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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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