Morocco
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Horses at the end of market day in Jemaa Shaim. 2007.
Jemaa Shaim is a town in Safi Province, Marrakesh-Safi, Morocco and where I served in the Peace Corps for two years working with the Moroccan Ministry of Youth and Sport.
Rabat Ville Train Station. 2006.
“Rabat is the capital city of Morocco and its second largest city with an urban population of approximately 580,000 (2014) and a metropolitan population of over 1.2 million. It is also the capital city of the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra administrative region. The city is located on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the river Bou Regreg. On the facing shore of the river lies Salé, the city's main commuter town. Rabat, Temara, and Salé form a conurbation of over 1.8 million people. Silt-related problems have diminished Rabat's role as a port; however, Rabat and Salé still maintain important textile, food processing and construction industries. In addition, tourism and the presence of all foreign embassies in Morocco serve to make Rabat one of the most important cities in the country. Once a reputed corsair haven, Rabat served as one of the many ports in North Africa for the Barbary pirates, who were particularly active from the 16th through the 18th centuries. Rabat is accessible by train through the ONCF system and by plane through the nearby Rabat–Salé Airport. The Moroccan capital was ranked at second place by CNN in its "Top Travel Destinations of 2013". It is one of four Imperial cities of Morocco, and the medina of Rabat is listed as a World Heritage Site.” -Wikipedia
Arches of Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca. 2007.
“The Hassan II Mosque or Grande Mosquée Hassan II (colloquially the "Casablanca Hajj") is a mosque in Casablanca, Morocco. It is the largest mosque in Morocco and the 13th largest in the world. Its minaret is the world's tallest at 210 metres (689 ft). Completed in 1993, it was designed by Michel Pinseau and built by Bouygues. The minaret is 60 stories high topped by a laser, the light from which is directed towards Mecca. The mosque stands on a promontory looking out to the Atlantic Ocean, worshippers can pray over the sea but there is no glass floor looking into the sea. The walls are of hand-crafted marble and the roof is retractable. A maximum of 105,000 worshippers can gather together for prayer: 25,000 inside the mosque hall and another 80,000 on the mosque's outside grounds.” -Wikipedia
Marrakech's Jemaa el-Fnaa at night. 2007.
“There’s nowhere in Morocco like the Jemaa el Fna – no place that so effortlessly involves you and keeps you coming back for more. At dusk, as in France and Spain, people come out for an early evening promenade (especially in Rue Bab Agnaou), and the square gradually fills until it becomes a whole carnival of storytellers, acrobats, musicians and entertainers. Come on down and you’ll soon be immersed in the ritual: wandering round, squatting amid the circles of onlookers, giving a dirham or two as your contribution. If you want a respite, you can move over to the rooftop terraces, such as the Café du Grand Balcon, for a vista over the square, its storytellers and musicians, and the crowds who come to see them. Sideshow attractions include games of hoop-the-bottle, fortune-tellers sitting under umbrellas with packs of fortune-telling cards at the ready and women with piping bags full of henna paste, ready to paint hands, feet or arms with “tattoos” that will last up to three months. For refreshment, stalls offer orange and grapefruit juice, while neighbouring handcarts are piled high with dates, dried figs, almonds and walnuts, especially delicious in winter when they are freshly picked in the surrounding countryside. As dusk falls, the square becomes a huge open-air dining area, packed with stalls lit by gas lanterns, and the air is filled with wonderful smells and plumes of cooking smoke spiralling up into the night.” -Rough Guides
Essaouira Seagulls. 2007.
“Essaouira is known as Morocco’s windy city. A combination of spectacular beaches, great sea and the almost constant tropical trade winds has changed this city from a hardworking port into one of the world’s greatest sites for windsurfing, kiteboarding and other exhilarating watersports. The city has a dual heritage and this can be seen in the mighty walls that surround this old Moroccan trade centre. Once a Portuguese fortress, rusting cannons between the ramparts still point out to sea, and there is a certain European feel to the construction of the city once known as Mogador. However, the narrow winding streets are filled with the sound of Gnaoua singing, women in white haiks weave their way through the alleys of the old medina, and palm trees cast their shadows across the walls of white-washed houses. At its heart Essaouira is, and always has been, a Moroccan city.” -Much Morocco
Essaouira through the city walls. 2005.
“Essaouira is known as Morocco’s windy city. A combination of spectacular beaches, great sea and the almost constant tropical trade winds has changed this city from a hardworking port into one of the world’s greatest sites for windsurfing, kiteboarding and other exhilarating watersports. The city has a dual heritage and this can be seen in the mighty walls that surround this old Moroccan trade centre. Once a Portuguese fortress, rusting cannons between the ramparts still point out to sea, and there is a certain European feel to the construction of the city once known as Mogador. However, the narrow winding streets are filled with the sound of Gnaoua singing, women in white haiks weave their way through the alleys of the old medina, and palm trees cast their shadows across the walls of white-washed houses. At its heart Essaouira is, and always has been, a Moroccan city.” -Much Morocco
Boy on bicycle in Marrakech. 2010.
“Marrakech has stood for close to a thousand years, a city of history and culture. One of the most evocative places in the world, just the name conjures up images of this cultural melting pot – sandstone buildings, dusty streets and towering minarets against deep blue skies immediately spring to mind. Known as The Red City thanks to the hue of the thick walls surrounding the old city, Marrakech has been a popular tourist destination in Morocco since the 1960s, attracting everyone from the Beatles to Sienna Miller. It’s a place to engage the senses, nowhere more so than in the famous souks. These vibrant markets are a whirlwind of colour and noise, where throngs of people weave between tightly packed stalls exhibiting pyramids of brightly coloured spices, richly woven rugs and a thousand other exotic goods. Enticing smells waft through the souks, and the clamour of voices haggling and the cries of vendors competing for customers provides a constant backing track to the city. It’s almost impossible to walk through Marrakech for more than five minutes without finding some architectural wonder to marvel at. From the exquisite gardens to the intricately carved archways to the ornate mosques, this is a city that displays its history in its man-made environment. The Medina in particular is a sight to behold: designated a UNESCO World Heritage Centre it’s a wonderful mix of Amazigh, Arabic and Moorish architecture. When it comes to entertainment, Marrakech blends cultures to magical effect. Jemaa El-Fnaa is the busiest square in the whole of Africa, packed with fire-eaters, cross-dressing bellydancers, Amazigh acrobats, astrologers, and a hundred other types of street entertainers. Marrakech also plays host to many festivals such as the Dakka Marrakchia, the Popular Arts Festival and the Marrakech Biennale. A more relaxed time can be had on one of Marrakech’s fine golf courses, or for a delightful pampering experience then seek out one of the many hammams that are a speciality of the city.” -Much Morocco
Boats in Taghazout. 2007.
“Taghazout is a small fishing village 19 km (12 mi) north of the city of Agadir in southwestern Morocco. The inhabitants are mostly of Berber origin. Fishing, tourism, and the production of Argan oil being the main source of income. The developing tourism industry promises to increase the wealth of the area. Surfing is now the common theme for visitors. Morocco is famous for its long right hand point breaks; thoroughly consistent and generally uncrowded. The most famous of which is a little to the north. In the right conditions this point can take you on a 2 km ride, starting at Anchor Point, joining up with Hash Point and ending on the beach break at Panorama's. It's called surfing from village to village. There are several other in and around the area making it an ideal destination for all levels of surfing skill.” - Wikipedia
Portuguese Cistern in El Jadida. 2006.
“Built in 1514, this former warehouse (possibly an armory) was converted into a cistern in the sixteenth century. The underground chamber, measuring 34 meters by 34 meters, was constructed with five rows of five stone pillars. The cistern is famous especially for the thin layer of water that covers the floor, and which creates fine and exciting reflections from the little light there is and the spartan shapes of the columns and the roof. Its visual qualities are such that several movies have been filmed within the cavernous space, of which Orson Welles' Othello is the best known internationally.” -Wikipedia
Women walking in front of the Hassan Tower in Rabat. 2007.
“Hassan Tower or Tour Hassan is the minaret of an incomplete mosque in Rabat, Morocco. Begun in 1195, the tower was intended to be the largest minaret in the world along with the mosque, also intended to be the world's largest. In 1199, Sultan Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Mansur, the third Caliph of the Almohad Caliphate, died and construction on the mosque stopped. The tower reached 44 m (140 ft), about half of its intended 86 m (260 ft) height. The rest of the mosque was also left incomplete, with only the beginnings of several walls and 200 columns being constructed. The tower, made of red sandstone, along with the remains of the mosque and the modern Mausoleum of Mohammed V, forms an important historical and tourist complex in Rabat. It was granted World Heritage Status in 2012.” -Wikipedia
Essaouira harbor. 2007.
“Essaouira is known as Morocco’s windy city. A combination of spectacular beaches, great sea and the almost constant tropical trade winds has changed this city from a hardworking port into one of the world’s greatest sites for windsurfing, kiteboarding and other exhilarating watersports. The city has a dual heritage and this can be seen in the mighty walls that surround this old Moroccan trade centre. Once a Portuguese fortress, rusting cannons between the ramparts still point out to sea, and there is a certain European feel to the construction of the city once known as Mogador. However, the narrow winding streets are filled with the sound of Gnaoua singing, women in white haiks weave their way through the alleys of the old medina, and palm trees cast their shadows across the walls of white-washed houses. At its heart Essaouira is, and always has been, a Moroccan city.” -Much Morocco
Kasbah walls in Ouarzazate at sunset. 2006.
“Ouarzazate, nicknamed 'The Door of the Desert', is a city and capital of Ouarzazate Province in Drâa-Tafilalet region of south-central Morocco. Ouarzazate is an important holiday destination in Morocco, as a base for excursions across the Draa Valley and into the desert. The fortified village (ksar) of Ait Benhaddou west of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Ouarzazate area is a noted film-making location, with Morocco's biggest studios inviting many international companies to work here. Films such as Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Living Daylights (1987), The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), The Mummy (1999), Gladiator (2000), Kingdom of Heaven (2005), Kundun (1997), Legionnaire (1998), Hanna (2011),The Hills Have Eyes (2006), and Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2011) were shot here, as was part of the TV series Game of Thrones.” -Wikipedia
Traffic jam at rush hour in Casablanca. 2006.
“Though not as atmospheric as other Moroccan cities, Casablanca is the best representation of the modern nation. This is where money is being made, where young Moroccans come to seek their fortunes and where business and the creative industries prosper.” - Lonely Planet
Boy jumping off sand bag in Oualidia. 2006.
"The delightful resort town of Oualidia (Walidiya) spreads around a gorgeous crescent-shaped lagoon fringed with golden sands and protected from the wild surf by a rocky breakwater. With a good selection of accommodation and great fish restaurants (the town is particularly famous for its oysters), it's a popular weekend and summer retreat for Marrakshis and Casablancais, and a perfect destination for those needing a break after spending time fending off faux guides in the Marrakesh Medina. Out of season it is quiet, with little more to do than relax, surf and gorge on shellfish. In spring and autumn, birdwatchers arrive to observe migrating pink flamingos, avocets, stilts, godwits, storks, waders, terns, egrets and warblers on the lagoon and surrounding coastal wetlands. Most hotels and restaurants are off the highway on the approach to town or down near the beach, 1km from the roundabout on Ave Hassan II in the upper town. You’ll find a bank, a post office and grocery stores on Ave Hassan II." -Lonely Planet
Gardens of the Chellah in Rabat. 2007.
“The Chellah is a medieval fortified Muslim necropolis located in the metro area of Rabat, Morocco, on the south (left) side of the Bou Regreg estuary. The Phoenicians established a trading emporium at the site and called it "Sala". This was later the site of the ancient Roman colony of "Sala Colonia", in the Roman province of Mauretania Tingitana. Salā was the name given to the city founded by the Muslim conquerors of North Africa, which was mostly abandoned during the Almohad era, then rebuilt by the Marinids in the 13th century. The ruins of their medieval fortress are still extant. The Berber Almohads used the site as a royal burial ground. The Marinids made the site a holy necropolis, or chellah, and built a complex that included mosque, minaret, and royal tombs. The tall minaret of the now-ruined mosque was built of stone and zellige tilework, and still stands. Contrary to legend, the corsairs of Salé did not actually operate out of Salé (called "Old Salé"), but out of the city that would later become known as Rabat, ("New Salé") on the south (left) bank of the Bou Regreg.” -Wikipedia
End of harvest season in Jemaa Shaim. 2006.
“Agriculture in Morocco employs about 40% of the nation's workforce. Thus, it is the largest employer in the country. In the rainy sections of the northwest, barley, wheat, and other cereals can be raised without irrigation. On the Atlantic coast, where there are extensive plains, olives, citrus fruits, and wine grapes are grown, largely with water supplied by artesian wells. Livestock are raised and forests yield cork, cabinet wood, and building materials. Part of the maritime population fishes for its livelihood. Agadir, Essaouira, El Jadida, and Larache are among the important fishing harbors.” -Wikipedia
Surf shop sign and minaret in Taghazout. 2007.
“Taghazout is a small fishing village 19 km (12 mi) north of the city of Agadir in southwestern Morocco. The inhabitants are mostly of Berber origin. Fishing, tourism, and the production of Argan oil being the main source of income. The developing tourism industry promises to increase the wealth of the area. Surfing is now the common theme for visitors. Morocco is famous for its long right hand point breaks; thoroughly consistent and generally uncrowded. The most famous of which is a little to the north. In the right conditions this point can take you on a 2 km ride, starting at Anchor Point, joining up with Hash Point and ending on the beach break at Panorama's. It's called surfing from village to village. There are several other in and around the area making it an ideal destination for all levels of surfing skill.” - Wikipedia
Food stalls in Marrakech's Jemaa el Fna at night. 2010.
“At some stage you should at least wander down the makeshift lane of food stalls on the Jemaa el Fna, which look great in the evening, lit by lanterns. As well as couscous and pastilla, there are spicy merguez sausages, harira soup, salads, fried fish, or, for the more adventurous, stewed snails (over towards the eastern side of the square), and sheep’s heads complete with eyes. To partake, just take a seat on one of the benches, ask the price of a plate of food and order all you like.” -Rough Guides
A makeshift boat on Lake Bin El-Ouidane outside Ouaouizeght. 2010.
“Lake Bin el Ouidane is home to some of the largest Carp in the world with a current fully scaled mirror lake record of a 69lbs (33.4 kg). The Carps are still young, stocked in 1994 from a fast growing strain of Hungarian linear mirror. The lake also holds an impressive head of Black Bass, Pike, Zander, Roach and Tench.” -Morocco Carp
White Storks nesting in the Chellah in Rabat. 2006.
“White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) is probably among few bird species that remarkably adapted to human activities. They started to take advantages of the rubbish dumps which provide an extra and constant food source throughout the year. This among other factors have lead to the development of sedentariness in the populations of southern Spain and northwest Africa (Morocco and Algeria). Most of the population of these regions (and other birds from Central Europe) don’t cross the Sahara desert and instead winter locally.” -MaghrebOrnitho
Rabat coastline at sunset. 2007.
“Rabat is the capital city of Morocco and its second largest city with an urban population of approximately 580,000 (2014) and a metropolitan population of over 1.2 million. It is also the capital city of the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra administrative region. The city is located on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the river Bou Regreg. On the facing shore of the river lies Salé, the city's main commuter town. Rabat, Temara, and Salé form a conurbation of over 1.8 million people. Silt-related problems have diminished Rabat's role as a port; however, Rabat and Salé still maintain important textile, food processing and construction industries. In addition, tourism and the presence of all foreign embassies in Morocco serve to make Rabat one of the most important cities in the country. Once a reputed corsair haven, Rabat served as one of the many ports in North Africa for the Barbary pirates, who were particularly active from the 16th through the 18th centuries. Rabat is accessible by train through the ONCF system and by plane through the nearby Rabat–Salé Airport. The Moroccan capital was ranked at second place by CNN in its "Top Travel Destinations of 2013". It is one of four Imperial cities of Morocco, and the medina of Rabat is listed as a World Heritage Site.” -Wikipedia
Silhouette of White Stork in Nest. 2007.
“White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) is probably among few bird species that remarkably adapted to human activities. They started to take advantages of the rubbish dumps which provide an extra and constant food source throughout the year. This among other factors have lead to the development of sedentariness in the populations of southern Spain and northwest Africa (Morocco and Algeria). Most of the population of these regions (and other birds from Central Europe) don’t cross the Sahara desert and instead winter locally.” -MaghrebOrnitho
Trees along the road in Jemaa Shaim. 2005.
Jemaa Shaim is a town in Safi Province, Marrakesh-Safi, Morocco and where I served in the Peace Corps for two years working with the Moroccan Ministry of Youth and Sport.
Rocks along Atlantic coast in Safi. 2005.
“Safi is a city in western Morocco on the Atlantic Ocean. The capital of Safi Province, it recorded a population of 308,508 in the 2014 Moroccan census. The city was under protectorate by the Portuguese Empire from 1488 to 1541, was the center of the nation's weaving industry, and became a fortaleza of the Portuguese Crown in 1508. Safi is the main fishing port for the country's sardine industry, and also exports phosphates, textiles and ceramics. During the Second World War, Safi was one of the landing sites for Operation Torch.” -Wikipedia
Marrakech skyline at sunset. 2007.
“Marrakech has stood for close to a thousand years, a city of history and culture. One of the most evocative places in the world, just the name conjures up images of this cultural melting pot – sandstone buildings, dusty streets and towering minarets against deep blue skies immediately spring to mind. Known as The Red City thanks to the hue of the thick walls surrounding the old city, Marrakech has been a popular tourist destination in Morocco since the 1960s, attracting everyone from the Beatles to Sienna Miller. It’s a place to engage the senses, nowhere more so than in the famous souks. These vibrant markets are a whirlwind of colour and noise, where throngs of people weave between tightly packed stalls exhibiting pyramids of brightly coloured spices, richly woven rugs and a thousand other exotic goods. Enticing smells waft through the souks, and the clamour of voices haggling and the cries of vendors competing for customers provides a constant backing track to the city. It’s almost impossible to walk through Marrakech for more than five minutes without finding some architectural wonder to marvel at. From the exquisite gardens to the intricately carved archways to the ornate mosques, this is a city that displays its history in its man-made environment. The Medina in particular is a sight to behold: designated a UNESCO World Heritage Centre it’s a wonderful mix of Amazigh, Arabic and Moorish architecture. When it comes to entertainment, Marrakech blends cultures to magical effect. Jemaa El-Fnaa is the busiest square in the whole of Africa, packed with fire-eaters, cross-dressing bellydancers, Amazigh acrobats, astrologers, and a hundred other types of street entertainers. Marrakech also plays host to many festivals such as the Dakka Marrakchia, the Popular Arts Festival and the Marrakech Biennale. A more relaxed time can be had on one of Marrakech’s fine golf courses, or for a delightful pampering experience then seek out one of the many hammams that are a speciality of the city.” -Much Morocco
Horse carriage in Jemaa el Fna. 2007.
“There’s nowhere in Morocco like the Jemaa el Fna – no place that so effortlessly involves you and keeps you coming back for more. At dusk, as in France and Spain, people come out for an early evening promenade (especially in Rue Bab Agnaou), and the square gradually fills until it becomes a whole carnival of storytellers, acrobats, musicians and entertainers. Come on down and you’ll soon be immersed in the ritual: wandering round, squatting amid the circles of onlookers, giving a dirham or two as your contribution. If you want a respite, you can move over to the rooftop terraces, such as the Café du Grand Balcon, for a vista over the square, its storytellers and musicians, and the crowds who come to see them. Sideshow attractions include games of hoop-the-bottle, fortune-tellers sitting under umbrellas with packs of fortune-telling cards at the ready and women with piping bags full of henna paste, ready to paint hands, feet or arms with “tattoos” that will last up to three months. For refreshment, stalls offer orange and grapefruit juice, while neighbouring handcarts are piled high with dates, dried figs, almonds and walnuts, especially delicious in winter when they are freshly picked in the surrounding countryside. As dusk falls, the square becomes a huge open-air dining area, packed with stalls lit by gas lanterns, and the air is filled with wonderful smells and plumes of cooking smoke spiralling up into the night.” -Rough Guides
Boys catching birds in Jemaa Shaim. 2006.
I lived in Jemaa Shaim for two wonderful years as a Peace Corps Volunteer working with the Moroccan Ministry of Youth and Sport. These were some of the local children I worked with at the Dar Chebab (Youth House) and one day when I was walking home, they stopped me and were very eager to show me what they had caught. I was very impressed that they were able to trap the birds without injuring them and they assured me they would be released unharmed after they showed their parents what they had accomplished. :)
"I'm Muslim, Don't Panik" T-Shirt. 2010.
Islamophobia has been growing dramatically in the last 20 years and some enterprising young Muslims decided to poke fun at the issue with this "I'm Muslim, Don't Panic" (sic) t-shirt that is very popular with Moroccan youth and foreign tourists alike.
Blue boats in Essaouira. 2005.
“Essaouira is known as Morocco’s windy city. A combination of spectacular beaches, great sea and the almost constant tropical trade winds has changed this city from a hardworking port into one of the world’s greatest sites for windsurfing, kiteboarding and other exhilarating watersports. The city has a dual heritage and this can be seen in the mighty walls that surround this old Moroccan trade centre. Once a Portuguese fortress, rusting cannons between the ramparts still point out to sea, and there is a certain European feel to the construction of the city once known as Mogador. However, the narrow winding streets are filled with the sound of Gnaoua singing, women in white haiks weave their way through the alleys of the old medina, and palm trees cast their shadows across the walls of white-washed houses. At its heart Essaouira is, and always has been, a Moroccan city.” -Much Morocco
Agadir beach at sunset. 2006.
“Agadir is one of the major urban centres of Morocco. The municipality of Agadir recorded a population of 421,844 in the 2014 Moroccan census. The city was destroyed by an earthquake in 1960; it has been completely rebuilt with mandatory seismic standards. It is now the largest seaside resort in Morocco, where foreign tourists and many residents are attracted by an unusually mild year-round climate. Since 2010 it has been well served by low-cost flights and a motorway from Tangier. The city attracts all walks of life; it has had an annual growth rate of over 6% per year in housing demand while housing production barely exceeds 3.4%. The mild winter climate (January average midday temperature 20.5 °C/69 °F)and good beaches have made it a major "winter sun" destination for northern Europeans.” -Wikipedia
The words "Allah, Al Watan, Al Malik" (God, Country, King) can be read on the hill in the distance.