Rabat - The Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, U.S. will celebrate this weekend the 30^th anniversary of the opening of the Morocco Pavilion which was the first expansion to be added to the resort's World Showcase in the Epcot Center on September 7, 1984.

Located between the Japan and France pavilions, the Morocco pavilion was designed to look like a Moroccan city. It has two sections: the Ville Nouvelle (New City) and the Medina (Old City).

The Morocco pavilion is reportedly built by Moroccan craftsmen who were sent by late king Hassan II to help with the intricate Moroccan architecture and swirling mosaics.

The pavilion has realistic replicas of the Koutoubia Minaret of Marrakech, the Chellah necropolis of Rabat, and Fez's Bab Boujloud.

The Moroccan cuisine is also present in the pavilion through the Marrakech Restaurant and the Tangierine Café which serve traditional Moroccan gastronomy including Tajine, Couscous, and Harira soup.

Photo courtesy of Disney Parks

Rabat- French industrialist and co-founder of Yves Saint Laurent Couture House Pierre Bergé is releasing the English version of his book "Yves Saint Laurent: A Moroccan Passion", which pays tribute to the life he lived with Fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent in Morocco, according to media reports.

The book, which was originally published in French in conjunction with the "YSL et le Maroc" 2010 exhibition in the city of Marrakech, is entirely written with handwriting. It shows personal photographs of the legendary French designer, many of them published for the first time.

Yves Saint Laurent had a special bond with Morocco. His body was cremated and his ashes were scattered in the Majorelle Garden, a residence and botanical garden he jointly owned with Bergé in Marrakech. The 90-page book will be available on September 16.

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Rabat-  Moroccan Ghita Kebrani reached the final of Miss World Next Top Model 2014, in a ceremony broadcasted on the Lebanese channel MTV on Saturday. 4o top models from around the world took part in the competition.

The Moroccan top model finished 5th runner up behind Mercedes Pruzzini (Venezuela), Sandra Cvetanovic (Serbia), Dina Kubasova (Latvia) and Diana Oubeid (Lebanon) who finished first runner up. The competition crowned Ukraine’s Olga Klymenko.

With this performance, the Moroccan top model joins the top 5 of the most beautiful models in the world.

By Amelia Verona

London - Morocco is the favorite holiday destination of Europe's jet-set for a reason. Where else will you find such a unique blend of Mediterranean magic and African exoticness?

A never ending fairyland of ancient medinas, colorful bazaars, and the trendiest nightclubs in the world. If that's not enough, there are the rolling golden dunes of the desert and the towering mountain peaks of North Africa. And the best part - a trip to this fascinating land is not so hard on the pocket.

So if you are planning a vacation in this all playground of the world', here are 5 Must-See Places.

Menknes

Built in the 17th century by Moulay Ismail, Morocco's old capital city of Menknes is steeped in history and culture. Being an ancient Medina surrounded by a modern city, it shares a unique mix of old and new. The many interesting historical sites in this region that one must not miss include:

The Dar Jamai Museum and its interesting exhibits Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail

The impressive gates of Bab Mansour

The Roman ruins of Volubilis

Fez

This is the city that gave its name to the famous Fez cap. The most fascinating part of the ancient city of Fez is its colossal medina. Spread over 2.4 square miles and one of the best preserved medinas of Morocco, it is a now a World Heritage site The medina city is a complicated labyrinth of streets and alleys, where one may enjoy delicious local cuisine at street-side eateries or even get lost. Like in its younger days, Fez is still the center of culture and religion in Morocco. Other sites to visit here are:

The Merenid Tombs.

The Mellah or the Jewish Quarter.

The Royal Palace.

Marrakech

This city is one of the most happening in the world. It rests at the foot of the Atlas Mountains. And a trip to Morocco is incomplete without a trip to Marrakech, which contains the country's most famous museums and heritage sites. Be prepared to bargain for best deals at the bustling bazaars. There are many exotic Riads to stay in. Among the places to visit are:

The central square of Jemaa el Fnaa

The Marjorelle Gardens

The Saadiya Tombs

The Souqs or bazaars

Merzouga

In a far-flung comer of Morocco lies the village of Merzouga, which leads into the splendid Sahara desert. From here one can trek on camels deep into the golden sand dunes of Erg Chebbi. Things to enjoy include:

A Night-Stay in the Sahara Desert Sunset over the Sand Dunes

Authentic Bedouin feast and music

Essaouira

If you are tired of the noisy streets and bazaars of Morocco, then it would be a good idea to slip away to the quiet beaches of Essaouira. Sometime in the 1960's, Bob Marley as well as Jimi Hendrix are said to have found solace here. Things to do while at Essaouira are

Watch the Sun Set over the Sea

Go for a Swim

Take a leisurely stroll through the beautiful streets. Enjoy traditional Music and Food.

There are many more cities to explore, deserts to cross and mountains to climb in this fascinating country. Enjoy your trip to Morocco.

Amelia Verona lives in Cambridge, UK and is a passionate reader and blogger. Her areas of interest are Food, Blogging, Reviews (Book/Movie), Travel, Fashion, Lifestyle and Fitness. Presently she is working on behalf of Indian Visa which provides the easy way to visit the places in India.

By Imane Chergui

Casablanca - Morocco is full of different means of transport, and most of them are disappointing.

After trying all of them, I became content with the train. I’ve always liked travelling by train. Though you spend hours shaking from left to right and meeting different people, there are some useful things one can do in it, such as reading and observing. The latter is my favorite.

One day, I was heading to Tangier from Casablanca. I spent the whole night planning which train to take in order to arrive early. I had two options: the 9:45 and the 12:45. I chose the first one, for I had a lot of homework to do. My roommate was in Casablanca too, and she called me the night asking to join me. She’s punctual I thought, but only when it comes to strangers. Just to give them a good first impression. So I informed her of my plan. She confirmed and even requested I arrive on time.

9:30

I was watching the train that had just arrived, waiting, and taking a look at my ticket from time to time. The train was telling me to hop on. No I’m a loyal friend! I will wait for her! Besides, I’ve got ten minutes left. My mother kissed me goodbye and told me, “You better get in, it’s cold out here and you’re going to miss the train.”

9:40

I called her. The answer was firm: “Don’t worry! I’m coming.”

Yes I know you’re coming, but the train is leaving!

9:45

She was running to buy a ticket, and I was watching the train slowly move towards Tangier. If only I had gotten in and left her alone!!

I was boiling with anger; I refused to look at her. Instead, I was following the train like those idiots in old movies following their lovers who went away. She couldn’t stop apologizing during the two hours we spent waiting for the next train.

It was cold and I could barely feel my fingers, but the anger was somehow keeping me warm. I discovered something new about myself. I was able to control my anger; however, the images of me screaming and shouting in my head were difficult to get rid of. I always hated screaming--not that I don’t do it, but I usually try to avoid such scenes. Besides, I’m not very good at quarreling, and I hate hurting people.

I thought this was the worst thing that was going to happen to me that day.

I was wrong.

When the train finally arrived, we got in hiding from the cold. We chose a compartment—or rather, my roommate chose it. I finally enjoyed some five minutes of silence when a vagabond joined us.

A vagabond indeed, and because of the drugs he consumed during the day he was shaking all over, his body was full of scars, and he was staring at us and claiming that he was the son of some rich king but was abandoned for being too smart. He even invited us to come to his palace, and that HIBA was the password. He kept spelling the word numerous times. Of course, he asked for money.

It is funny when I remember it, but at that time I wasn’t really smiling. I was looking at my friend, who was the reason we missed the first train and who was about to cry trying to avoid the vagabond’s looks, and we were all shaking together, he out of drugs and we out of fear, thinking that we may end up with nothing in our pockets or even worse, an unwanted child.

Then he started singing a well known song, Aicha by Cheb Khaled, though I heard him call for Naima, Leila, Meriam, Hiba and other names. But Aisha was never mentioned.

When he sensed that someone was coming, he opted to leave. Like a friend we’ve known for years, he asked us to take care of ourselves, to study hard, and most importantly to pay him a visit in his palace.

The image of the first train leaving me could not be erased from my memory. Never!

After a few minutes, three other men came in, and they looked normal. One of them put sunglasses on so that he could practice what I personally call the art of observing. I remembered that I had sunglasses too, so I did the same. We spent two hours observing each other.

Indeed it is in such public places (trains, cafés, etc.) that we Moroccans without exception develop this technique, a very enjoyable one in fact. We enjoy wasting our time.

The men left. In their place, a family joined us. The father waited outside while the mother and the kids, including a 10-year-old boy who came in was holding what seemed to be peacock feathers. His shape made him look older, and his sister seemed to be more like a teenager, which in Moroccan jargon implies a woman , fit for marriage. The third was a little girl with thick glasses held tight against her hair. The glasses made her eyes look bigger than her head. The aunt and the mother were each wearing yellow and orange djellabas, all of them invading the compartment. She even asked her children to stay quiet because she saw us reading, or at least pretending to read. But she could not stay quiet. They were not talking to each other; they were screaming at each other, like a typical Moroccan family.

The boy with the peacock feathers on his head was staring at my computer, amazed with his mouth open. Until his mother gave him a kick. Since she disturbed him, he asked for food. The woman was in a deep discussion with the aunt about some women, food, and hospitality. With a tired look on her face, she pulled out a red bag and gave him a sandwich that smelled like chicken, eggs and fries.

All of a sudden everybody wanted to eat. The smell even reached the father who rushed to the compartment and asked for his sandwich.

In trains, Moroccans don’t eat because the trip is long or because they are hungry. They eat because they get bored or because it’s compulsory. Fortunately, they always bring extra food for idiots like me who keep staring. In such situations, we had no choice but to smile and eat the sandwich that was offered to us. We ate it in spite of my mother’s constant remarks and advices not to eat a stranger’s food. Here again we could have ended up in another city with probably an unwanted child and peacock feathers.

Her mouth full, the mother was threatening to send a teacher to prison. Apparently, the teacher had beaten the children with a wooden stick, and her boy was one of the victims. The aunt, on the teacher’s side, claimed that the kids were throwing stones at her. The mother pretended she didn’t hear that part, claiming that she shouldn’t be violent with the children.

I found myself staring at them, mouth open, listening to the woman explain her logic. Well, they were better company than that vagabond.

Train stop: we reached Assilah, 32 miles south of Tangier.

The “Adams” family left with the peacock feathers, though I felt like standing up and asking them to stay. They were such good entertainment. Instead I was left alone with my roommate. At least I had the beach as a consolation. The waves were huge, grey and rough, and it reflected me inside. I finally enjoyed some 45 minutes of silence, thinking that it was the best I would expect from this day. My day was not that bad, it was just different. After all, monotony is the human’s worst enemy.

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By Genesis Roman Melgar

New York - Summarizing a vacation in Morocco in a short article would be impossible. Morocco has the beauty of different countries all wrapped up in one.

Every city is unique so much so that going from one to the other make visitors feel as if they had traveled to completely different places. It is a country with exceptional architecture, incredible landscapes, delicious cuisine, and unforgettable hospitality provided its citizens. Here are some highlights.

Casablanca and Rabat are the largest cities, more modernized compared to the others and definitely urban. In Casablanca, Make sure to visit the majestic, breathtaking Hassan II Mosque that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and is the tallest minaret in the world. In Rabat, the Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammad V are two famous touristic attractions, well worth the visit.

To admire inimitable architecture and have a more traditional Moroccan experience, visitors can travel a few hours away to Marrakech and Fez. I liked both equally, but for different reasons.

Marrakech is the colorful city. There are many “must do things and must visit places” there. The Jemma El- fna square offers the best freshly squeezed orange juice, served cold and made right in front of the costumer.  The souk (market) was an amazing place to see and buy almost anything Moroccan. You could spend the whole day there admiring the handcrafted souvenirs, handmade carpets, lamps, teapots, handbags, and many other beautiful things.

Fez is the traditional city. Very different from Marrakech, Fez is still a must-see. Women dress more conservatively in Fez, wearing veils much more than they do in Marrakech. The Islamic religious calls to prayer fascinated me, calling locals together for the sacred time. I enjoyed both listening to the sounds and observing people going to pray.

The old medina in Fez is such an enchanting place to be! Composed of thousands of narrow streets tourists might get lost if they don’t have a guide on their first visit. The captivating smell of scents, spices, food, and the to-die-for pastries give visitors a real taste of Morocco. The medina is also the place where women can spend countless hours shopping for beauty products, such as pure argan oil, natural oiled scents, perfumes, and beautiful traditional dresses such as caftans and gandoras made of beautiful fabrics.

A must do when vacationing in Morocco is staying in riads, hotels in or constructed like the traditional Moroccan houses and Fez has plenty to choose from. Most of these have a terrace on the roof that gives tourists splendid views of the areas around. Also, these are perfect places to admire traditional Moroccan decorations and architecture.

Away from modern and traditional, is the desert. The Sahara Desert is fantastic, but the experience is incomplete if the person does not spend at least one night there. Going with a group of friends can prove to be a fun adventure. Camel trekking in the sand while admiring the gorgeous sunset, laying on the sand at night listening to live Moroccan music, and sipping on mint tea while looking at the stars provide unforgettable memories.

Beach lovers, there are cities for you as well. Located on the coasts of Morocco, Tangier, Kenitra, Essauira and Agadir are among the cities that offer gorgeous beaches and breathtaking views. I fell in love with Kenitra, a small city in the North with an amazing beach, and lovely people. A visit to the Mehdia’s ruined Kasbah can give you a spectacular view of the sea and city. The opportunities for amazing photographs are endless.

The first visit to a hammam, or public bath, is definitely a memorable experience. Women, there is no time to be shy during the mostly nude process, just let yourself enjoy the experience. In the end, it is somewhat similar to going to a spa for three hours, but even better. The hammam leaves the person very relaxed, stress free, and very, very clean.

I purposely made Morocco my first abroad travel destination. As an open- minded woman that believes in equality, respect, tolerance, and most of all as someone that embraces all cultures and religions, I wanted to get the firsthand experience of a country very different from mine. On this trip, I had the chance to debunk the usual prejudices and misconceptions that many people have about Moroccan culture, people, and religion.

The usual phrases I often heard before traveling were “make sure you cover up well when you are in Morocco,” “be careful, people are very strict in their religions and customs” and “be safe, you never know what can happen to you in such countries.” Hearing these comments made me nervous, but I can honestly say that the fear vanished almost immediately, and in fact, I felt quite at home.

Moroccans are good people, very welcoming and respectful. People at the airport, hotels, vendors at the souks, taxi drivers, and everyone in general try to make tourists feel at home. If there is a prize for hospitality, Morocco deserves it. Every time I visited a Moroccan house or hotel, I was greeted with a friendly smile and good manners, not to mention the usual offer of the traditional Moroccan tea and delicious pastries.

Regarding language, even though Arabic and French are the main languages in Morocco, tourists manage to communicate in other languages as well. To my surprise, I found multilingual Moroccans, many speaking more than three languages. However, these multilingual locals are not everywhere; therefore it would be useful to know some French or Arabic before visiting Morocco.

As for dress code, there is no such thing for tourists. I was repeatedly advised by friends and others to pack as many conservative clothes as I could, even a veil. In fact, I eventually regretted not taking at least a knee length skirt or shorts. I was the only girl in my group of friends wearing floor length dresses, while the others wore short summer dresses and shorts. At the end, floor length or knee length, it doesn’t make a difference. Moroccans respect the way tourists are dressed. However, some male locals will still stare at female tourists walking in the streets regardless of how they dress. Women, this is common, just ignore them.

To conclude, Morocco is a country worth visiting. Its unique culture, architecture, history, food and beautiful landscapes, are just the beginning. The welcoming attitude makes you want to stay. I plan to visit again, some day, inshallah.

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Rabat - Moroccan Fati Jamali was crowned most beautiful Arab women for the year 2014, at the Miss Arab beauty pageant organized on Saturday by Lebanese channel MTV in Beirut. 

This is not first tile won by the Moroccan beauty who has been top model since age of 16. Last year, she was crowned Miss Africa and won the prize World next top model for that year, which earned him the title of the model that has the most beautiful body in the world.

This title adds to many others titles won by Moroccan women in beauty pageant contests.

Last month Moroccan Ghita Kebrani reached the final of Miss World Next Top Model 2014, in a ceremony organized by MTV channel.

The Moroccan top model finished 5th runner up behind Mercedes Pruzzini (Venezuela), Sandra Cvetanovic (Serbia), Dina Kubasova (Latvia) and Diana Oubeid (Lebanon) who finished first runner up. The competition crowned Ukraine’s Olga Klymenko.

Rabat - An old medina in Morocco is a world in motion.

Within its walls, the colors and textures are transformed with every ray of sunshine, and that’s why getting lost in these narrow streets will always be a new experience.

The mosaics, engravings and paintings that adorn these old neighborhoods are a delight for those who have gotten used to the architectural monotony of the big cities. Here any door or window is not the same as its neighbor because each one has the stamp of its owner.

This photo gallery is a travel inside a little piece of Morocco, so let’s get lost inside this ancient world.

France- Turkey's Islamic-rooted government has banned pupils from wearing tattoos or body piercings in schools, a measure denounced by opponents as oppressive and unenforceable, reports said Sunday.

While tattoos are frowned upon by conservative elements in Turkey's diverse society, they are highly fashionable among secular urban youth, including school-age teens.

The measure is the latest hugely controversial measure taken by the government in education, after it allowed girls in high schools to wear the Muslim headscarf, a move critics said eroded Turkey's secular principles.

The ban, which was published in Turkey's official gazette on Saturday and reported by local media Sunday, also forbids the dyeing of hair, make-up, as well as moustaches and beards for boys.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) co-founded by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seeking to restore traditional values in Turkey, a drive seen by opponents as a bid to Islamise the country.

The head of the Egitim Is education union Veli Demir denounced the measure as impossible to enforce, given that tattoos could not be removed like a piece of clothing.

"Are they going to strip off their skin?" he asked, quoted by the Radikal online newspaper.

"What is going to happen to those (pupils) who already have tattoos? This is not a decision that a reasonable person can take. It is a decision taken without careful thought," he added.

"It is a decision taken by an oppressive mindset. Education is all about contributing to a child's development and protecting them," he said.

Ismail Koncuk, the head of another major education union, Egitim Sen, was more supportive of the move, saying there was no need for children with existing tattoos to have an operation. He indicated the ban would apply only to children who want to get tattoos after it comes into force.

"There will be a confusion about when the tattoo was done," he admitted. "I believe that on this issue the school will take the initiative and help the child."

Erdogan has already made clear his distaste for tattoos, telling an up-and-coming young footballer in July to get rid of the tattoos on his arm.

"What are these tattoos? Why do you harm your body?" he told Berk Yildiz of the Galatasaray team.

"Don't be fooled by foreigners. God forbid, it could even give you skin cancer in the future," Erdogan said.

Taroudant, Morocco- Adioso featured Jamaa el Fna square in Marrakesh among the 10 best places around the world for “feasting, shopping and people watching to your heart's delight.”

Ranked third most beautiful square worldwide in a rating made by travel website Lonely Planet last year, the square is featured by the travel-lovers app Adioso as one of the 10 best places for spending a wonderful night in “open-air food stalls, snake charmers and a healthy dose of chaos.”

Djemaa el Fna is a high-touristic square in Marrakesh that draws more than a million visitors who come to attend the lively shows provided by the snake charmers, monkey trainers, storytellers, musicians and other popular artists from early evening until the call for dawn prayer.

Along with folklore activities, the square provides various tasty meals cooked and served in the open air.

The square contains about a hundred food stalls arranged in parallel lines serving a variety of Moroccan cuisine like tagine,roasted meat, kebabs, couscous, soup and other delicious meals that can be eaten at nearby wooden tables on the square for reasonable prices.

Ranked by VirtualTourist.com as the 4th city among “Top Ten Best Street Food Cities,” the quality of food in Jemaa El Fna is guaranteed. The prices are varied according to the dish and its accessories, but overall the prices are affordable and reasonable.

Some food may seem very strange and more exotic fare like sheep’s testicle, escargots, steamed sheep’s head and spicy fried cow or sheep’s brain, but the taste is irresistibly delicious, offering a unique experience.

Founded by the Almoravids, a Moroccan Amazigh dynasty, in 1070-1072, Djemaa El-Fna square is one of Morocco’s most enchanting and diverse places, and one that has attracted tourists from all corners of the world.

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Rabat - Five Dirhams (Moroccan currency) is worth less than a euro or a dollar. In my country, Colombia, it is equivalent to a coin of 200 pesos that can’t even buy a lollipop.

But in the Medinas of Morocco you can have a lot for five Moroccan Dirhams. You can also have breakfast, lunch, dinner and finish with dessert with only 20 Dirhams (2 euros).

The Moroccan street food has a special place in the hearts of all backpackers not only because of its inexpensive price but because every bite is tasty and amazing. The trip this week is through all those fresh flavors that are made daily, the same ones that don’t wait too much time in the windows because who doesn't have a coin of five Dirhams in his/her pocket?

Classic fried donuts dipped in white sugar that are crispy on the outside and fluffy inside. They are eaten hot and freshly made at breakfast time for just 1 Dirham.

Bread replaces the cutlery on the table. For Moroccan gastronomy it is very important because it helps the triangle of the right hand grab the vegetables and meats that come in tagines. These brown, gold and red wheels can be purchased for 1.2 Dirham each.

On street carts there are prepared tuna, egg, potato and vegetable sandwiches made to order and with the additional ingredients the customer prefers for 5 dirhams. In the north [Asilah, Tangier and Tetouan], there are shops that sell a different kind of sandwiches called Pokadios. Prices may vary [5 to 10 Dirhams] between one place to another.

It is a flat bread made from semolina that taste like corn, crusty outside and soft inside. These circles are roasted in large plates and a quarter of one can be bought for 5 Dirhams.

One of the main products of Moroccan agriculture is oranges which is why in any city in the entire country you can wake up with a large glass only for 3 Dirhams.

Large sacks filled with pistachios, walnuts, peanuts, apricots, plums and an endless number of dry fruits can be purchased by weight. They are packed into convenient paper cones just to take away and enjoy.

Is a squared crepe made of flat portions of dough that are fried in a pan producing a layered bread that is crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. There is no Moroccan that hasn’t eaten Msemen at breakfast. For only 5 Dirhams you can have 3 of these.

Is the most popular moroccan cookie with the shape of a flower, fried, coated with honey, that has a sweet and crunchy taste. During Ramadan there are big bowls full of chebakia because eating them provides a lot of energy to the body. The cost is only 5 Dirhams for 5 pieces of chebakia.

Snails are sold on the street on top of carts carrying giant pots. There is a pleasant smell that makes you want to order a warm bowl which costs only 5 Dirhams.

The lunch box of a Moroccan child costs 4 Dirhams. After school all come together to ask in the windows of the small shops for one yogurt and one "kika" (a packaged cupcake).

 Long hairs made of semolina that are sold wrapped like a turban.

Small triangles filled with chicken, shrimp, turkey, or liver that are fried and sold very quickly because they cost only 1 Dirham and taste amazing.

Falafel panini with tomato, lettuce and olives made in corn tortillas that are heated in furnaces that leave them crunchy for every bite for just 5 Dirhams.

This are the Moroccan version of hot cakes full of tiny holes that are eaten for breakfast after being dipped in a honey-butter mixture. Get them for one Dírham a piece.

Morocco is full of small biscuit factories working all day on those little pleasures made mostly of almonds and that melt in the mouth. Depending on the seller, they can give you ten cookies for 5 Dirhams, but never ask for “one” because you would receive one kilo.

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Marrakech - Every year and during every al-Adha feast, each Dadsi person pilgrimages back to Boumalne Dades.

It is a great occasion when families get together; no one should miss this tremendous day. Mothers spend their days sitting in front of doors and at windows, looking at the roads and waiting for their children to come back from the bigger cities to celebrate this wonderful day with them. All mothers pray and wish their kids to arrive in safety and peace as the roads become overcrowded during this celebration. On buses, cars, motorcycles, and taxis, people travel in groups to get home.

I’m one of these people; I can’t imagine celebrating Eid al-Adha away from my mother and my family. I make sure that I book my bus ticket about fifteen days before departure. I, like everyone, pay more than we usually do for tickets, because most buses might already be reserved. When on the bus, away from the stress of bus stations, I feel relieved and very happy: after several months, I’m finally on the way home.

During this trip, and on a very wavy road, the Tichka, some people can not bear the frequent turning around of the bus and easily vomit, but despite that everyone still seems happy and cheerful. They keep asking each other how many months it’s been since they last visited home and many other questions.

After three hours of driving from Marrakech, the bus stops at Tadart, where people have a break and something to eat. Some people eat rissole, tajine, T-steak, or just packaged things for those who don’t trust the cooked meat. In that same spot, we feel cold and notice that the weather is different from that in Marrakech or other cities. We stop wearing t-shirts when Eid falls between October and March. The farther southeast we go, the more appealing mountains we pass.

After six hours of a heavy and interesting trip, the bus drops me off in Tamazirt, Boumalne Dades, and I walk for several minutes towards home with gifts in my hands. Even when I arrive late at night, everybody in my family, including my mom, stays awake to receive me. The family becomes very excited and joyful to hug and kiss me. After few seconds, they start asking me about the trip, if it was safe and smooth, and they ask about my friends and the weather in my host city. During this first meeting while we are talking, my mother immediately goes to the kitchen to prepare some tea and bring dinner.

All of this happens for the feast Adha that comes a few days after my arrival. It is celebrated two months and ten days after the feast of Ramadan. The day after I arrive, I go to the shelter of our sheep to see how big our ram is. Then we go out to see friends and other members of our extended family and go to the souk to buy everything we need for the feast.

First, I buy a few kilos of meat for Arafat, the day before the feast, and some ingredients for cakes that my sisters and aunts often prepare. By Arafat day, all members of the family are together having fun and enjoying long talks about experiences and news that happened during and throughout the year.

On pins and needles, everyone waits enthusiastically for the day of the feast. On the morning, the mom is always the first to wake up, at about 5 am, sweeping and cleaning the living rooms and the courtyard of the house, as we expect many visits from people in our village. My sisters and aunts get up to prepare a special breakfast by cooking soup, mssemmen, baghrir, cakes, and rice. My grandmother does not eat anything until she has breakfast with the liver of the ram that we are supposed to slaughter, as she practices this Sunnah habit.

After breakfast usually at about 7 or 8 am, men and women choose the best or newest clothes, often white jellabas and babouchs, and go to the mosque for the prayer of Eid. When getting closer to the mosque, one can hear the early comers repeating some religious sayings, such as “Allah Akbar Allah Akbar La ilah illa Allah,” or ‘God is the greatest, God is the Greatest, and there is no other God but God.’

Some people congratulate each other on the way to the mosque, but most people congratulate each other after the prayer. On Mssellah, everyone without exception hugs and kisses each others’ cheeks, wishing a very happy day. If anyone is on bad terms with someone else, they reconcile and start a fresh relationship.

After praying, and after the imam slaughters his ram, everybody returns home to slaughter their own ram. When I get home, I make sure all the knives are sharp and change into other clothes so that I do not spoil my white jellaba with the blood of the ram. Before slaughtering the ram, my grandmother puts some salt in its mouth and some (antimony) tazoult/kohl on its eyes. Then the father or anyone who knows how to slaughter does the job. During this time, the family takes pictures and the women start ululating, especially if the ram can stand up for seconds even after it is slaughtered.

Afterward, the family gathers and begins having some steak and brochettes. At lunch we have tajines, fruits, and some lemonade. The meat of lunch that day is leftover from Arafat, since we start cutting the slaughtered ram three days after the feast, and we eat the head of the ram on the seventh day. This is how our ancestors used to celebrate the rituals of the Eid and has now become a habit.

In the afternoon, young girls and boys go visit and wish a happy Eid to all the families in our village. This includes more than 150 families, especially families that have old or sick people or a family that has just lost someone. On the second and third days, we visit people of other villages or tribes.

After Eid, everyone goes back to his or her study or work. Most of travelers don’t return home again for about seven months or until the next Eid al-Fitr, which is celebrated in its own special way.

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Fez - Marrakech is one of the four so-called “imperial cities” (the others are Fez, Meknes and Rabat).

This imperial city was founded in 1070 by the Almouravid Sultan, Abu Bakr Ibn Omar, who noticed that Aghmat –his capital- had become overcrowded. For that reason he decided to build a new capital for his dynasty in a plain away from the mountains and away from two tribes which were vying to have the honor of hosting the new capital.

The name Marrakech may be derived from Berber words: Mur (n) akuch, which means Land of God. There is another reading to this nomination; this reading said it is derived from two words one is Arabic and the other French: Mur+Gauche: (Mur) is an Arabic word which means (To Pass) + (gauche) a French word which means (left). This latter reading based its credibility on the fact that Abu Bakr Ibn Omar, when he decided to found his new capital, sought the help of a French person to locate the ideal setting. When they came to the Atlas Mountains, he told the Sultan that they should (mur) = (pass) on the (gauche) = (left) of the Mountains.

Marrakech experienced its greatest period under the leadership of Youssef Ibn Tachafin and Yakoub El-Mansour, the second and the third sultans of the Almouhad dynasty. It became the most important major trade center of North Africa and sub-saharan regions; as a result of this, Morocco as a whole was called Marrakech.

Modern Marrakech, known as the red city or Pearl of the South, is a city of great fascination. It bewitches visitors from all over the world with its contrasting colors as well as its remarkable monuments and immense gardens- Ochre sand stone of its red-buildings, the green of its countless palm trees and other flourishing plants and the white of the snow-copped Atlas Mountains. Also, fascination for Marrakech comes from the existence of Berbers, Arabs and Jews within the same millieu. All of them mingle here, nomads and mountain folk and a wealth of products and handicrafts is an enticement here for everyone to come to this imperial city.

Indeed, Marrakech is a pearl of the South; it needs to be discovered. A flux of foreigners come either to live indefinitely in Marrakech (according to the Ministry of Tourism more than 15,000 foreigners of different nationalities have settled in Marrakech) or to visit it .

Those who want to discover Marrakech can benefit from tourist traps that are congregated inside a rather small zone. You can start your trip from the world famous square of Jmaa l-Fna with its crowds of musicians, acrobats and story- tellers, and with its open-air restaurants, where you can taste different and inexpensive Moroccan dishes.

After savoring your meal, you can visit unusual and picturesque Souks of Marrakech. There, ordinary objects become extraordinary. When you are in souks, you will fall in love with a kettle with a strange handle or a curved knife or a traditional babouche or a musical instrument. Surely, you will not be able to resist the temptation.

When you are within the old medina folds do not forget to visit historical mosques that exist like Mansour mosque, Ben Youseff mosque and medrassa…and especially the Koutoubia mosque, a mosque that was built during the 11th century under the Almouravid dynasty. It’s a minaret (70m), which is visible from particularly anywhere in Marrakech, design by a Muslim architect from Spain. It is an example of Arab-Andalusian architecture. What is strange with this historical mosque is that it was built by stones and musks, which one can smell until nowadays.

Further, if you feel tired, the minaret garden is where to take relax and enjoy yourself by cool, typical and extremely pleasant scenes rarely to be found somewhere else. Ramparets, gates, all, riads, tombs…and medrassas are in abundance in the city; they are the chandeliers of Marrakech. Once you come, you come to visit this pearl. Do not hesitate to pay a visit to them bringing with you your camera to commemorate the occasion when you turn back to your home land.

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By Zahra Astitou

Granada – "Où est la carte nationale? Ici c'est un nom marocain!?” The confusion at the passport control was great. The men in uniform were discussing my case amongst each other and paid little attention to me.

Having taken the boat from Algeciras, Spain to Tangiers, Morocco, I was surprised that no one in uniforms spoke a word of Spanish. They didn’t speak English either, and my French was minimal, or so I thought. But before I knew it, I heard myself utter a far less grammatical version of: “Quel est le problème? Pourquoi vous ne demandez pas à mes amis américains s’ils ont une carte nationale? J'ai un passeport et c'est tout.”

It wasn’t exactly a warm, hospitable welcome, I can tell you. Those at passport control later explained that having a carte nationale means that one can stay in Morocco for as long as one wishes. Staying in Morocco for than three months without the ID will result in consequences. But I still did not understand the fuss; it was not like I was planning to stay in Morocco, especially as I carried with me a single backpack.

I hadn’t set foot on Moroccan soil for the past five years. In fact, in the last ten years, I only visited the country where my parents first saw the light of day twice. I still cherish the warm memories I have of the summers I spent in the village near Oujda where my parents come from; visiting my grandmother and meeting up with my cousins who like me have dispersed beyond Morocco's borders. But from my teenage years on, the country, or the village, somehow lost its appeal, and I did not want to go back to Morocco unless I would tour through its beautiful sites.

This opportunity came during spring break of 2014. I went on a road trip through the breathtakingly beautiful country with four American friends. The country stirred something deep within me and intensified my senses to the beauty surrounding me. The architecture, the colors, the sounds, the smells, the tastes, the atmosphere, and even the people we met. Morocco truly is a wonderful country, I came to realize; yet it is a country marked by stark contrasts that aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive.

I was fascinated by the intricate details of the old buildings, disappointed by the needless waste and black plastic bags that disrupted otherwise amazing views and landscapes. Driving through the country, I noticed that almost each of the many mosques I came across seemed to have birds’ nests on top of their minarets. I found it profound that birds would choose to build their nests and start their families on top of a building that, five times a day, through its loud speakers, glorifies the name of the Lord and calls for believers to “hasten to worship” and to “hasten to success.” It truly left me awestruck.

I have always appreciated the Moroccan mindset that enables Moroccans to have a great time requiring only minimal resources. They do not need much to throw a party: with the right company and a diverse display of talents, a party can be had. One person starts clapping his hands, the other uses a table, bucket, box–or whatever is available–to drum. Someone else starts singing, another person starts dancing, and still others join in. That is exactly what we witnessed at Marrakesh’s Menara gardens, but also walking through the streets of Chefchaouen. It was disheartening though that just as we had arrived in Marrakesh that night, we witnessed the aftermath of a car accident in which a life had been lost. A corpse lay on the ground covered by a white cloth. I learned that reckless driving, most unfortunately, is a big problem in Morocco.

During this trip, Marrakesh and Fez captivated me as two of my favorite cities. We also visited Tangiers, Chefchaouen, Ifrane, Azrou, and a number of small towns. We planned on venturing as far as the Sahara desert, but in the end opted to stay in Marrakesh for an extra day choosing quality over quantity. In Marrakesh, we were invited by our guide’s aunt for tea, cookies, and delicious bastilla. Moroccan hospitality is unparalleled, bearing no resemblance to my experience at the passport control upon my arrival.

We were invited to come back the next day, a Friday, for some homemade couscous–an offer none of us could refuse. Our host left us momentarily only to return with pictures of her son, let’s call him Hafid. Though we didn’t think much of it, a proud mother showing us pictures of her son, the next day it became clear what this proud mother had in mind.

I was saved by my insistence to go pray the Islamic Friday prayer at a Moroccan mosque and was truly moved by the sermon addressing our mandate to treat our inherited bodies with respect and stray clear of that which can harm it. Meanwhile, back at our host's house, the aunt tried to converse with one of the two American girls who were with me. Although she didn’t speak Arabic, the girl understood the following key words: “Hafid,” “zwin” (handsome), and “visa,” so it is safe to say my friends got the gist of the conversation. She then quickly resorted to the classic “I-am-so-sorry,-I-really-don't-understand-what-you-are-saying” smile and accompanying gestures feeling rather uncomfortable, but not so uncomfortable that we didn't laugh about it afterwards. The family’s hospitality and kindness still remains in our memories, as does the warmth we encountered with other families, though latter encounters excluded certain awkward situations.

That Friday in Marrakesh, we embarked on the long trip back home and spent the last night of our trip in Fez. All week we had had great weather, but on our last day in that beautiful country, it suddenly started to rain. It seemed as though Morocco was sad to see us leave, and, at least on my part, I can say that the feeling was mutual.         

Translation of the French sentences:

“Where is the [Moroccan] national ID-card? This here is [/seems to be] a Moroccan name!?”

“What is the problem? Why did no one ask my American friends if they have a national ID-card? I have a passport and that’s all.”

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Rabat - King Mohammed VI, accompanied launched on Tuesday the building works of the Rabat Grand Theater, a project that mirrors the continuous royal solicitude for art and culture.

Located at the Bouregreg Valley, near Hassan Tower and Mohammed V Mausoleum, the Rabat Grand Theater will be a symbol of Morocco's cultural and artistic renewal.

It will improve the access of local populations to cultural and  artistic facilities thus developing their intellectual potential and creative capacities.

The future theater, worth 1.677 billion dirhams, seeks to provide Rabat and the whole region with a facility meant for artistic activities and entertainment and capable of hosting major national and international events. It is also aimed at discovering new talents mainly among young people.

The project will be carried out by the Agency for Bouregreg Valley Development within 40 months over a surface area of 7 hectares. It will comprise notably an amphitheater that seats 7,000 people, and an auditorium (1,900 seats).

Part of 2014-2018 Rabat City Development Program "Rabat, City of Light, Morocco's Cultural Capital," launched by King Mohammed VI last May, this large-scale project will be constructed near a residential area, hotels and offices.

Taroudant, Morocco - Medieval Morocco will be honored with an exhibition at the Louvre Museum in France opening October 17.

For the first time the Louvre Museum, one of the world's largest and most renowned museums and a historic monument, will focus on the “golden age of Morocco,” from the eleventh to fifteenth centuries.

Using the theme, “Medieval Morocco: an Empire from Africa to Spain,” the famous French museum will host the exhibition until January 19, 2015.

Jointly organized by the Louvre and the National Foundation of Museums in Morocco, the exhibition will feature the finest achievements in the fields of architectural decoration, textiles, ceramics, and calligraphy.

The museum will feature the great chandelier of the mosque Al Karaouin of Fez, the oldest in Morocco and the oldest functioning university, recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest degree-granting university in the world.

The Museum will also exhibit more than 499 dazzling objects related to the Islamic culture of the previous dynasties that ruled Morocco and take visitors on a medieval journey from Mali to al-Andalus.

Most importantly, a three-meter high minbar, the pulpit in a mosque where the imam stands to deliver sermons (khutbah) during the Jumuaa prayer, will be featured.

The minbar that will be exhibited in the Louvre is reportedly one of the oldest preserved in the Islamic world.

The Museum will also exhibit about 500 additional objects of medieval beauty to illustrate the complexity and richness of Moroccan culture.

Rabat - The Eid experience in Morocco reminds me of Christmas in Colombia. Women concentrate in the kitchens to prepare delicious dishes, everybody waits till the last minute to buy desserts.

In Colombia, people greet one another and wishe a “Merry Christmas,” which is a beautiful habit that is similar to "Eid Mubarak" in Morocco and other Muslim majority countries.

In my native country, families offer large banquets in which they never miss the turkey, the custard and salty fritters called “buñuelos.” Here in Morocco instead of turkey, locals offer sheep, the sweet chebakiya replace the custard and the buñuelos are flat round breads.

Instead of what people think, Latin America and Arab cultures have more things in common than what people may imagine. I share with you my experience inside a Moroccan family in the Medina of Rabat.

Peasants come down from the Atlas Mountains with their trucks full of sheeps that have been eating corn and wheat all year long.

The men bargain the price of the sheep they will buy to celebrate the Eid.

One day before Eid al-Adha, Muslims around the world fast during the day of Arafat.

Men are the ones in charge of sacrificing the sheep. Some families prefer to let a professional butcher do the work.

Young people tear the sheep horns to make artisanal objects.

In a ranking of 140 countries, Morocco is considered third most welcoming towards foreign tourists.

The kingdom comes on the third position with a score of 6.7, after Iceland and New Zealand, which ranked first and second respectively.

For countries less welcoming to foreign tourists, Bolivia was rated as the world’s most unfriendly country, scoring 4.1 followed by Venezuela and Russia,  with a score of 4.5 and 5.0, respectively.

Under the theme “Reducing Barriers to Economic Growth and Job Creation,” the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report shows that the Kingdom has achieved a “very good reception.”

The prestigious Geneva-based organization assesses 140 economies worldwide based on the policies implemented by countries to develop their travel and tourism sector.

According to the WEF, the classification adopted in the indicator tends to measure the ability of countries to interact with the tastes and cultural diversity oftourists, “which is a big challenge in the era of globalization.”

With 55.7 million international tourists’ arrivals to Africa in the past year, Morocco comes in the first rank among the top five African countries that received most of tourists, according to the ranking announced recently by the World Tourism Organization.

With about 10 million tourist arrivals in 2013 -an increase of 6% compared to 2012- Morocco, is determined to achieve the “Vision 2020 strategy, which aimes to double the number of tourists.

Thanks to its numerous assets, mainly political stability, friendly people and proximity to Europe, Morocco is “resolved to be among the world’s top 20 tourism destinations by 2020,” according to Lahcen Hadad, minister of tourism.

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