Highlights of Morocco 1-3

Group tour the Highlights of Morocco. 11 people from 5 different countries get together to share the experience of seeing Morocco for the first time.
Day 1 Arrived in Casablanca a modern big city with a population of 5 million and the newly built 3rd biggest mosque in the world which sits on the Atlantic ocean. They speak Arabic, Berber, a local dialect which is a combination of these and French. Ricks cafe (Humphrey B. Casablanca fame) stands just outside the calm Medina (compared to Marrakesh) and very busy taxis beeping all around to attract your business.
Day 2 Long driving day with GAdventures to Chefchaouen via Tangier. Tangier sitting on the Atlantic and only 40km from Spain. It has a big fishing port being the closest port to Europe makes it busy. The Medina was a clean, well maintained area.
Day 3. Chefchaouen a hillside village. 7km/1500ft hike up to Spanish mosque and into village. It was a lovely day walking past farms growing beans this time of year, soon they will plant marijuana which is grown all over the hills in this area. We had a lovely lunch overlooking the lush valley with homesteads spread all across while eating Tagine prepared by a local family. We spent the afternoon walking the narrow maze like streets and drinking smoothies on the roof the cafe.
Day 3 Drive to Fez. But first stopped at volubilis a roman acropolis.
Day 4 Fez is bustling city divided into old town 808AD and walls held together by boards. 1492 new town was built when Jews and Moors were expelled from Spain and French district built 1912. Our guide (ex US Marine) brought us to the royal palace which there are 6 within the city alone with a 18 hole golf course. The Medina is self sufficient with its own tannery, pottery factory, natural dye factory and markets. It is 17km sq in size and all pedestrianized with many people still living there. Many of the houses are in a bad shape but the stores are being renovated. It also houses the main jewelry district. We had a lovely lunch there.Read more