Where two oceans accost one another, where Africa opens herself to Europe, is situated the kingdom of Morocco a land of blissful beaches, a torrid desert and high mountains. While the population of Morocco is primarily Muslim, the heritage of Morocco is a tapestry of Arabic, African, European ,Berber cultures. There are few places on Earth that exhibit as much diversity in geography and lifestyle as Morocco, a county slightly larger than California.

Morocco is special to my family, as it is the land where my beautiful spouse hails from. I made my maiden trip to this land in the early summer of 2022. Well aware that a short trip of two weeks would only scratch the surface of this land of diversity, we decided to focus on only a few cities for this trip.

Casablanca

Our stay in Morocco began in Casablanca, home city of my spouse’s warm,welcoming parents. Their gigantic, cheerful apartment, in an affluent part of the city, oversees a large field inhabited by wild noisy, turkeys and fowl. The large living room, furnished with long sofas and  a few ottomans, is ideal for entertaining guests in customary tradition.  My spouse’s mother, Helena(Halima) Abboud, a professional cook, welcomed me with dates upon arrival to commemorate my maiden voyage. 

What followed was a deluge of delicious feasts, large bowls of Kuskus, Raela( a delicious pasta meal), hearty Harera(a spicy Moroccan soup that hits the palette) and a plethora of breads, handmade by dexterous Helena. Casablanca, the largest city in Morocco, a leading Financial center in the world. 

Founded by the Berbers in the 7th century BC, Casabalnca is steeped in History . Phoenicians, Romans, Portuguese, Spaniards and the French have ruled this city and left a lasting impact. It is home to the Hassan II Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the world. The city reminded me of a less populated Bangalore in the 80s. The smoky nightclubs and the restaurants are certainly worth a visit.

Photo by Errammani abderrazak – Wikipedia

Tangier

We spent a few days in Tangier, one of the most  beautiful cities in Morocco. The drive from Casablanca to Tangier displayed the scenic beauty of the smaller hills of the Atlas Mountain Range.

We stayed at the budget-friendly Continental Hotel in Tangiers, an old stone structure situated on a hill and overlooking the magnificent Tangiers coastline. The breathtaking view from the Hotel’s patio offers a panoramic view of the city, with all its structures. While not handicap-friendly the hotel is conveniently situated close to several venues.

A short but steep and challenging narrow pathway of cobblestones behind the hotel, takes one to the Kasbah Museum. The museum, while not massive, successfully narrates the History of Tangier.

One section displays artwork from different times and explains the origins of famous art institutions like the Casablanca school. It is interesting that intellectuals like Sarte and artists like Mattise visited Tangiers for reflection and inspiration.

Other rooms of the museum display various artifacts like tools from the neolithic era and weapons from the Portuguese armory. The museum also tells the Islamic History of Morocco with several rooms dedicated to artifacts from different eras.

The Medina is another part of Tangiers that is highly recommended. This part of Tangier  with narrow steep alleyways is a snapshot of old decorated buildings and structures from the past.

One of the most intriguing places in Tangiers is the Cave of Hercules, a place that is subject of both History and myth. Situated about 14 miles away from Tangiers, the cave is partly natural and partly man-made. The cave has  two openings one through land and another through the sea. Its earliest inhabitants were from the Neolithic era.  

Greek mythological tales of Heraclitus and Hercules reference these enigmatic caves. The opening of the caves that lead to the Atlantic resembles  a bald human profile, adding to their mystique. This opening marks the symbolic entrance for Europeans to Africa.

A beautiful scenic ride a dozen miles away from Tangiers is the promontory, Cap Spartel marked by an iconic lighthouse, and representing the meeting point of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. 

The Atlantic ocean,  flamboyant with her lashing waves, expresses her presence load and clear. Her waters take on an aqua color in the sunlight. While we could not see a clear demarcation line, as some predicted.

However, as one walks in the direction of the Mediterranean, the ocean becomes calmer as the waves disappear. The Mediterranean, calmer because of her high saline content, takes on a dark blue, hiding her secrets in her murky depths. The cafes in the area make the trip even more enjoyable.

The shoreline is also the venue of bars, and nightclubs keeping the vibrant city awake into the wee hours of the morning. Traditional Moroccan music and excellent customer service are the hallmarks of most of these venues.

One seafood restaurant we visited was Bachir. The sumptuous meal included swordfish, shrimp skewers of tender  beef and chicken,  salads of beet, carrot and pasta and a traditional Tagine pot of Chicken. We recommend this place to any meat lover.

Images of the ocean and the exotic meals flood my mind, whenever I think of Tangiers.

Assillah

About an hour away from Tangiers, is the quaint small seaside town of Assilah, another great tourist destination. Most houses in the region are painted with white and blue colors to make the town look authentic and unique. Restaurants flood the town’s coastline, serving their fried seafood,

Marrakesh

580 km from the shorelines of Tangiers is the city of Marrakesh, exhibiting her own unique aura. Its buildings mostly take on a reddish clay appearance. Its proximity to the Sahara gives it an arid climate.

Besides being a center of trade, Marrakech is the home of mosques, tombs, palaces and Souks(markets). When it comes to Souks, Souk Semmarine is the one to visit. Ceramic, souvenirs, trinkets, clothes and antiques pervade the Souk. along with food dishes, and traditional tea,

Colorful Moroccan slippers, lamps and traditional outfits, flavored olives are some of the main attractions for visitors. A word of caution – Tourists are advised strongly to be aware of their surroundings and keep an eye on their wallets, especially in these crowded markets.

Another reason to visit Marrakesh is to experience the Sahara. Due to time constraints we were unable to do the popular overnight stay in the desert, but  were able to accommodate an entire afternoon  to  rent a buggy and a quad. 

The rides on each of these vehicles was exhilarating, taking us across the dunes and offering a glimpse of the Atlas mountains. We stopped at a small tent in the desert, built of clay to keep the tent cool in the searing heat. Traditional tea and cookies were served and a great tour guide patiently answered our questions. 

I realized then that String’s song “Tea in the Sahara” is an ode to this real life experience. At the end of the day, we were exhausted. Our clothes were filled with Sahara’s sand dust but we knew we had the memory of a lifetime.

While each city is unique and quaint in its own way, they share several common threads. A lot of emphasis on color pervades the Moroccan psyche.  Cabs are red in Casablanca, aqua in Tangier and pale yellow in Marrakesh. Almost every city has its own chosen hue and style or the many of their buildings and houses.

Morocco is a country of paradoxes. It blends the Arabian, European cultures  into its own to provide a unique experience. For instance, at a coffee shop, it is common to see a young couple at one table, all dressed up and ready to party at the night club while another couple in traditional conventional clothes sits at another table. Its newer buildings and houses blend Arabic architecture with contemporary designs.

 Stray cats and cuddly kittens inhabit the streets of every city, usually fed by the kind locals. 

One of the aspects of Morocco that struck me was the health of the population. Most of the natives seemed fit, in-shape and slim, a rarity in most places in the world. 

As mentioned earlier, there is so much more to see in this country, I foresee a future trip to Morocco with  Fez, Rabat and Agadier on the itinerary.