Morocco
Published in Woman's Weekly 20th January 2009
Published in Woman's Weekly 20th January 2009
The Road to Morocco
Going on holiday alone can seem a daunting prospect and many are put off by the additional expense of the single person supplement and the worries of feeling vulnerable in a strange environment. This is pity as there are plenty of exciting opportunities for individuals who, for whatever reason, chose to travel alone.
One of the best options is to consider an escorted holiday with a specialist tour company for single travellers such as Just You. Their range of destinations is worldwide featuring specially designed itineraries to help you discover countries and cultures in the company of like-minded people.
The exotic country of Morocco is high on every traveller’s wish list and I decided to try a 10-day discovery tour taking in the colonial charms of Casablanca and the allure of the ancient imperial cities of Fez, Meknes and Marrakech.
For research purposes I couldn’t resist watching the classic Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour comedy film Road to Morocco to put me in the right frame of mood for the trip.
I wasn’t really sure of what to expect when I met my new travelling companions in the executive lounge prior to our scheduled flight to Casablanca but the relaxing surroundings and free pre-flight drinks helped to break the ice and put everyone in a holiday mood. Our group of 30 came from all corners of Britain ranging from widowed and retired folk to a train driver and doctor. Many had been on Just You holidays before as they had enjoyed the balance of touring and rest days with people united by a love of travel.
We were accompanied on our trip by tour manager Bernie and also a local guide, the splendid Zahir, who we met in Morocco. Both proved to be the perfect hosts with excellent local knowledge and organisational skills to cope with all our enquiries and questions. Having a keen sense of humour and bags of patience also helps, as things do not always run smoothly in Morocco, particularly during the period of Ramadan as our schedule did.
Our first port of call was Casablanca, which will always be associated with one of my favourite movies of all time starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Unfortunately, the same could not be said of Casablanca, which I found disappointing despite its tag of being the Miami of Morocco due to its collection of Art Deco buildings. Certainly, the Hassan II Great Mosque is impressive in scale and a monument to Moroccan craftsmanship but the seafront lined with tourist hotels and restaurants looked tired and slightly depressing on an overcast day.
Spirits lifted during a visit to the picturesque Oudaïa Kasbah at Rabat where houses along the narrow streets are lime-washed in pretty blue and white colours. We also paid our respects to Mohammed V, the father of Moroccan independence at the majestic Mausoleum that was commissioned by his son and protected by the royal guards in their traditional attire.
A mornings train journey and brief tour around the Imperial city of Meknes was followed by an authentic Moroccan lunch of chicken couscous at the sacred hilltop Islamic town of Moulay Idriss where alcohol is forbidden. With clear heads, we embarked on an exploration of the nearby ancient Roman town of Volubilis where Diana and the bathing Nymphs can still be seen in all their glory thanks to the beautifully preserved mosaics.
Onwards we travelled to Fez, the former capital of Morocco and the spiritual and cultural centre of the country. We strolled inside the medina and souks where the labyrinth of tiny streets took us past craftsmen and traders in scenes that appeared to have changed little over the centuries. I really liked the hustle and bustle of Fez, where mules laden with goods jostled past robed figures along cramped alleys. This is where a guide is essential as it’s easy to lose your sense of direction and get lost. You could even end up in the Tanner’s Quarter, where animal hides are dyed in vast multicoloured vats and sensitive stomachs may rebel against the unpleasant smells.
A day’s drive in the contrasting landscape of the towering Atlas Mountains was followed by a gradual descent to the fertile Ziz valley where our hotel was situated in the frontier desert town of Erfoud. The actor Ben Kingsley had just finished shooting scenes for a forthcoming movie Prince of Persia and we were hoping to follow in his footsteps with a sunrise camel excursion to the Sahara desert. Unfortunately, this highlight of our itinerary was slightly marred by a heavy rainstorm, which managed to dampen our cameras although not our enthusiasm.
The sun returned for our visit to the Todra Gorges, a dramatic narrow canyon with towering pink cliffs before more bad weather accompanied us down the spectacular 7415ft Tizi-n-Tichka Pass to Marrakech, the second oldest Imperial city known as the Pearl of the South.
Winston Churchill was a frequent visitor, describing it as “the most lovely spot in the world” and it’s easy to understand how this picturesque city inspired him to paint. After the extraordinary excitement of Fez, Marrakech felt more relaxed but equally fascinating. We visited the ruins of the Badi Palace and explored the Medina, Jemaa el- Fna Square and the colourful souks where it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the shear number of shops selling souvenirs.
Perhaps I needed a breath of bracing sea air so I joined the final excursion to escape the city and headed to the charming coastal town of Essaouira where local fishermen rub shoulders with old hippies and young surfing dudes. Orson Welles stayed here for a time and this cosmopolitan town is renowned for attracting poets, musicians and artists from all over the world. It’s well worth spending a day here and the local Argan Oil products are perfect gifts to take back for friends. The vitamin-rich oil has a wide range of applications including cosmetic treatments, medicinal preparations to help heal scars and ease rheumatic pain and it’s also very good on salads where it can help to reduce cholesterol.
Shopping
Good buys include jewellery, herbs, spices, leather goods, brass, copper, pottery, carpets, basketry and fabrics. But the sheer range and quality of the items on offer can be bewildering so do your homework and research the best places to shop and know the value of what you wish to buy in order to bargain effectively. There is plenty of impartial advice in tourist books and your local tour guide/manager can be of invaluable help.
The Benefits of a singles holiday with a specialist company
• All arrangements are taken care by a tour manager and guide who can smooth out any problems and help you make the most of your time.
• First hand advice on the best places to shop and bag a bargain.
• The chance to discover new places and share the holiday experience with fellow guests during dinner in the evenings.
• The opportunity to make new friends of varying ages and lifestyles.
• No worries about map reading and the tension of driving in unfamiliar surroundings – leave it all to the coach driver.
• With fellow guests on the lookout, nothing of interest is ever missed.
• The great feeling of camaraderie and safety in unfamiliar surroundings.
Going on holiday alone can seem a daunting prospect and many are put off by the additional expense of the single person supplement and the worries of feeling vulnerable in a strange environment. This is pity as there are plenty of exciting opportunities for individuals who, for whatever reason, chose to travel alone.
One of the best options is to consider an escorted holiday with a specialist tour company for single travellers such as Just You. Their range of destinations is worldwide featuring specially designed itineraries to help you discover countries and cultures in the company of like-minded people.
The exotic country of Morocco is high on every traveller’s wish list and I decided to try a 10-day discovery tour taking in the colonial charms of Casablanca and the allure of the ancient imperial cities of Fez, Meknes and Marrakech.
For research purposes I couldn’t resist watching the classic Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour comedy film Road to Morocco to put me in the right frame of mood for the trip.
I wasn’t really sure of what to expect when I met my new travelling companions in the executive lounge prior to our scheduled flight to Casablanca but the relaxing surroundings and free pre-flight drinks helped to break the ice and put everyone in a holiday mood. Our group of 30 came from all corners of Britain ranging from widowed and retired folk to a train driver and doctor. Many had been on Just You holidays before as they had enjoyed the balance of touring and rest days with people united by a love of travel.
We were accompanied on our trip by tour manager Bernie and also a local guide, the splendid Zahir, who we met in Morocco. Both proved to be the perfect hosts with excellent local knowledge and organisational skills to cope with all our enquiries and questions. Having a keen sense of humour and bags of patience also helps, as things do not always run smoothly in Morocco, particularly during the period of Ramadan as our schedule did.
Our first port of call was Casablanca, which will always be associated with one of my favourite movies of all time starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Unfortunately, the same could not be said of Casablanca, which I found disappointing despite its tag of being the Miami of Morocco due to its collection of Art Deco buildings. Certainly, the Hassan II Great Mosque is impressive in scale and a monument to Moroccan craftsmanship but the seafront lined with tourist hotels and restaurants looked tired and slightly depressing on an overcast day.
Spirits lifted during a visit to the picturesque Oudaïa Kasbah at Rabat where houses along the narrow streets are lime-washed in pretty blue and white colours. We also paid our respects to Mohammed V, the father of Moroccan independence at the majestic Mausoleum that was commissioned by his son and protected by the royal guards in their traditional attire.
A mornings train journey and brief tour around the Imperial city of Meknes was followed by an authentic Moroccan lunch of chicken couscous at the sacred hilltop Islamic town of Moulay Idriss where alcohol is forbidden. With clear heads, we embarked on an exploration of the nearby ancient Roman town of Volubilis where Diana and the bathing Nymphs can still be seen in all their glory thanks to the beautifully preserved mosaics.
Onwards we travelled to Fez, the former capital of Morocco and the spiritual and cultural centre of the country. We strolled inside the medina and souks where the labyrinth of tiny streets took us past craftsmen and traders in scenes that appeared to have changed little over the centuries. I really liked the hustle and bustle of Fez, where mules laden with goods jostled past robed figures along cramped alleys. This is where a guide is essential as it’s easy to lose your sense of direction and get lost. You could even end up in the Tanner’s Quarter, where animal hides are dyed in vast multicoloured vats and sensitive stomachs may rebel against the unpleasant smells.
A day’s drive in the contrasting landscape of the towering Atlas Mountains was followed by a gradual descent to the fertile Ziz valley where our hotel was situated in the frontier desert town of Erfoud. The actor Ben Kingsley had just finished shooting scenes for a forthcoming movie Prince of Persia and we were hoping to follow in his footsteps with a sunrise camel excursion to the Sahara desert. Unfortunately, this highlight of our itinerary was slightly marred by a heavy rainstorm, which managed to dampen our cameras although not our enthusiasm.
The sun returned for our visit to the Todra Gorges, a dramatic narrow canyon with towering pink cliffs before more bad weather accompanied us down the spectacular 7415ft Tizi-n-Tichka Pass to Marrakech, the second oldest Imperial city known as the Pearl of the South.
Winston Churchill was a frequent visitor, describing it as “the most lovely spot in the world” and it’s easy to understand how this picturesque city inspired him to paint. After the extraordinary excitement of Fez, Marrakech felt more relaxed but equally fascinating. We visited the ruins of the Badi Palace and explored the Medina, Jemaa el- Fna Square and the colourful souks where it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the shear number of shops selling souvenirs.
Perhaps I needed a breath of bracing sea air so I joined the final excursion to escape the city and headed to the charming coastal town of Essaouira where local fishermen rub shoulders with old hippies and young surfing dudes. Orson Welles stayed here for a time and this cosmopolitan town is renowned for attracting poets, musicians and artists from all over the world. It’s well worth spending a day here and the local Argan Oil products are perfect gifts to take back for friends. The vitamin-rich oil has a wide range of applications including cosmetic treatments, medicinal preparations to help heal scars and ease rheumatic pain and it’s also very good on salads where it can help to reduce cholesterol.
Shopping
Good buys include jewellery, herbs, spices, leather goods, brass, copper, pottery, carpets, basketry and fabrics. But the sheer range and quality of the items on offer can be bewildering so do your homework and research the best places to shop and know the value of what you wish to buy in order to bargain effectively. There is plenty of impartial advice in tourist books and your local tour guide/manager can be of invaluable help.
The Benefits of a singles holiday with a specialist company
• All arrangements are taken care by a tour manager and guide who can smooth out any problems and help you make the most of your time.
• First hand advice on the best places to shop and bag a bargain.
• The chance to discover new places and share the holiday experience with fellow guests during dinner in the evenings.
• The opportunity to make new friends of varying ages and lifestyles.
• No worries about map reading and the tension of driving in unfamiliar surroundings – leave it all to the coach driver.
• With fellow guests on the lookout, nothing of interest is ever missed.
• The great feeling of camaraderie and safety in unfamiliar surroundings.
