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Category: Travel Africa and Middle East

Things To Do In Tangier Morocco

Tangier sits on the northern tip of Morocco with incredible beaches, food, and cityscapes to explore. Unlike other places you may visit, the city doesn’t feel crowded with tourists. But there are still plenty of things to do in Tangier!

Things to Do in Tangier

Walking around the city is enough in itself, but we highly recommend finding a local guide to show you around.

The market (souk)

If you haven’t visited a non-European country yet, a walk through the marketplace may be quite the new experience for you! You’ll find all kinds of fabrics, vegetables, clothing, electronics, and live animals within just a few blocks.

For a unique treasure to bring back home, stop into one of the clothing shops! The staff will be more than happy to help you find something that fits.

Nahon Synagogue

The synagogue was built in the 1800s, but it stopped being an active place of worship in the mid-1900s. Luckily, restoration brought it out of disrepair in 1994 and it’s now open to the public as a small museum.

Camel Ride

In case you haven’t noticed, I love camel rides. It’s such a unique experience that you have to add to your list of things to do in Tangier! They’re gentle creatures and easy to ride, even if you have no experience riding any type of animal.

Cave of Hercules

The Cave of Hercules has two entrances: one from land and one from the sea. Its name comes from the legend of Hercules’s 12 Labors – supposedly the hero slept in the cave on his way to his 11th task. The cave is partly man-made, but it is a sight to see nonetheless!

Where to Eat in Tangier

Stop into any cafe in Tangier for a plate of chicken and olives or a hearty lentil dish. Or pick up a bag of cookies from a bakery in the medina! No matter where you eat, you can easily find warm hospitality at any restaurant.

We also highly recommend that you go to Le Saveur du Poisson (also known as “Popeyes”). You can eat some truly incredible seafood, along with kebabs, olives, bread, and stews.

Ready to Visit Tangier?

From riding camels to eating a hearty meal, there are so many wonderful things to do in Tangier. Is there anything you recommend to do? Let us know in the comments!

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January 27, 2020
Goats In Trees Morocco: Day Trip From Marrakech to Essaouira

A day trip from Marrakech to Essaouira is less than a three hour drive and full of adventures! Leave the bustling city and visit this small coastal city for delicious seafood and adventures with animals.

Going From Marrakech to Essaouira: Goats in Trees!

If you hire a car service, the journey to Essaouira from Marrakech is easy and scenic. But along the way, you will likely come across a tree filled with goats!

It seems impossible that the goats could get there on their own. But their cloven hooves can climb the argania spinosa or “argan” trees. And you’ll only find goats in argan trees.

Once they’re in the tree, the goats can reach the ripening fruit. They eat the whole fruit and then poop out the nut. Back in the day, farmers would extract the nuts and press them for argan oil. Nowadays, argan oil is extracted through a process that involves less goat poop (thankfully).

Between Marrakech and Essaouira, you can easily find goats in trees along the Moroccan roadsides. Just keep in mind that you’ll probably have to pay a farmer to take pictures and enjoy the novelty (and it’s definitely worth it).

What to Do in Essaouira

Essaouira is one of the largest fishing harbors in Morocco, so take advantage of all the fresh seafood you can get! Consider eating at Cafe Restaurant Fanatic, which is just across from the beach.

Afterwards, venture into the medina for more bites and shopping. The city isn’t nearly as crowded as Marrakech – less than 100,000 people live in Essaouira. So take advantage of the peacefulness while you’re there!

But of all the things to do in Essaouira, we highly recommend booking a camel ride. Sitting on top of one of these majestic animals while walking along the Moroccan coastline is truly an experience.

Ready to Visit Essaouira?

Definitely bring a camera for all your adventures in Essaouira! You won’t want to miss a single moment.

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January 22, 2020
Day Trip to Casablanca: Hassan II Mosque

Casablanca is more than a classic film. Originally called Anfa, it’s the largest city in Morocco and home to over 3 million people. If you’re visiting Marrakech, a day trip to Casablanca is worth the three hour drive, especially to see Rick’s Cafe and the Hassan II Mosque.

Rick’s Cafe Casablanca

While there was no actual Rick’s Cafe Americain before the 1942 film, there is now – and you can visit it! Even if you’ve never seen the movie, it’s still a great experience to have in Casablanca. Spend the afternoon sipping on cocktails and listening to live music.

The Medina

You’ll notice immediately that Casablanca is not nearly as busy as Marrakech. Instead, you can easily wander through the streets and enjoy the sights at your leisure without any hassle.

Be sure to stop by a bakery (boulangerie) for a fresh loaf of bread or pastry. And if you have time, enjoy it with a glass of mint tea.

Hassan II Mosque

Hassan II Mosque is the largest in Africa – the prayer hall alone can hold 25,000 people! The laser at the top of the minaret points in the direction of Mecca and can be seen for 19 miles.

King Hassan II commissioned the Casablanca mosque in the 1980s, and it was completed in 1993. Nearly all of the building materials came from Morocco, except for the glass chandeliers and Italian columns. The style incorporates both modern and traditional Moroccan architecture styles.

Visitors are welcome to tour the mosque outside of prayers, but be sure you’re dressed modestly (like when you visit the Vatican). Even if you choose not to go inside, you may sit in its courtyard or stroll along the pier and admire the external architecture.

Visit Casablanca

Escape the bustling corridors in Marrakech for a day and relax in Casablanca! Do you have other suggestions of what to do in the city? Let us know in the comments!

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January 20, 2020
How to Make Mint Tea in Marrakech

Mint tea is an essential part of your experience in Morocco. The sugary beverage is refreshing, even in the warm weather. And it’s not just for the morning or dessert. No matter where or what you eat, Moroccan mint tea will be a beverage of choice!

And it’s not difficult to make either. Our Atlas Mountains guide walked us through how to make mint tea, and we hope you try it, too.

How to Make Mint Tea Like the Moroccans

While there isn’t always a ceremony around its consumption, drinking mint tea is not something you do alone. You’ll see people drinking tea in front of shops, in restaurants, in homes, and in cafes, of course.

Drinking mint tea is a social activity. It’s a moment to share with your friends and family so that you can catch up on life.

Ingredients

The green tea leaves come from China, but the method of making the tea is 100 percent Moroccan. You’ll also need mint leaves – he used dry sprigs, but you can also use fresh leaves. And, of course, you’ll need lots of sugar!

Prepare the tea pot

First, boil the water and pour it into the tea pot without tea leaves. Swirl the water around and then discard it. This cleans the tea pot and warms it up a bit.

Then add the tea leaves to the pot (the measurement wasn’t exact). Pour in a bit of boiling water and swirl it around, making sure to submerge all the leaves. After a good shake and swirl, pour out the water.

Technically, you could drink this, but it’s considered dirty water. The process cleans the tea leaves and potentially prevents the tea from being bitter. In Morocco, they usually pour this water into a glass and then discard it. If you’re making it at home, you can probably just pour it down your sink.

Serve the tea

Next, add the mint and sugar to the pot that still has tea in it. Add hot water and let it sit for a minute. Pour a couple glasses, and then add those servings back to the pot. This whole process – including pouring from up high – helps the sugar melt and the flavors combine. Do this process one more time, and then the tea is ready to serve.

Is It Tea Time?

Now that you know how to make mint tea, consider setting aside some time for yourself and a friend! And even if you don’t make this recipe, be sure to spend some time talking to people whose company you enjoy.

Have you tried this recipe? Let us know in the comments!

December 28, 2019
Marrakech Safety: The Tannery Scam

When you visit Marrakech, touring a tannery is a unique experience you should consider. But is it worth the time and money? Depends – we’ll tell you about our experience at the tanneries in Marrakech and you can decide for yourself.

What is a Tannery?

The tannery is where leather is made. Traditionally, being a tanner isn’t a glorious life: they spend their days working with animal hides, and the process literally stinks.

They have to clean the animal hides, remove the flesh, fat, and hair, and then soften the hide in animal dung. Ammonia is another key ingredient to the process, and back in the day, urine was a reliable source for it.

If you’ve been to Brussels, you may know about the Manneken Pis (the Peeing Boy) statue. While many myths surround the fountain, it most likely symbolizes the tanner district of the city. During medieval times, tanners paid children for their urine.

Finding a Tannery Tour

You’ll find young men throughout the city hustling and bartering. Some will pitch free tannery tours, saying that you’re going the wrong way, but they’ll show you to the tannery for no charge.

Or so they say. Once you arrive at the tannery, they’ll ask for payment. If you’re afraid to make a scene or seem impolite, you can end up paying up to €50 – for directions you thought were free!

If you want to pay, you can always haggle. And if you don’t want to pay at all, you can walk away. It might create a scene, and the boy may seem hostile, but ultimately, what they’re doing is illegal.

But once you arrive at the tannery, you’ll also pay for the tour as well.

Touring the Tannery

First, they’ll give you mint sprigs to smell as you walk through the facility. And you’ll be thankful for it.

The guide leads you around to each processing vat and explains the tanning process. You’ll definitely learn a lot about how to make leather! It’s one of Morocco’s largest exports, which may be evident in the gift shops.

Visiting the Tannery Shop

After the tour, they’ll take you to their gift shop, or even just a local shop owner. You can either haggle here or elsewhere. And remember – you can always walk away.

Tanneries in Marrakech

If you’re genuinely interested in seeing one of the oldest professions in Morocco, we recommend visiting tanneries in Marrakech. But if you just want to shop for the leather goods, don’t want to haggle, or strongly dislike awful smells, then don’t go to a tannery! You can still have a great time visiting Morocco without going inside a tannery.

Have you experienced a tannery scam in Marrakech? Do you have other suggestions for visitors? Let us know in the comments!

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December 16, 2019
The Atlas Mountains Marrakech

If you’re looking for Marrakech day trips, a visit to the Atlas Mountains is easy and worth your time! They’re a mountain range that separates the coast line from the Sahara desert, stretching 1,600 miles (2,500 kilometers).

Most hotels will offer excursion packages, but you can also go on your own adventure. We’ve compiled a few things for you to visit while you tour the Atlas Mountains near Marrakech.

Tour an Olive Mill

The olive oil brand you use is most likely Italian, but multiple countries throughout the Mediterranean produce olive oil – including Morocco! The country is one of the largest olive oil manufacturers in the world.

As of 2018, Morocco is the fourth largest exporter of olive oil. So be sure to visit one of the mills to experience part of Morocco’s economy!

Visit A Berber Village

The Berbers are an ethnic group native to northern African countries. Most currently reside in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Mauritania.

As a result, there isn’t necessarily one unified Berber culture – it’s now a medley of various influences over the course of centuries. And due to some cultural and political strife, much of the Berber culture is lost or has completely evolved, such as language and customs.

As part of your day trip to the Atlas Mountains, we highly recommend visiting a Berber village. if you take a tour, it will likely include an introduction to a family who will prepare bread and mint tea for your visit.

But even if you don’t take the tour, residents are very warm and welcoming. You should take the time to visit and meet new people. Because meeting new people from different cultures is why you travel, isn’t it?

Enjoy a Moroccan Lunch

You have to have at least one meal as part of your Atlas Mountains Marrakech visit! Our tour took us to a bed and breakfast with a beautiful view.

For lunch, we had chicken tagine – a dish you’ll see numerous times in Morocco. A tagine (or sometimes spelled tajine) is a ceramic pot with a coned lid. When cooked over a charcoal fire, the cone contains the steam so that the condensation drips back down to the bottom of the pot.

Our Moroccan chicken tagine was slow cooked with spices and dried fruits, and served with bread. And then afterwards we enjoyed an apple pie with mint tea (of course).

Visit the Atlas Mountains Marrakech

Mint tea, cookies, bread, more tea…it’s all waiting for you in the Atlas Mountains!

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November 25, 2019
Visit Marrakech: What To Do In Marrakech

Marrakech, Morocco will invigorate your wanderlust to a whole new level! The colors, aromas, flavors, and sounds are unlike anything you’ve experienced. When you visit Marrakech, you may feel overwhelmed by your desire to explore. But don’t worry – we’ve outlined a few suggestions for what to do in Marrakech.

Transportation in Marrakech

If you’re not already staying in Marrakech (or sometimes spelled Marrakesh), the city is a 10 hour train ride from Tangier, or just over a 3 hour train ride from Casablanca. And once you’re there, you can get around by foot, by car, by horse carriage, by bus, by scooter, by donkey cart…

You can experience it all in Marrakech!

What To Do in Marrakech

When you visit the city, you can easily plan your day with things to do in Marrakech, or simply wander through the streets and take in the experience.

Koutoubia Mosque

Built in the late 1100s, Koutoubia Mosque is the largest mosque in Marrakech. Originally it was completed in 1157, but because the mihrab was not facing Mecca, it had to be rebuilt. You can visit every day between 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. for free.

Bahia Palace

Bahia Palace should definitely be on your list of things to do in Marrakech! It was built in the mid 19th century for Si Moussa ba Ahmed, and then housed the resident general of France in the early 1900s.

You won’t want to miss the incredible details and colors in the architecture. You can visit every day between 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. for €7.

Souks

A souk is a marketplace, and they come in all shapes and sizes! Souk Semmarine is the largest, and Souk Place des épices has all the spices you’ll need to recreate your favorite Moroccan dishes.

But keep in mind: you’re expected to haggle with the shopkeepers. So don’t be shy! It’s all part of the fun.

Rooftop restaurants

When the sun shines almost every day of the year, you have to enjoy a rooftop experience! Sip on mint tea while the city bustles beneath you, and maybe you’ll hear the call to prayer.

We recommend going to Nomad, but there are tons of restaurants and cafes that you can visit. They even have hats you can wear so you don’t get sunburned.

Indoor restaurants

If you don’t like sitting in the sun, you can also eat inside one of the many restaurants in Marrakech. Many will have dance and music performances throughout your meal. But if you’re shy, you may want to visit a smaller, quieter restaurant – the performers will come up to your table!

Ready to Visit Marrakech?

Whether you want to vacation somewhere new or just spend a winter weekend somewhere warm, we highly recommend Marrakech. It’s quite different from anywhere you visit in the United States or Europe – but that’s what makes it worth visiting!

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November 15, 2019
The Blue City: Things To Do In Chefchaouen Morocco

Chefchaouen, Morrocco is a small city almost 68 miles (109 kilometers) southeast of Tangier. Nicknamed The Blue City, the town is a collection of buildings painted all shades of blue. Some say it follows Jewish customs, while others believe the color keeps the mosquitoes away.

If you’re spending a few days in Morrocco, you can find enough things to do in Chefchaouen for a day trip!

Things to do in Chefchaouen

We took a day excursion through our hotel from Tangier to Chefchaouen (also known as Chaouen). Be sure to ask your hotel about day trips throughout the region! And don’t forget to wear good, comfortable shoes – the city is on an incline, and there are lots of steps to climb.

The best part about Chefchaouen was just walking around. The buildings may remind you of the Greek islands like Santorini or Mykonos, but the blue is unlike anything else. And the locals re-paint the buildings every couple months to make sure the buildings stay vibrant.

You can enjoy lunch or tea in the marketplace, and just slowly meander through the city. You may find a few shop owners scattered throughout the buildings, or residents offering mint tea. It will be a breath of fresh air from the crowds in other Moroccan cities like Tangier or Fes.

And for anyone who has a particular passion for doors and archways, this city is your paradise! The architecture is stunning – I must’ve photographed at least 30 different doors.

Don’t be afraid to wander! You may think you’re lost, but the city is so small that you can easily find yourself back to where you started. And besides, isn’t that what wanderlust is all about?

I’d only recommend one day in the Blue City. There aren’t many things to do in Chefchaouen itself, but it’s worth going just to see the beautiful buildings in person. I promise you these photos don’t do it justice.

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October 20, 2019