samedi 4 août 2012

Transportation from Tanger Med to Tanger Ville - How to & Cost

Information on ferry transport between Algeciras (Spain) and Tanger Med port (Morocco).

How to get to Tangiers city from Tanger Med port - Transport options.

All ferries from Algeciras to Tangier now go to the new Tangier Med port (located 55km outside Tangiers).

When starting or ending your trip, there are 2 options to get to Tanger ville (downtown) from Tanger Med or the other way round.

Option1:

You can use the train service between Tanger Med and the Tanger Ville Train Station. ONCF enables you to buy a Supratours bus service ticket from Tanger Ville to Tanger Med(and vice versa). This is ideal if you are leaving morocco and coming from Rabat/Casablanca or Fes/Marrakech. Other buses also go from Tanger Ville to Tanger Med. And you can purchase your ticket from either.

Option2(recommended):

Use the free shuttle service that will drop you off 2 kms from the rail station (also known as Gare Ksar Sghir station). The shuttle runs hourly (sometimes every half-an-hour depending on volume).If you are coming from Algeciras, you may be asked to show your ferry ticket to get access to the free bus pickup. A passport or some id may be required to use it on the way back. It does not matter what ferry company you used.

You need to fill an immigration card and get your passport stamped on the ferry. Look for a small open office on board to do that.When you get off the ferry, a free transfer bus will take you from the quay to the customs hall(the main port building) where an official will re-check that you have the stamp on your passport. Your luggage will be x-rayed before you walk out into main arrival & departure area. Then you only need to show your ferry ticket to catch the CTM shuttle bus to Tangiers city.

Make sure to get some cash whilst there from the ATM to the left of the ferry terminal entrance. Best option for currency exchange is the Cambio in the ferry terminal. If that is shut (saturdays), Western Union or a local bank downtown is your second option.

Once outside, the bus waiting area is a turn to the right.This is where you take the shuttle into Tangier city(an hour's drive away). If you prefer not to wait for the shuttle, you can take a taxi instead (around 20 EUROS).

The free shuttle will drop you on a roundabout downtown Tangier near a bus stop called Place Jamiaa Al Arabia (2km from the Tangier Ville train station). This is the CTM bus office, just outside the old port gate. If you're heading to catch the train, you can either walk those 2kms or take a yellow-striped blue taxi(petite taxi). Creamy colored taxi(Grand taxi) is a little bit more expensive.

Place Jamiaa Al Arabia(the roundabout bus stop) is the same point you need to reach in order to take the shuttle back to Tanger-Med. It is located just after the two petrol stations around the roundabout.The bus is also used by other local green buses. Your shuttle bus is airport-style with blue and grey writing on the front door. It is not necessary to show a ferry ticket, since many travellers prefer to purchase their ferry ticket on the ferry terminal but you can buy your ticket to Algeciras on that same spot from the CTM bus office.

If you are planning to spend some time in tangiers (see best places to see in tangier), The Ibis hotel near the train station is a good option if you are planning to move forward to Fes/Marrakech. It is usually full unless you book in advance.

Hotel Ibis, Tangiers Morocco.
Address:
Route Nationale 1 KM 12 TANGER FREE ZONE 90000

Phone: (+212) 053-1060-565
(+212) 39-39-39-30


Fax.: (+212) 539-393-931



mercredi 6 juin 2012

Moroccan Women - Rights, Sports and Best Athletes.

Women in Morocco - Rights, Sports and Best Athletes.

Women rights in Morocco have been boosted by sweeping reforms in family code (called Moudawana) in 2004. Moroccan women have fought for these reforms thru many organizations and associations that are supported by Morocco's king Mohamed VI. The government has approved one of the most progressive laws on women's and family rights in Arab countries. These reforms  are now seen as a model by feminists across the Muslim world.

But apart from family law, women in morocco have had many other rights that are only dreamed about by other women in many Islamic countries.They have had old rights to education, employment and sports. Prophet Muhammed himself granted women these rights and set his wife as a model. Prophet Muhammed wife Khadija was a businesswoman. Women worked in fields, farms , medicine and trade in his era. He also not only ok'd sports but encouraged it.

Later traditions deviated and took an extreme dive. Interestingly, Moroccan women took a smarter approach when they argued  for their rights in light of what Prophet Muhammed's Islam grants them rather than what rights Western women enjoy.

This is by no means an exhaustive coverage of Women status in Morocco. Sufficed it to say that prior to to having family law revamped,  the country’s constitution (drafted in 1962) guaranteed women’s rights that are also supported through the teachings of Islam. In addition,  Morocco has ratified the International labor organization conventions on the protection of women and the principle of equality between the sexes.

 Morocco is changing rapidly that even publications as recent as 1999 are almost obselete. Here are some facts and numbers:
  •  Tourism, construction, communications, fishing and other industries make the most of Morocco's GDP.
  • Agriculture barely accounts for 40%.
  • 20% of the companies  are owned or run by women.
  •  Life Expectancy is 73 years for Male,  79 years for Female.
  • Health care is available to 92% of the population.
  • Celibacy at age 50 is 5,8% among men and 6,7% among women.
  • Unemployment rate in Morocco is estimated at 9%.
  •  Morocco's population's annual growth is at  1.050% per year.

The number of women who live independently outside traditional family setup has increased significantly just in the last few years. Fertility rates have  also dropped considerably as women's interest in contraceptive use has grown. Delayed marriage and career priority have also plummeted. Only 16% of women lived in rural areas according to a 2008 statistics.

 Women make 51% of Morocco's population. Moroccan women are great workers and performers. They excel as leaders when given the leadership opportunity.They have imposed themselves by the merit of  their competence. In today's morocco, it is not unusual to see a group of female youngsters parading together through the streets of the country on their motorcycles from Honda, Suzuki, Harley-Davidson, and Yamaha.

Also, morocco women have long ventured into many careers that have been traditionally reserved for men only: police officers, airline pilots, train drivers, football(soccer) coaches and team managers, parliament members and cabinet ministers.

Moroccan women performance, achievement and participation.

Here are some achievements attesting to Moroccan women rights:

    • The first Arab woman to fly a plane was a young Moroccan lady whose name is Turia Shawi. It was in 1951 when only a handful of western women did.
    • First Moroccan woman parachute skydiver to win first prize in a competition is Aicha Meki in 1956.
    • First female football(soccer) coach in the Arab world is a Moroccan. Her name is Turia Azerweel.
    • First female piano player in the Arab world was a Moroccan. The late Ghitta Aloufir.
    • The first Arab woman to drive a train is from Morocco. Her name is Saida Abad. It was in 1982.
    • The first Arab woman to manage a correctional facility(prison) is Moroccan.Her name is Bouchra Msali.
    • The first Arab female radio broadcaster in the fifties is Moroccan.Her name is Latifa Fassi.
    • The first Arab woman to participate in the tough international car racing competition called Rally Dakar is Moroccan. Her name is Saida Ibrahimi.
    • The first Arab woman firefighter is Moroccan.Her name is Fatima Abouk.
    • The first Arab female athlete is Moroccan.Her name is Fatima Faqeer.
    • The first Arab and muslim woman to reach the Antarctica is the Moroccan astrology and space scientist Meryem Shadeed.
    • First motorcycle club in the Arab world for women - Miss Moto Maroc - was founded by the Moroccan Delilah Mousbah.

     Best moroccan women in sports.


    List of best moroccan women athletes order by top ranking.

    Zahra Ouaziz

    Zahra Ouaziz was a great female Moroccan athlete and one of the greatest long distance runner in Moroccan and African athletics history.

    Performances:

    • Gold medal for 3000m in the 1998 African Championships in Athletic
    • Broke the African Record for 5000 metres in 1998 with a timing 14:40.19
    • Bronze medal for 5000m at the 1995 Ghoteburg World Championships.
    • Sliver medal behind Sonia O'Soullivan(IRL) in 1998 IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
    • Bronze medal for 5000m at the 1999 Sevilla World Championships.
    • Gold medal for 1999 Cross Internacional de Itálica.
    •  Silver medal for 3000m at the 1999 World Indoor Championships in Maebashi,Japan.
    • First place in 3000 metres in Aug. 11, 1999 in Zurich.
    • Two silver medals at the 2000 IAAF World Cross Country Championships. 
    Her 5000m African record  was transferred to Leah Malot of Kenya in 2000 who set a  new record of 14:39.83 (Zahra's was 4:40.19). Her best timings are:

    • 1500 metres - 4:00.60 (1998)
    • 3000 metres - 8:26.48 (1999)
    • 5000 metres - 14:32.08 (1998)
    • 10,000 metres - 34:04.64 (1994)




     Nawal El Moutawakil

    Nawal is the legendary Moroccan athlete with a great start back in 1982 when she won her first gold medal for the 110m hurdles
    at the African Championships in Athletic. She added another two in the 400m hurdles in 1984 and 1985.
    She was the only female in the Moroccan Olympic team that participated in 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. She impressively won the women's 400 m hurdles gold medal, entering history as the first female Moroccan, Arab and Muslim  to become an Olympic champion. Later to be used as  role model for many women who followed in her footsteps. She has been herself actively helping  women achieve their similar goals.


    Moroccan sportswomen’s participation has since  increased each olympic games not only in track and field but also in Judo, Take wondoo,discus throw, heptathlon, Tennis, wrestling, swimming  and even weight lifting. The 1984 wins of Nawal El Moutawakil and Said Aouita in athletics and their later support have boosted Moroccan athltics and have  empowered Moroccan women. Nawal, a pioneer for Moroccan, Arabic and Muslim athletes, has done a lot and still working hard for decades now. Nawal is currently a minister in Morocco and member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) evaluating candidacy for the 2016 Olympics. Nawal El Moutawakil was added to the hall of fame by the Women’s sports foundation in USA.


    16 days of glory - Nawal el Moutawakel


    Nezha Bidouane
    Nezha Bidouane has a great portfolio of achievements started in 1990 when she won her first gold medal for the 400m hurdles in the African Championships in Athletic.
    Double Gold medalist of  400m Hurdles at 1997 and 2001 World Championships. She narrowly missed the 1999 gold medal by a millisecond  (52.90sec) to Pernia(52.89sec)  and contended with silver for the 400m Hurdle competition on controversial and contested results. She won the World Championships final at Athens by excitingly  defeating Deon Hemmings (Jamaica) and Kim Batten (USA). Bidouane's 52'97" performance was simply impressive and a great moment for Moroccan sport history. Her victory meant she became part of the three athletes legends for 400m Hurdle women. Her Championship performances are also marked by a 400m Hurdle bronze medal at the 2000 summer olympics.

    1997 World Championships Women's 400 Metres Hurdles nezha bidouane:




    Hasna benhassi

    Hasna benhassi is one of Morocco's top performing middle distance athletes. She has an impressively consistent career as a professional athlete and has won numerous medals for Morocco.

    Performance:

    •  Gold medal for  800m at the 1997 Mediterranean Games in Bari, Italy.
    • silver medal at 1998 African Championships in Dakar, Senegal.
    • Gold medal for 800m at the 2000 African Championships.
    • Gold medal for the 1,500  women at the 2001 World Indoor Championships  in Lisbon.
    • Silver medalist at the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics 800m by 0.05 behind Kelly Holmes.
    • Silver at the 2005 Helsinki World Championships.
    • Silver at the 2005 World Athletics Championships in Helsinki, Finland.
    • Silver at the 2007 World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan.
    • Runner-up in the 800m steeplechase at the 2007 World Championship in Osaka, Japan.
    • Bronze medal in the 800 meters women at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, China.
    By winning her first major global title of 1500m gold medal in Lisbon, Hasna benhassi became the second Moroccan female athlete, after Nezha Bidouane, to win a World Championship title.

    Hasna  (name means "charming") is married to Mohssine Chéhibi (a prpfessional Moroccan athlete who came in 4th place in the 800m 2004 Athens Olympics). Their daughter named Farah (Joy). 

    In 2005, Hasna  Benhassi was selected as the best sportsperson in Morocco.
    She is known for her high risk running strategy where she stays behind the pack till the final lap relying on her strong finish kick. This same running style served her well on some competitions but hurt her in others as she could not catch up.

    Watch 800m women final at the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics where Hasna emerged at the last minute to snatch a valuable olympic silver. Amazing, isn't it?





    Bahia Mouhtassine
    Bahia is a former Moroccan professional tennis player. and the highest ever ranked tennis player from Morocco.On 24 June 2002. She achieved her  high singles ranking of 139. Mouhtassine is also the first and only Moroccan tennis player yet to feature at the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament. She played well during the first rounds of the 2002 Australian Open and 2003 French Open.

     Bahia Mouhtassine's Achievements:


    •  Gold medal at the Mediterranean Games in Tunisia.
    • Grand Prix La Princesse Lalla Meryem in Casablanca in 2004.
    • Won 6 gold medals at the Pan Arab Games.
    • Won 11 ITF Women's Circuit singles titles.
    •  9 doubles titles.

    Maha Haddioui
    Maha,22 years old  from the coastal berber city of Agadir, is Morocco's number 1 female golfer and the new role model for aspiring female golfers in the country. She is the first Arab woman to compete in a professional golf tournament.
    Maha Haddioui is the best professional player in Morocco as demonstrated by her last performance at the Lalla Meryem Golf Cup.



      mardi 14 février 2012

      Things to do and places to visit in Marrakech,Morocco

      Visiting Marrakech: Things to do and places to see


      Marrakech, one of Morocco's major imperial cities, is more touristy than any other moroccan city. It's almost a shrine for the passionate international travellers.

      The tourist diversity in terms of nationalities, age, background and gender grants Marrakech a well ranked position in world tourism.

      Marrakech is located four hours further from Casablanca. Its weather is hotter in summer time and colder in winter season.

      Besides its hot summer bright sun, in the high tourist season (July - August) Marrakech turns hot with amazing leisure and entertainment activities to do and see.

      So what is there to see in Marrakech ?

      Marrakech got unique location, is full of history, culture, fascinationg architecture, unique and entertaining people whose tourists have long become part of their common daily life sight.

      Marrakech sits on the foot of Atlas Mountains,got the World's most hustling and bustling square - the famous Jamaa El Fna.

      Marrakech got snake charmers, fire-swallowers, folk singers, dancers, fortune-tellers and festivals.

      Marrakech got the best man-made carpets,antiques,arts and crafts.

      Marrakech got old palaces,medieval quartiers,shops,jewelery,pottery and traditional crafts places and festivals.

      Marrakech got gardens,walls and storks.

      Marrakech has easy access to the Saharian dunes and desert camel trekking excursions.

      Marrakech got a close heat break escape just nearby - Essaouira.

      And much,much more...

      If you can afford it, with an official guide and a stay in a riad you will make the most of your trip.

      If you're coming from Europe,you can fly direct to Marrakech international airport. Those coming From North America and Asia will arrive in casablanca airport. From there you can take a connecting flight or take the train from the airport to Marrakech.

      Those coming from Tangier,can take the overnight Tangier-Marrakech train(The Marrakech Express).

      You can also take the local bus from and to Marrakech(Supratours buses stop close to Marrakech train station.CTM bus station is located near Bab Doukkala,a 20 minute walk from Jema el-Fna)

      Accommodation:

      There are many places to stay in Marrakech both luxury and budgets

      When Tourists want to make every aspect of their trip "al marocaine",they stay at riads.

      A riad is a traditional Moroccan house situated in the Medina (old town).
      All riads have a central courtyard that will often have a fountain, restaurant or a pool. Some riads also have rooftop terraces where you can eat breakfast and look out over the city.

      Some budget Riads(around $100):
      Maison Mnabha,Dar Mouassine,Riad Choui Choui,Riad Clementine and the Hotel Sherazade.

      Luxury riads:
      La Maison Arabe(coordinates Cooking Workshops)
      Riad Kniza

      Luxury Hotels

      La Mamounia,Le Meridien,Sheraton and Sofitel

      List of some Marrakech attractions

      Medina(Old town)

      A wonderful ancient Historic site but still very much hectic part of town. Stunning cultural colorful experience,senses-stirring atmosphere,abundant and unique photos opportunities.

      Well worth a visit are the twelve miles long 13th century walls of
      the medina(Ramparts) with their artistic gates. One of these gates(Bab ed-Debbagh) leads to the tanneries.

      Jamaa El Fna

      Nothing memorable than hopping into a Caleche(horse-drawn carriage) from the garden square and head to jemaa el-fna late afernoon.

      This square sits in front of a quartier of shops. It is a lively open-air circus that is still reviving entertainment activities that havent changed much since the medieval times.

      At the end of the afternoon,the place transforms into an entertainenent center:Snake charmers,story-tellers,Hippie-like jugglers,Monkey tricks performers,street artists. The place is surrounded by snack stalls,orange juice stands and overlooking cafes. Cafes can be full and crowded, you need to go early at least 2 hours before dusk.

      Souks(Markets)

      Old-desinged big "flea-markets" Stretching out north of Djemaa el Fna around Rue Souk Smarine.Ben Youssef Medersa(religious school),a great example of Moroccan architecture, is just close by.

      The Koutoubia Minaret

      The almost 70-metre high Koutoubia Minaret is the most ancient of the three Almohad towers (the other two are the Hassan Tower in Rabat and the Giralda Tower in Seville)

      Palaces

      El Bahia Palace

      A reflection of Moroccan architecture and craftsmanship at its finest

      Badi Palace(Place des Ferblantiers)
      Historical 16th century ruined palace with stork residences. built in 1578 on the orders of Ahmed El Mansour after defeat of the Portuguese in the Battle of 3 kings. Badi Palace is also one of two places(besides Djemma el Fna) where the annual Marrakech Popular Arts Festival takes place
      in july. Situated Beyond Place des Ferblantiers

      Koubba Almoravid

      Museum of Moroccan Arts(also called Palais Dar Si Said)

      This is both a palace and Museum. Both are interesting and beautiful artwork and worth the visit. Situated in Derb El Bahia,Riad Zitoun el-Jedid

      Ecomusee Berbere

      A traditional riad converted into a photography museum.

      Saadian Tombs


      16th tombs built by Sultan Ahmed al-Mansour.

      The Majorelle Gardens

      Built in 1920 by French artists Jacques and Louis Majorelle.

      The Marrakech Oasis

      Arsat Moulay Abdeslam

      8 hectares of ancient parkland - quiet and refreshing place

      Les Bains de Marrakech(Hammam & traditional Massage Spa treatment)

      Can be a relaxing end to a your Marrakech'frenzies tour or in preparation to your next sahara expedition to Erg Chebbi or to Zagora
      from Marrakech.

      Festivals

      Marrakech Popular Arts Festival
      Part of the festival is Fantasia- horse-riding spectacle that includes hundreds of charging horsemen (and women) wearing traditional clothing.

      Imilchil Marriage Feast(in the nearby Middle-High Atlas Mountains in late August)
      Imilchil Marriage Feast is a Berber marriage festival.

      Ride Quads

      A fun way to get outside and see Marrakech countryside,discovery trails,Berber villages,riverbeds and quarries on four wheels. Great hiking in the Moroccan desert.

      If you happen to visit Marrakech during winter,you can take part in the following activites

      Skiing

      Yes,as hot as it gets in july and august, Marrakech does get snow and enough of it for skiers.Situated at 70 kms from Marrakech,
      The Oukaimden ski resort is a well known place to do that.

      Thanks for making it this far. Here's a cool Marrakech Video for you(share buttons are on top right to spread this article):

      Visiting the city of Marrakech, Morocco:


      Other information of relevant interest:

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in Tangiers,Morocco

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in Asilah,Morocco

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in Tetouan,Morocco

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in chefchaouen,Morocco

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in Rabat,Morocco

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in Casablanca,Morocco

      Casablanca Hotels Hotel pas cher guide

      Casablanca Restaurants Guide Adresses

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in Merzouga,Morocco

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in Ouarzazate,Morocco

      Things to do visit in Essaouira,Morocco

      Women visiting morocco: Travel tips and advice

      Things to do and places to see in Marrakech,Morocco

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in Fes,Morocco

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in Meknes,Morocco

      Best time to visit travel to morocco

      List of things to do while in morocco

      Visiting morocco with children:Tips & Info

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in Merzouga,Morocco

      what to wear when visiting morocco

      Visiting Morocco From Spain - Transportation Information

      Visiting morocco during ramadan

      Visiting Morocco in November

      visiting morocco in january

      Visiting Marrakech Morocco

      Tangermed Passagers - Tangier/Spain ferry crossing

      Tangermed Passagers - Port Tanger Med 2

      Morocco Travel Guide

      Morocco Maps:Detailed city map

      Morocco Flights - Flight deals & time

      Morocco Public Transportation Trains Transport & buses

      Car rental in Morocco Rabat Marrakech Agadir Tangiers - Location de voiture au Maroc

      Marrakech Restaurants Guide Adresses

      Marrakech Hotels Riads

      Tramway Rabat Salé Nouveaux Bus de Rabat - طرامواي الرباط و سلا

      Achat et vente des voitures d'occasion au maroc

      Musique du Maroc en mp3 - Ecouter et telecharger

      lundi 7 novembre 2011

      Eid al Adha in Morocco - The Feast of Sacrifice

      Morocco observes many national and religious holidays. Eid El Kebir is one of those major and significant events that has been observed over hundreds of years. It commemorates Ibrahim’s (Abraham) willingness to sacrifice his son to God. It is celebrated around the 10th to the 13th days of the Islamic month of Du al-Hijjah.
      As with most practices, Moroccans will throw their unique traditions on these events, too. In some cases, you will not know that a holiday is religious if you do not already have an idea about it. On the facade of it, it may not look religious at all. Eid al Adha (also Eid El Kebir) in Moroco is a 3 days
      Eid al Adha in Moroco - The Feast of Sacrifice
      religious holiday. The religious part of it is done in the morning of day 1 by a special prayer at an open area (not a traditional mosque). For some people, another part (the Pilgrimage - Hajj in arabic) takes place outside the country - in Mecca,Saudi Arabia. The rest and the last 2 days are more social in nature. One of the good things about The Feast of Sacrifice (Eid El Kebir) is that it is a time for forgiveness where people reconcile and agree to bury past greivances. Modern Celebrations of Eid El Kebir in Morocco have not signicantly changed over many decades. It has always been marked by day 1 tea and cake breafast,family and friends visits for greetings exchange,kids gifts,morning prayer,the lamb sacrifice.Then the early morning lamb barbecue for the next 2 days.
      A dying Eid tradition (may be already dead) was the afternoon horse race called Tbawreeda.
      Watch this video below to get a real feel of life during Eid El Kebir in Morocco.
      Eid al Adha in Moroco - The Feast of Sacrifice youtube video(If the video does not show properly, kindly refresh the page):


      Visiting Morocco during Ramadan
      Aid el Kebir Morocco (Eid al Adha)
      Eid al Adha in Morocco - The Feast of Sacrifice (Eid al Adha)
      When is Eid al Adha/Eid El kebir in Morocco - date
      Nouvelles et nouveautes du maroc sur Facebook - Morocco news

      mardi 14 juin 2011

      Things to do in Tangiers,Morocco

      Things to do, attractions and places to visit in Tangiers, Morocco

      Tangier (Tanger in French,Tanja in local dialect) is located in the northern part of Morocco just 14 kilometers from Spain and 60 kilometers from Gibraltar at the intersection of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Tangiers is a combination and mixture of Moroccan, European and African flavor. There are pleny of tourist attractions and activities you can do in this beautifu city which Moroccans would like to describe as the "Bride of the North".

      It was an international zone up till late fifties and a mecca for freedom and romance seekers from Europe and the USA.

      Artists, writers, politicians and all kinds of adventurers have found in Tangier the ideal shrine for their dreams. The Rolling Stones,Williams Tennessee,Matisse,Richard Diebenkorn,Oscar Wilde,Cecil Beaton,Winston Churchill are sample names for the sake of an example.

      The Grand Socco (The Large Market)

      This is the dynamic heart of Tangiers. As the name suggests, it used to be a marketplace and a casual entertainment center in the crowdier traditonal sense similar to Jamaa-el-Fna in Marrakech. It's now more of a place to leisurely stroll,get a feel of the city,relax on a nearby cafe and do some people watching in preparation for your tour off to the Medina gate to the Rue d'Italie.

      This place is also the bridging point between the old medina and modern town. More importantly, this spot holds a nationalistic pride for Moroccans in general since it witnessed the historically famous call for independence speech made by late king Mohamed V in 1947.

      The Old medina

      Old medinas are rich of history and culture and are unique. Most of these are located in the hot non-coastal regions of Morocco. But then again Morocco itself is an ancient country and old medinas, to a lesser depth, are also found in coastal cities, and Tangiers happens to be one of them.

      Yep,Tangier(also Tangiers) still cheriches its old organs. Taxi drivers are knowledgeable about their hometowns and know its history wholeheartedly. They can take you there, sit back and relax while glancing to see old tanks and hearing about the Spanish and Portuguese pirates and how tangiers tried to protect itself from the shore.

      The Kasbah

      Part of the old medina is The Kasbah,it stands on an upper level hilly site of town which gives it a great access view point over to the Straits of Gibraltar,neighboring Spain and the Tangier port to its right. The Kasbah,whose fortifications are amazingly in very good condtion, embodies a 17th. century Dar el Makhzen (The House of the Governor). It now serves as a museum for Moroccan arts and archeology.Beyond its front gates,hide nice carved ceilings and beautiful gardens. For photography fans, the place looks nicer at sunset and sunrise.

      The American Legation (cultural centre and museum)

      Right in the heart of the old Medina, stands a historic American landmark attesting to Morocco'old diplomatic and cultural relations with the United States. Morocco was the first country to recognize the independence of the United States. In fact, this is even United States'only historic landmark overseas.

      The American Legation was established back in 1777. The building is listed on the Secretary of State’s Register of Culturally Significant Property.
      Important enough since it is the first American property outside the US territory. It is located at 8 Zankat America (Avenue of America).

      The building contains a museum,library and a conference center. So if you are into into history,old documents,arts(it holds artists meetings and exhibitions), this place worths its visit.

      The Caves of Hercules (La Grotte d'Hercules)

      Driving about 14 kms west of Tangier at Cap Spartel,a rendezvous with a stunning archeological point of interest is awaiting you - The Caves of Hercules.

      On the way, Get your camera ready,sit back and relax while enjoying a look down on the fascinating atlantic beach scenery and Tangiers'mountaineous landscape.

      You can do a camel ride on your way to Hercules Cave. Camels are supposed to be in the desert. But for the sake of ease and flexibility,they are often brought from their environment to the coastal cities during the high tourist season.

      A camel ride in Tangiers does not replace a camel trekking excursion in Erg Chebi/Merzouga. But it can give you that romantic feeling being on top of a camel.

      Hercules refers,of course,to the mythical figure Hercules who founded Tangier and carved out the Straits of Gibraltar with one blow from his sword. the caves apparently used to be his rest place after finishing his 12 labors. It is not conclusive how these caves have been formed.

      Apparently,they have been carved in part by nature and in part by man. The caves have been reported to be used as dwellings by some ancient civilizattion who quarried stone since the Archaeological excavations have produced evidence of human bones and flints remnants the findings of which can found at the Kasba museum. For safety reasons, only a small percentage of the caves are open to visitors.

      The caves are situated at about 100 meters above the Robinson Plage that stretches off to the south. Views from inside the caves looking out over the ocean are of great beauty. The opening itself matches the map of Africa.
      Historically, we're talking about a Neolithic habitation 6000 BC. The caves were discovered in 1878 and opened to the public in 1920.in 1952,it became a National Heritage site.

      The other neighbouring caves(the Cave of Ace Sayfia,Al Alia Cave and Al Khil Cave) also found to contain prehistoric remains from the Neolithic period.Also worth a visit are the nearby Roman ruins of Cotta- A 2nd century Roman town. It's no more than 5 minutes walk from The Caves of Hercules. Some section of the site still shows signs of the typical Roman baths and temples. Shopping in Bazaars and Souks

      Great place for bargains in leather,carpets,copper and othe hand-made crafts and souvenirs.

      Forbes Museum
      As per wikipedia:

      "Forbes Museum of Tangier was a museum founded by the American publisher of Forbes magazine, Malcolm Forbes. The museum had been located in Malcolm Forbes' Palais Mendoub, a grand 10-acre (40,000 m2) property located on the Marshan in Tangier, and had a collection of a total of 115,000 models of lead soldiers.

      These figures re-enacted the major battles of history; from Waterloo to Dien Bien Phû, realistically recreated with lighting and sound effects. Entire armies stood on guard in the showcases, while in the garden, 600 statuettes bear silent homage to the Battle of Three Kings.

      After Forbes' death in 1990, the property was put up for sale by the children and is now owned by the government of Morocco as a residence for visiting dignitaries.

      Film Location - The Forbes Museum was chosen for the villain's lair for the 15th James Bond Film The Living Daylights 1987 starring Timothy Dalton.

      Brad Whitaker played by Joe Don Baker was an international arms-dealer who also had a fetish for warfare and collecting military items."

      Festivals

      That if your visit coincides with the international jazz festival Tanjazz festival

      Thanks for making it this far. Here's a cool Tangiers Video for you(share buttons are on top right to spread this article):

      Tangier (Tanger, طنچة ), Morocco (Maroc):





      Other information of relevant interest:

      Visiting Morocco From Spain - Transportation Information

      Morocco Public Transportation Trains Transport & buses

      Car rental in Morocco Rabat Marrakech Agadir Tangiers - Location de voiture au Maroc

      Tangermed Passagers - Tangier/Spain ferry crossing

      Algeciras-Tanger traversée - Tanger Algeciras el barco

      Women visiting morocco: Travel tips and advice

      Visiting morocco with children:Tips & Info

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in Asilah,Morocco

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in Tetouan,Morocco

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in chefchaouen,Morocco

      Buying property & real estate in Morocco - Maroc immobilier

      Things to do and places to see in Marrakech,Morocco

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in Rabat,Morocco

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in Casablanca,Morocco

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in Merzouga,Morocco

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in Ouarzazate,Morocco

      Things to do visit in Essaouira,Morocco

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in Fes,Morocco

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in Meknes,Morocco

      Best time to visit travel to morocco

      List of things to do while in morocco

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in Merzouga,Morocco

      what to wear when visiting morocco

      Visiting morocco during ramadan

      Visiting Morocco in November

      visiting morocco in january

      Tanger Med - Algésiras (Departs et Arrivees)

      TangerMed Passagers - Port Tanger Med 2

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in Tangiers,Morocco

      Passer les vacances a tanger avec les tangérois

      Tangermed Passagers - Tangier/Spain ferry crossing

      Morocco Travel Guide

      Morocco Maps:Detailed city map

      Morocco Flights - Flight deals & time

      Tangier Restaurants Guide Adresses

      Tangier Hotels Riads

      Visiting Marrakech Guide - Travel tips and advice

      Tramway Rabat Salé Nouveaux Bus de Rabat - طرامواي الرباط و سلا

      Nouveaux Bus de Rabat - الحافلات الجديدة للرباط

      Tramway Rabat Salé - طرامواي الرباط و سلا

      Comment louer une voiture au Maroc - Papiers de location, Vol, Accident

      **************************************

      Achat et vente des voitures d'occasion au maroc

      Musique du Maroc en mp3 - Ecouter et telecharger

      Arabic music & video sharing arab site/forum

      Tangier tourism,Latest Reviews of Tangier,
      Woman in Tangier,women visiting tangier,Visiting Tangier Morocco - Travel guide,travel advice,travel tips,travel information.Travelling to Tangier,voyage a Tanger,Maroc.Le port de tanger,Tangier port,gibraltar strait,spain.Ferry from Spain to Tangier.Spending holidays in Tangiers.US travelors,UK tourists.Ressortissants Francais,espagne,france,belgique,allemagne

      dimanche 12 juin 2011

      Things to do and places to visit in fes Morocco

      Visiting Fez Morocco - Things to do and attractions to see in fes Morocco.


      Fes (also Fez - Fès in French)

      Fes is Morocco's most hitorically exotic imperial city. In fact, it is the only old ciy in the world with a living medieval heritage. History and culture served in a traditonal recipe are galore.

      From old medina, museums, monuments, palaces, souks to riads, hammams and Moroccan cuisine at its excellency.

      If you can't find a certified and dependable guide(hotels arrange this,too), you can hire a taxi. Most taxi drivers are knowledgeable about their city and tourirst points of interest. Touring Fes without a guide is not recommended if it's your first visit. Learn how to hire a cheap guide in Fes below.

      Here is a list of must-see attractions in Fes.


      Fes el Bali (Old Fes)

      This is Fes'old Medina, UNESCO World Heritage Site. A rare historical gem that is still preserved.

      From 11th century Bab Boujloud, the main entrance to the medina, lays an impressive labyrinth of 9400 small winding streets and narrow alleys that steep cross up and down.

      Yes,that's almost 10 000 hustling and bustling narrow routes. A place where merchants, suppliers, assitants, shopers, visitors, donkeys and horses compete for a walking space.

      Though the intersections have color codes (i.e blue for monuments route), a dependable guide is a must if you intend to delve any further. Failing this, few hours may not be enough just to get back to where you started.

      This is a plunge back in time into a huge exhibition of functioning medieval shops, old palaces, riads, royal gardens, mosques, craftsmanship and artwork. Other stuff to see are artisan's workshops, souks, old transportation modes(donkeys and horses. Did we mention narrow streets?).

      Here are some of the highlights that you can find in Fes el Bali("a" as in "Anne").

      Zawiyaht & Mosques

      Zawiyah(plural Zawiyaht) is an Islamic religious school or monastery with a fountain inside. Some of the most famous are Zawiyah Moulay Idriss II and Zawiyah Ahmed Tijani.
      These are closed to non-muslims but you can peer into them if you pass by at times of prayer.

      Al Qarawiyeen is both a mosque and a university for islamic studies, culture, language and other learning. It is not to be confused with a madrassa as in Asia. Though the foucs was initially on Islamic studies such as Quranic studies,Islamic law and theology, the curriculum also includes Arabic language,mathematics,physics,chemistry,foreign languages and even some astronomy.

      It was founded in 859 by Fatima al-Fihri, the daughter inheritant of a wealthy merchant. It is considered the oldest still operational academic degree-granting university in the world.

      Its interior islamic design is stunning. Andalucia Mosque is another monument in Fes el Bali. If you're muslim, you can learn a lot from entering those places. Old architecture that makes sense then and still makes it today. You can learn more about Al Qarawiyeeen from Wikipedia here.

      The square next to al Qarawiyeen also turns into a night retreat for the locals especially in summer time. Worth some strolling with history roaming in the air.

      Madrasa Abu Inan

      This is the only madrasa in Fes with a minaret - a marvel of Marinid architecture. Founded by Abu Inan Al Farisi (who also founded a another religious school with the same name in Meknes). Other places to visit in the medina:

      Souks(Markets)
      Brass works market (Near Qarawiyeen)
      Leather market (This is the place to buy leather articles.)
      Potter's Market
      Furniture market (Gives you a glimpse of the old wedding furniture).

      The Gates of Fes

      Fes is walled by four massive city gates of amazing tile work and grand architectural designs.

      Museum Dar Batha

      Built by Sultan Moulay al-Hassan I in 19th century, this is a Hispano-Moorish palace houses the finest of traditional Moroccan crafts and pottery. It is located at Place du Batha.
      Tel: (212)55-63 41 16

      Nejjarine Museum(The Carpenters Museum)

      This used to be the old traveling merchants hotel(funduq).Features traditional woodwork that dates back to the 18th century when the funduq was built.

      Upstairs was the hotel,downstairs was a stable for travelers horses and the trading square.

      Dar Bennani(also called Musee de la Musique Andalouse )

      A museum,library,art gallery and Andalusian music conservatory. Located at Derb Cheikh El Fouqi near Palais de Fes.

      The Arms Museum

      Also called Borj.
      This fortress,built in 16th century, houses a large collection of antique arms reflecting the moroccan craftsmanship at the time.The building also has a nice view of the medina.

      Belghazi Museum

      A museum of traditional arts and crafts. The place itself used to be a large traditional riad.


      The tanneries

      The tanneries in Fes are located nearby the Qarawiyeen Mosque. You can view the tanneries from the terraces looking down on the tanners' yard. The roofs belong to the surrounding leather shops. This is a rare opportunity to watch reams of cow hides treated in huge vats of dyes.
      The skins processing involves no modern machinery and is manually done the way it was since the 11th century.

      The smell can be intolerably strong since pigeon poo and cow urine and other strong smelling raw materials are integral ingredients in the process. So, may be it's a good idea to have some (perfumed) handkerchiefs handy. Leather stuff are more expensive to buy here than in the medina.

      Dar el Makhzen(Old Royal Palace)

      Place Seffarine,Fez Bazaar & Souk el Henna

      These are all flee markets.

      Moulay Yacoub Thermal Station

      A therapeutic Spa with warm mineral healing waters located at about 20 Kms to the north west of fes. Locals throughout Morocco used to come to this place to immerse themselves in its warm and soothing waters. These hot springs are said to be great for curing dermic deseases. If you stay at the Sofitel,they also have an attached Hammam.

      Moulay Abdellah Square

      This is the city center square. A leisurely night tour by a petit taxi after supper or on your way back to the hotel for the night can be refreshing

      Fez Mellah

      Located in Fes-Jdid (new Fes),a walled Jewish quarter with a fortified gateway.





      Some places to stay in Fes:
      Riad Fes (Tel:212-5-35947610)

      Some fez budget hotels addresses:

      Hôtel Splendid, Fès (***)
      Address: 9,Rue abdelkarim katabi – Fes
      Hotel Splendid Telephone: (+212) 035-62-21-48
      Hotel email for booking: splendid@iam.net.ma
      Site web:Unknown
      ---------------------------------------------------
      Fes Inn
      Address :47, Rue 2 Sidi Brahim
      Telephone: 212 555 64 00 89
      Click here to visit Fes Inn Site web[In French]
      Click here to visit Fes Inn Website In English
      ---------------------------------------
      Hotel de la Paix:
      Address:44,Avenue Hassan II Fes
      Telephone: 66-38-364-700
      Website: Unknown
      ----------------------------------------
      Hotel Batha Fes
      Address : Place Batha Istiqlal
      Telephone: +212 35-74-10-77/78
      Website: Unknown

      Other information of relevant interest:

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in Tangiers,Morocco

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in Asilah,Morocco

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in Tetouan,Morocco

      Tramway Rabat Salé Nouveaux Bus de Rabat - طرامواي الرباط و سلا

      Car rental in Morocco Rabat Marrakech Agadir Tangiers - Location de voiture au Maroc

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in chefchaouen,Morocco

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in Rabat,Morocco

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in Casablanca,Morocco

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in Merzouga,Morocco

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in Ouarzazate,Morocco

      Things to do visit in Essaouira,Morocco

      Women visiting morocco: Travel tips and advice

      Things to do and places to see in Marrakech,Morocco

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in Fes,Morocco

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in Meknes,Morocco

      Visiting Fez Morocco - Things to do and attractions to see

      Best time to visit travel to morocco

      List of things to do while in morocco

      Visiting morocco with children:Tips & Info

      Things to do,attractions and places to visit in Merzouga,Morocco

      what to wear when visiting morocco

      Visiting Morocco From Spain - Transportation Information

      Visiting morocco during ramadan

      Visiting Morocco in November

      visiting morocco in january

      Tangermed Passagers - Tangier/Spain ferry crossing

      Morocco Travel Guide

      Morocco Maps:Detailed city map

      Morocco Flights - Flight deals & time

      Visiting Marrakech Guide - Travel tips and advice

      Tangermed Passagers - Port Tanger Med 2

      Morocco Public Transportation Trains Transport & buses

      Fes Hotels Riads - Guide touristique de voyage et sejour a Fes

      Fes Restaurants Guide Adresses

      **************************************

      henne au maroc

      Comment obtenir visa etudes france

      Liste des adresses hotels fes

      comment ajouter sitemap blog blogger

      port tanger med 2

      Morocco property real estate buyers

      morocco overseas property industry

      morocco economic strength euro zone

      moroccan economy global economic crisis

      Cartoons dessins animes gratuits:Naruto

      listes des sites emploi au maroc

      Tanger etablissements hoteliers

      maroc tournoi international sale

      Festival divan occidental oriental

      Tanger tourisme traversee algesiras

      Maroc basket feminin sports nouveaux

      Wydad de casablanca wac benabicha

      Maroc france partenariat en energie

      maroc villes pollution maladies

      incident royal air maroc

      iam wana meditel modem 3g

      Morocco attracts property investors

      lettres demande emploi exemple modeles

      Comment ecrire rediger un bon cv

      Achat et vente des voitures d'occasion au maroc

      Musique du Maroc en mp3 - Ecouter et telecharger

      Arabic music & video sharing arab site/forum

      mercredi 1 juin 2011

      Tramway Rabat Salé Nouveaux Bus de Rabat - طرامواي الرباط و سلا

      Tramway Rabat Salé Nouveaux Bus de Rabat - طرامواي الرباط و سلا

      Les essais dynamiques du matériel roulant du tramway devant relier les villes de Rabat et Salé, ont été lancés mardi à Salé.
      La première rame du Tramway Rabat Salé, pouvant atteindre des pointes de 70km/h, est composée de deux véhicules de 32m chacun avec une hauteur de 3m, un design inspiré de l'art du zellige marocain, des motifs de la fontaine du Mausolée Mohammed V en particulier, et une harmonie des formes et des couleurs à l'extérieur, au plafonds et au niveau des sièges pour en affirmer la personnalité.
      Chaque rame double compte 118 places assises et 12 portes de chaque côté pour une capacité globale d'environ 580 passagers.
      Le réseau de deux lignes d'une longueur totale de 20km avec ses 31 stations permettra le déplacement quotidien de 180.000 voyageurs dans des conditions optimales.

      Nouveaux Bus de Rabat - الحافلات الجديدة للرباط
      Rabat: Des bus neufs pour le transport urbain
      · 50 nouveaux véhicules sur les lignes desservant Témara
      · Stareo attend une centaine de véhicules dici fin mai
      Les usagers du transport urbain à Rabat étaient visiblement contents de prendre le bus. En effet, des bus flambant neufs ont été mis en circulation sur de nombreuses lignes. Même le wali de Rabat, Hassan Amrani, sest permis «une virée» pour tester le confort du service.
      Dans un premier temps, il sagit de 50 bus qui ont été mis en circulation par le délégataire sur lagglomération Rabat-Salé-Témara, Stareo. Dici fin mai, 100 autres véhicules devraient remplacer lancien parc. «150 véhicules ont été commandés. Ils sont de conception européenne et montés en Chine», souligne Noureddine Lazrak, maire de Salé et président de lautorité délégante du transport urbain pour la région de Rabat. Un autre contingent de 200 bus devrait arriver dans les prochains mois. Selon Lazrak, le coût total dinvestissement pour renouveler le parc de Stareo durant la période du contrat avoisine 1,9 milliard de DH.
      Les premiers bus mis en circulation ont été affectés aux lignes 58A-58B et 58C à partir de Bab Al Had à Rabat vers Témara en passant par Agdal, le quartier des hôpitaux et Hay Ryad, soit en tout 230 arrêts. Ces lignes desservent des régions très peuplées et qui affichent un grand besoin en matière de transport. Il sagit notamment des quartiers Mersse et Chiagua, à Témara.
      «Les bus sont dotés dun plancher surbaissé et sont équipés de rampes facilitant ainsi laccès aux personnes handicapées ou à mobilité réduite», déclare Mourabite Boujmaâ, chauffeur chez Stareo, et qui a suivi une formation spécifique pour la conduite de ces bus.
      Les véhicules sont également équipés dun système de climatisation et de chauffage et de caméras de surveillance. Il sagit de prévenir ou de sanctionner les actes de vandalisme.
      Sur le plan de lenvironnement, la nouvelle flotte répond aux normes Euros 3 définies par la législation internationale et permettant de diviser par six les émissions de gaz nocif. La mise en circulation de ces nouveaux bus va permettre de renforcer le parc actuel en exploitation de près 380 bus. Car, en dépit des améliorations constatées ces dernières semaines, les citoyens souffrent durant les heures de pointe, notamment sur les lignes 55, 43 et 21. Une situation dont profitent les transporteurs informels.

      تسليم 63 حافلة إيكولوجية للنقل الحضري بالرباط






      TGV au Maroc 2013 :

      Visit Tangier - Passes les Vacances a Tanger
      Tangermed Passagers - Tangier/Spain ferry crossing
      Morocco Maps:Detailed city map
      Morocco Flights - Flight deals & time
      Tangier Hotels Riads
      Tangier Restaurants Guide Adresses
      Achat et vente des voitures d'occasion au maroc
      Comment louer une voiture au Maroc
      Comment louer une voiture au Maroc - Papiers de location, Vol, Accident
      Nouveaux Bus de Rabat - الحافلات الجديدة للرباط
      Tramway Rabat Salé - طرامواي الرباط و سلا
      Tramway Rabat Salé Nouveaux Bus de Rabat - طرامواي الرباط و سلا
      Car rental in Morocco Rabat Marrakech Agadir Tangiers - Location de voiture au Maroc
      Tramway Rabat Salé - طرامواي الرباط و سلا
      Musique du Maroc en mp3 - Ecouter et telecharger
      Arabic music & video sharing arab site/forum
      Morocco Travel Guide