and waterless area.  There are streams in the hills and the desert oases support both human and animal life. 

Plants in the desert region survive with small water ; some have extremely deep roots, others have tiny leaves or spines.  Desert animals must also survive with tiny water and many COMMA for instance.  The desert fox, remain hidden during the heat of the day others,eg gazelles, travel many miles in search of water. 

fertile plains

These are going to be found along the Atlantic coast, stretching to the Atlas Mountains and they are rich for farming, manufacturing the majority of the country’s fruit and vegetables.  It is well irrigated by the melt water from mountain snows from the Atlas.  Common plants are orange trees, date palms and cork oak trees. 

Climate

Morocco’s climate varies widely : The north is Mediterranean and the south is subtropical while the sea and mountains help to maintain a pleasant climate. 

Winters are mild and the summers are hot and dry.  Average daytime temperatures in winter range between sixteen to twenty-three C and in summer, from thirty three to 42 C.  Like Spain, Morocco has approximately 330 days of sunlight per year. 

Mountain peaks are covered with snow for the majority of the year. 

Desert temperature fluctuations between night and day are acute and rainfall is low and unpredictable. 

The Environment’s Future

Morocco’s natural environment is under stress in a variety  number of ways : The skyrocketing number of tourists and the over exploitation of resources like oil and phosphates could damage the ecosystem in the desert.  Overgrazing and the spread of the desert might also threaten currently productive areas in the future.

Do you enjoy reading this? If yes, you may also visit famouswonders.com to read more about some of the best places to visit in the world and have a look at Casablanca Morocco.