Morocco Donkeys !!

A great article titled "Morocco's Extraordinary Donkeys" was published by smithsonian magazine, September 2009 issue in travel section. The article explores Donkeys role in Moroccan society and Fez in Particluar. ( see below for a preview).

The medina in Fez may well be the largest urbanized area in the world impassable to cars and trucks, where anything that a human being can't carry or push in a handcart is conveyed by a donkey, a horse or a mule. If you need lumber and rebar to add a new room to your house in the medina, a donkey will carry it in for you. If you have a heart attack while building the new room on your house, a donkey might well serve as your ambulance and carry you out.

Read more here.

Must Eat Now in Marrakesh Morocco

Lamb Tagine offered at riad la maison arabe in Marrakesh was selected as "Must eat now" by travel and leisure magazine, september,2009 issue. This is a sepetember issue, so the selection is not live yet in travel and leisure website. ( see attached picture for the review.

La maison arabe restaurant menu can be accessed here.

Morocco Fantasia

Moroccan folklore can be experienced by catching a Moroccan fantasia live show while you vacationing in Morocco.

Where in Morocco can I see a live fantasia show?

Marrakesh, Agadir (Shems Ayour), Rabat, Ben Mellal and Meknes.

Morocco Fantasia Festival is celebrated each year during the month of September, also known as “Tissa horse moussem”, mossem means festival in Arabic. The performers are usually of a Berber decent, and usually are well trained horsemen. Horsewomen start participating in some local mousems, where they perform along side of their country men. The event usually attracts local Berber traditional music and dance groups. Meknes is known nationally for its stables, Tissa horse moussem, Meknes traditional dance, and a long history association with fantasia that started around the 17^th century.

Picture credit: flickr by pjwar

Morocco Hot New Hotels

Code Nast Traveler published hot list hotels 2009. Two Marrakech hotels were part of the list of this year out of 140 top new hotels worldwide.

AnaYela, Marrakech: located inside the Medina, a restored 300 years old palace.

Dar JL, Marrakech: located 10 min from Medina and Gueliz.

Morocco’s New Low-cost Airline

Air Arabia Maroc launched its operations in Morocco starting May 6, 2009 with the inaugural flight to Stansted Airport in London, United Kingdom followed by selected destinations across Europe and North Africa.

Click here for Morocco flight schedule and booking. According to Air Arabia website, Air Arabia Maroc will start operations to selected destinations in Spain, Portugal, United Kingdom, France and Italy.

Bizarre Foods: Moroccan Foods

Andrew Zimmern from the travel channel explores Moroccan mysterious and exotic dishes from Marrakesh to Ouarzazate.

Moroccan Mashoui: Roasted lamb

The exotic Moroccan breakfast: "Kalia" with eggs, Kalia is a salted lamb with fats.

The combination is prepared usually by local villagers who

do not have electricity to preserve meat for long time usually months.

Windsurfing Essaouira Morocco

Windsurfing in Essaouira area, the two major spots for surfing are:

Essaouira: Moulay bouzerktoune (1 to 5 meters waves depends on season, but waves are available all year long)

Essaouira: Sidi Kaouki  (1 to 4 meters waves depends on season, but waves are  available all year long)

Windsurfing schools are also available:

Magic Fun Afrika

Bouj Wind Surf Adventure

Trip Kite

Club Mistral

For more information about Essaouira check out our travel website.