Travel Journal, Africa – Casablanca, Marrakech, Morocco – Mar/Apr 2007
Updated 1Aug07

“As-Salaam Malaykum, Morocco!”

Swapping Cairo for Marrakech
While hospitalization and an ice storm forced us to CANCEL our trip with Abercrombie and Kent to Cairo in February, we found an alternative to visiting Africa instead: Casablanca & Marrakech. Thinking it was the “better” alternative. So we brushed off our barely-eloquent Arabic and hit the road.

News of Breached Security
However, security concerns loomed over our visit as news broke on the week of our departure that local Moroccan police were on a hunt for a 12 member Al Quaeda/Islamist faction attempting another “civilian target through explosion and destruction” throughout North African’s tourist destinations, aiming mostly at Westerners. All this occured one week before our arrival, which we later learned that same terror cell – 11 members – were captured in Casablanca after a 12th member (suicide bomber) managed to evade police by detonating himself inside an internet cafe. Despite the news, we kept our travel plans with some hesitation.

In any case, after a long 3 weeks in the EU, the hubby is finally home, only to get back on yet another flight — for leisure however — as my travel journal begins on the ground at JFK.

Waiting at the BA Terraces Lounge, JFK for our departure flight BA182 JFK-LHR. March 2007

Just catching up on some required magazine reading. March 2007

Outside my window on this BA flight, London awaits. March 2007

Well, good morning, sleepy. Just checking my documents, visa, passport, customs and immigration forms, etc. BA 182 JFK-LHR; Mar07

On British Airways en route to Marrakech via Casablanca. Here is the overhead monitor displaying a map of Spain as we make our way south into the African air space. LHR-CMN-RAK; March 2007

Here’s Steven reading the book that “I” carried aboard Club Europe on BA in my carry on.

Seizing an opportunity, our BA pilot announced that we were about to leave Spain’s southwest Iberian coast, heading directly south into Northern Africa’s air space. Mar07

Now we are officially entering Africa’s domain, flying over Rabat and Casablanca. British Airways/GB Airways codeshare flight.

There’s Casablanca’s suburban areas – look how “green” it is – as we approach CMN Casablanca, Mohammed V Int’l Airport. March07

Here’s the approach from Casablanca-Marrakech. Mar07

Here we are. Finally in our room – a pavilion piscine (pool villa) at the Amanjena property, taking a timed shot of ourselves. Even we can’t believe we made it.

Here’s Steven, still working on blackberry, of course. His figure gives an accurate relative size to the towering rotunda above him.

I believe I caught him, again. STILL WORKING. Am about ready to toss that crackberry into the ‘G ahrh bedge’

Our very first Moroccan meal – breakfast – in our pavillion. Let’s see. Well, actually we were offered our very first taste of anything Moroccan the prior evening upon our arrival onto the Amanjena property – traditional Moroccan mint tea – sweet, warm, and herbally smooth. This morning we are trying Moroccan pancakes (flat yeast bread, similar to naan), along with their version of meuslix, which comes w/yogurt. Then there’s African coffee (Steven holding cup) and off the side, not visible is my usual order of a fruit platter.

There’s Steven below (see his knees) while I take a shot of our pavillion from his angle. The center courtyard is for lounging, while the heated pool provides the perfect dipping temp year round…all to ourselves…in TOTAL PRIVACY!

Steven relaxing, away from the sun. In the desert, the sun is absolutely deceiving. Chilly temps, with very, very strong rays.

Just checking things out.

Finally dressed to face the day and explore Marrakech.

View outside our villa

Taken on the grounds of the Amanjena

Long walkway into main Amanjena lounge

Standing amid one of several artifacts on display on the Amanjena property

Main lounge of Amanjena

Here we are while a staff member …ugh finally takes a photo of us…we’ve been trying to manage all on our own, using the damn timer.

Quiet lounge area of the Amanjena

Ah…finally off the Amanjena to see the real “Morocco” away from the private, gated property. This is our first shot of the West Palmaerie desert showing the snow-capped Atlas Mountains to the south. Truly spectacular.

Typical low-rise structures along the road between the Medina and West Palmaerie desert.

View from our car, there stands the 12th century Koutoubia Mosque built by Almohad sultan Abdel Moumen. Closed to non-Muslims, we could only admire the moorish great from afar.

View of the permanent fixtures of storks, El Badi Palace had just closed for their 2-hr lunch, but luckily we were given carte blanche w/our tour guide to further explore the palace grounds.

Here we are with our tour guide, Si Mohammed at the start of our tour on the grounds of El Badi Palace.

Here’s Steven after a rather taxing 2 1/2 story climb …yes on foot… to the top of this fallen palace. In the distance are the permanent nest fixtures of the famous Moroccan stork.

Here’s a closer look at one of several dozen stork nests, atop El Badi Palace. According to Mohammed, they’ve been here for several hundred years, a fixture of the palace and ubiquitous with Marrakech locals.

Here we are in front of El Badi Palace’s fountains while Mohammed took this shot of us.

Oh! Look! It’s McDonald’s outside the Medina, of course, along side their “Costco” and “Ikea.” Mar07

Taken from our tour van, a shot of the typical Moroccan family walking on a sunny afternoon. Outside the Medina, Marrakech. Mar07

At the center of the Medina lies El Koutoubia Mosque – open ONLY to Muslims – a French colonist’s ordinance, not the Moroccans choice.

Approach to Marrakech. Mar 07

East of the Palmaerie Desert, Mar 07

Directional “STOP” sign in Arabic, just outside the Medina. Marrakech, Mar07

View within the Medina atop the old palace grounds, showing the satellite dishes and hanging laundry of its residents’ rooftops.

Stork and stork’s nest, scattered throughout and ubiquitous to the rooftops of the Medina.

Steven and Si Muhammad exiting the entrance gate to the Palace grounds.

Moroccans on foot inside the Medina, wearing their Muslim DJELLABA, covering head to toe, exposing no skin or flesh.

Sewer cover inside the Medina, “Marrakech.” March 2007

Steven walking just outside The Marrakech Museum inside the Medina amid the tiny shoppes selling hand made leather and brass collectibles. Mar 2007

A Medina small shop where the metal and brass objets are made and sold within the store’s grounds.

“Give me a smile, Steven!” I say as we make our way within the Medina to return to the tour car for the remainder of our tour.

Inside the main court yard at the Dar Si Said Museum inside the Medina.

Showing the Berber and Hispanico style used amid the entry arches inside the Dar Si Said Museum.

With our personal tour guide Si Muhammad as Steven takes a shot of us center court yard, Dar Si Said Musuem.

Influence of the Mughal and Berber architectural styles mixed together within entry arches, Dar Si Said Museum, Marrakech. Mar07

Intricate detail of the ceiling within the Dar Si Said Musuem.

Taken by Si Muhammad inside the Dar Si Said Museum.

Steven’s one-arm-method taken of ourselves.

Another self-photo taken using Steven’s one-arm-method.