For those who still do not know what to do on this vacation, Morocco is revealed as an affordable, economical alternative and, also, with guaranteed good weather. Low cost companies such as Ryan Air or Easy Jet, offer flights at gift prices to cities such as Marrakech or Casablanca from different Spanish locations.
Casablanca, known for the homonymous film by Víctor Fleming, is an ideal starting point for people who want to know the poverty and misery of the country. It offers a more realistic vision than that of other cities more focused on tourism such as Fez , Rabat or Marrakech .
However, it is still, in the opinion of many, a dark, dirty city with a lot of poverty. The flagship of the city is undoubtedly the Hassan II Mosque , the largest religious monument in the world after Mecca and open to all tourists (even if they are not Muslims). Although designed by a French architect, all Materials used for its construction are indigenous.
The Mosque, which was built in commemoration of the 60th birthday of King Hassan II, can accommodate between its interior and exterior more than 100,000 people. Its minaret, the highest in the world, is visible from many kilometers around.
Avenida de Mohammed V , which is something like Madrid’s Gran Vía, contains small hotels and restaurants where you can eat typical dishes, such as fried fish (with your hands), or lobster. We must not forget that Casablanca is the main port in the country and the quality of its fish is unbeatable.
A walk around La Corniche (promenade) or either of the two medinas, the new or the old, are equally advisable. But, without a doubt, for the romantics, a visit to Rick’s Cafe cannot be missed, where they recall the mythical phrase – never said – of "Play it again, Sam."
We continue our journey to Marrakech, but not without first recommending to the traveler that he try, whenever possible, to stay in 4-5 star accommodations (the quality is not comparable to that of hotels in other countries), not to drink water, raw vegetables or fruit. without peeling and, above all, be willing to respect the customs of others.
It is difficult to make any recommendation about Marrakech, since all of it is recommended. For those who are short on time, do not miss the Jemaa el Fna square and its souks . A universe of colors and sensations that is difficult to find, even in other Moroccan towns and that constitutes the nerve center of the city.
The square, which is a living reflection of medieval squares, is a meeting place for vendors, musicians, acrobats and a fascinating space at dusk. The Semmarin Souk, near the square, is ideal for smelling, admiring and enjoying haggling. Eye!. Bargaining is a common practice in Morocco, so it doesn’t hurt to do the same as the locals.
The ramparts , with their impressive gates of Bab Doukkala, Bab el Themis, Bab El Jadid, Bab el Debbah, Bab er Robb and Bab Agnau , are another of the monuments worth seeing in the city, at the same time that they are difficult to not see.
The royal palace or Dar El Makhen is another of the buildings worth seeing. However, it has little to do with ordinary European palaces. Of Almohad origin and later enlarged and embellished by later dynasties, its jewels are the Mechouar ( parade ground) and the Great Mechouar , where different kinds of events took place.
Finally, we cannot forget the landscape of great contrasts of the city. Gardens such as Agdal or de la Menara , with their ponds, palm groves and all kinds of semi-desert vegetation contribute to the color and vividness of Marrakech , which shows that Morocco is much more than mosques.
And if we want to continue more trips through other imperial or fortified cities, or even go into the desert, we strongly recommend using the train. It is not only fast, but also very cheap, does not accumulate delays and travels more comfortably than by bus. Of course, it is not worth traveling in first class, since there are no great differences with respect to the cheapest class.