we recently sat down with MTS guest favorite, guide Kristy Larson, and asked her why she loves Morocco. Kristy moved to Morocco over 30 years ago as a Peace Corps volunteer and never left. For the past 20+ years, Kristy has been leading trips in Morocco for MTS. She has a passion for traditional Moroccan arts and handicrafts, speaks Arabic and Berber dialects, and has a great rapport with the Moroccan people.
Top 10 Reasons I Love Morocco
by MTS guide Kristy Larson
by MTS guide Kristy Larson
1. First of all I must say I have never been to any country which has such a diverse culture as Morocco. The country has been influenced and settled first by the indigenous Berbers, then Phoenicians, Romans, and then after came the Arabs, the Sub-Saharan Africans and finally the Europeans. It is such an exotic mixture of all these cultures and always such a stimulus to my being!
3. I am fascinated by the Berber people, some who have populated Morocco as early as the Bronze Age. They are tribal and each tribe has its own dialect of Berber, style of dress, particular pattern of weaving, music and personality.
4. Morocco is most certainly a timeless place. The magical Kingdom of Morocco, to me, represents one of the last surviving examples of an ancient world. It is a land that almost seems suspended in medieval times.
5. Morocco is a land of contrasts–and somehow, these contrasts make me feel so alive! The vast sandy, rocky desert contrasts with the lush green oases. There is an incredible intermingling of ancient and modern. A man riding his donkey might be passing a chic Moroccan woman wearing the latest Parisian fashions, in the old French quarter of Marrakech.
6. I love the ancient cities of Morocco and strolling through the narrow alleyways, watching the locals going about their daily chores. I love the adventure of discovering a hidden work of Islamic architecture as I ramble through the winding alleys or find an ancient treasure in a small hidden shop in the labyrinth of the old city.
7. I have always been fascinated by the vast array of exquisite handicrafts in Morocco. These arts have been passed on from generation-to-generation, so thus reveal the traditions of this ancient society. Among the ageless arts include pottery, textiles, iron work, wood work, jewelry, silver and leather work. Traditional Islamic architecture employs the arts of tile work, stucco work and wood work. Truly Morocco is a magical land of beautiful arts!
. The cuisine of Morocco is extraordinary and is often compared to other ancient food traditions such as those of France or China. Fragrant stews or tagines are spiced with saffron and cumin. The fresh fruits and vegetables are amazingly flavorful–and the dates, olives and olive oil are the best!
9. There must be at least 300 days of sunshine a year in Morocco! The skies can be blue, blue, BLUE! Again there is a stupendous contrast with the blue sky and green of the oasis and the orange of the sand dunes!
10. And last, but so very important, are the people of Morocco. The people that I have met, and have become friends with over my many years in Morocco– especially the Berbers, in the remote villages. These people have opened their hearts to me, taken me into their homes, and treated me as one of their family. This ability to come so close with this ancient culture–to actually feel it and have it touch my heart–is a miracle which never ceases to amaze me.
Top 10 Reasons I Love Morocco
by MTS guide Kristy Larson
2. Next certainly is the magnificence of the geographic diversity of Morocco. With the Mediterranean to the north and Atlantic to the west, there are endless undiscovered beaches. Also, there are four mountain ranges–at times snow-capped, which have been inhabited by Berbers tribes for centuries or even thousands of years. This makes for an adventurous exploration of uncounted, remote valleys! South is the vast Sahara Desert–giant orange dunes and shockingly contrasting lush, palm-fringed oases.
3. I am fascinated by the Berber people, some who have populated Morocco as early as the Bronze Age. They are tribal and each tribe has its own dialect of Berber, style of dress, particular pattern of weaving, music and personality.
4. Morocco is most certainly a timeless place. The magical Kingdom of Morocco, to me, represents one of the last surviving examples of an ancient world. It is a land that almost seems suspended in medieval times.
5. Morocco is a land of contrasts–and somehow, these contrasts make me feel so alive! The vast sandy, rocky desert contrasts with the lush green oases. There is an incredible intermingling of ancient and modern. A man riding his donkey might be passing a chic Moroccan woman wearing the latest Parisian fashions, in the old French quarter of Marrakech.
6. I love the ancient cities of Morocco and strolling through the narrow alleyways, watching the locals going about their daily chores. I love the adventure of discovering a hidden work of Islamic architecture as I ramble through the winding alleys or find an ancient treasure in a small hidden shop in the labyrinth of the old city.7. I have always been fascinated by the vast array of exquisite handicrafts in Morocco. These arts have been passed on from generation-to-generation, so thus reveal the traditions of this ancient society. Among the ageless arts include pottery, textiles, iron work, wood work, jewelry, silver and leather work. Traditional Islamic architecture employs the arts of tile work, stucco work and wood work. Truly Morocco is a magical land of beautiful arts!
9. There must be at least 300 days of sunshine a year in Morocco! The skies can be blue, blue, BLUE! Again there is a stupendous contrast with the blue sky and green of the oasis and the orange of the sand dunes!
- See more at: http://travelblog.mtsobek.com/2011/08/16/top-10-reasons-i-love-morocco/#sthash.stBlGO3e.h1zTmXPu.dpuf
e recently sat down with MTS guest favorite, guide Kristy Larson, and asked her why she loves Morocco. Kristy moved to Morocco over 30 years ago as a Peace Corps volunteer and never left. For the past 20+ years, Kristy has been leading trips in Morocco for MTS. She has a passion for traditional Moroccan arts and handicrafts, speaks Arabic and Berber dialects, and has a great rapport with the Moroccan people.
Top 10 Reasons I Love Morocco
1. First of all I must say I have never been to any country which has such a diverse culture as Morocco. The country has been influenced and settled first by the indigenous Berbers, then Phoenicians, Romans, and then after came the Arabs, the Sub-Saharan Africans and finally the Europeans. It is such an exotic mixture of all these cultures and always such a stimulus to my being!
2. Next certainly is the magnificence of the geographic diversity of Morocco. With the Mediterranean to the north and Atlantic to the west, there are endless undiscovered beaches. Also, there are four mountain ranges–at times snow-capped, which have been inhabited by Berbers tribes for centuries or even thousands of years. This makes for an adventurous exploration of uncounted, remote valleys! South is the vast Sahara Desert–giant orange dunes and shockingly contrasting lush, palm-fringed oases.
3. I am fascinated by the Berber people, some who have populated Morocco as early as the Bronze Age. They are tribal and each tribe has its own dialect of Berber, style of dress, particular pattern of weaving, music and personality.
4. Morocco is most certainly a timeless place. The magical Kingdom of Morocco, to me, represents one of the last surviving examples of an ancient world. It is a land that almost seems suspended in medieval times.
5. Morocco is a land of contrasts–and somehow, these contrasts make me feel so alive! The vast sandy, rocky desert contrasts with the lush green oases. There is an incredible intermingling of ancient and modern. A man riding his donkey might be passing a chic Moroccan woman wearing the latest Parisian fashions, in the old French quarter of Marrakech.
6. I love the ancient cities of Morocco and strolling through the narrow alleyways, watching the locals going about their daily chores. I love the adventure of discovering a hidden work of Islamic architecture as I ramble through the winding alleys or find an ancient treasure in a small hidden shop in the labyrinth of the old city.
7. I have always been fascinated by the vast array of exquisite handicrafts in Morocco. These arts have been passed on from generation-to-generation, so thus reveal the traditions of this ancient society. Among the ageless arts include pottery, textiles, iron work, wood work, jewelry, silver and leather work. Traditional Islamic architecture employs the arts of tile work, stucco work and wood work. Truly Morocco is a magical land of beautiful arts!
8. The cuisine of Morocco is extraordinary and is often compared to other ancient food traditions such as those of France or China. Fragrant stews or tagines are spiced with saffron and cumin. The fresh fruits and vegetables are amazingly flavorful–and the dates, olives and olive oil are the best!
9. There must be at least 300 days of sunshine a year in Morocco! The skies can be blue, blue, BLUE! Again there is a stupendous contrast with the blue sky and green of the oasis and the orange of the sand dunes!
10. And last, but so very important, are the people of Morocco. The people that I have met, and have become friends with over my many years in Morocco– especially the Berbers, in the remote villages. These people have opened their hearts to me, taken me into their homes, and treated me as one of their family. This ability to come so close with this ancient culture–to actually feel it and have it touch my heart–is a miracle which never ceases to amaze me.
- See more at: http://travelblog.mtsobek.com/2011/08/16/top-10-reasons-i-love-morocco/#sthash.stBlGO3e.h1zTmXPu.dpuf
Top 10 Reasons I Love Morocco
by MTS guide Kristy Larson
2. Next certainly is the magnificence of the geographic diversity of Morocco. With the Mediterranean to the north and Atlantic to the west, there are endless undiscovered beaches. Also, there are four mountain ranges–at times snow-capped, which have been inhabited by Berbers tribes for centuries or even thousands of years. This makes for an adventurous exploration of uncounted, remote valleys! South is the vast Sahara Desert–giant orange dunes and shockingly contrasting lush, palm-fringed oases.
3. I am fascinated by the Berber people, some who have populated Morocco as early as the Bronze Age. They are tribal and each tribe has its own dialect of Berber, style of dress, particular pattern of weaving, music and personality.
4. Morocco is most certainly a timeless place. The magical Kingdom of Morocco, to me, represents one of the last surviving examples of an ancient world. It is a land that almost seems suspended in medieval times.
5. Morocco is a land of contrasts–and somehow, these contrasts make me feel so alive! The vast sandy, rocky desert contrasts with the lush green oases. There is an incredible intermingling of ancient and modern. A man riding his donkey might be passing a chic Moroccan woman wearing the latest Parisian fashions, in the old French quarter of Marrakech.
6. I love the ancient cities of Morocco and strolling through the narrow alleyways, watching the locals going about their daily chores. I love the adventure of discovering a hidden work of Islamic architecture as I ramble through the winding alleys or find an ancient treasure in a small hidden shop in the labyrinth of the old city.7. I have always been fascinated by the vast array of exquisite handicrafts in Morocco. These arts have been passed on from generation-to-generation, so thus reveal the traditions of this ancient society. Among the ageless arts include pottery, textiles, iron work, wood work, jewelry, silver and leather work. Traditional Islamic architecture employs the arts of tile work, stucco work and wood work. Truly Morocco is a magical land of beautiful arts!
8. The cuisine of Morocco is extraordinary and is often compared to other ancient food traditions such as those of France or China. Fragrant stews or tagines are spiced with saffron and cumin. The fresh fruits and vegetables are amazingly flavorful–and the dates, olives and olive oil are the best!9. There must be at least 300 days of sunshine a year in Morocco! The skies can be blue, blue, BLUE! Again there is a stupendous contrast with the blue sky and green of the oasis and the orange of the sand dunes!
10. And last, but so very important, are the people of Morocco. The people that I have met, and have become friends with over my many years in Morocco– especially the Berbers, in the remote villages. These people have opened their hearts to me, taken me into their homes, and treated me as one of their family. This ability to come so close with this ancient culture–to actually feel it and have it touch my heart–is a miracle which never ceases to amaze me.
- See more at: http://travelblog.mtsobek.com/2011/08/16/top-10-reasons-i-love-morocco/#sthash.stBlGO3e.h1zTmXPu.dpuf
e recently sat down with MTS guest favorite, guide Kristy Larson, and asked her why she loves Morocco. Kristy moved to Morocco over 30 years ago as a Peace Corps volunteer and never left. For the past 20+ years, Kristy has been leading trips in Morocco for MTS. She has a passion for traditional Moroccan arts and handicrafts, speaks Arabic and Berber dialects, and has a great rapport with the Moroccan people.
Top 10 Reasons I Love Morocco
1. First of all I must say I have never been to any country which has such a diverse culture as Morocco. The country has been influenced and settled first by the indigenous Berbers, then Phoenicians, Romans, and then after came the Arabs, the Sub-Saharan Africans and finally the Europeans. It is such an exotic mixture of all these cultures and always such a stimulus to my being!
2. Next certainly is the magnificence of the geographic diversity of Morocco. With the Mediterranean to the north and Atlantic to the west, there are endless undiscovered beaches. Also, there are four mountain ranges–at times snow-capped, which have been inhabited by Berbers tribes for centuries or even thousands of years. This makes for an adventurous exploration of uncounted, remote valleys! South is the vast Sahara Desert–giant orange dunes and shockingly contrasting lush, palm-fringed oases.
3. I am fascinated by the Berber people, some who have populated Morocco as early as the Bronze Age. They are tribal and each tribe has its own dialect of Berber, style of dress, particular pattern of weaving, music and personality.
4. Morocco is most certainly a timeless place. The magical Kingdom of Morocco, to me, represents one of the last surviving examples of an ancient world. It is a land that almost seems suspended in medieval times.
5. Morocco is a land of contrasts–and somehow, these contrasts make me feel so alive! The vast sandy, rocky desert contrasts with the lush green oases. There is an incredible intermingling of ancient and modern. A man riding his donkey might be passing a chic Moroccan woman wearing the latest Parisian fashions, in the old French quarter of Marrakech.
6. I love the ancient cities of Morocco and strolling through the narrow alleyways, watching the locals going about their daily chores. I love the adventure of discovering a hidden work of Islamic architecture as I ramble through the winding alleys or find an ancient treasure in a small hidden shop in the labyrinth of the old city.
7. I have always been fascinated by the vast array of exquisite handicrafts in Morocco. These arts have been passed on from generation-to-generation, so thus reveal the traditions of this ancient society. Among the ageless arts include pottery, textiles, iron work, wood work, jewelry, silver and leather work. Traditional Islamic architecture employs the arts of tile work, stucco work and wood work. Truly Morocco is a magical land of beautiful arts!
8. The cuisine of Morocco is extraordinary and is often compared to other ancient food traditions such as those of France or China. Fragrant stews or tagines are spiced with saffron and cumin. The fresh fruits and vegetables are amazingly flavorful–and the dates, olives and olive oil are the best!
9. There must be at least 300 days of sunshine a year in Morocco! The skies can be blue, blue, BLUE! Again there is a stupendous contrast with the blue sky and green of the oasis and the orange of the sand dunes!
10. And last, but so very important, are the people of Morocco. The people that I have met, and have become friends with over my many years in Morocco– especially the Berbers, in the remote villages. These people have opened their hearts to me, taken me into their homes, and treated me as one of their family. This ability to come so close with this ancient culture–to actually feel it and have it touch my heart–is a miracle which never ceases to amaze me.
- See more at: http://travelblog.mtsobek.com/2011/08/16/top-10-reasons-i-love-morocco/#sthash.stBlGO3e.h1zTmXPu.dpufv
Top 10 Reasons I Love Morocco
by MTS guide Kristy Larson
2. Next certainly is the magnificence of the geographic diversity of Morocco. With the Mediterranean to the north and Atlantic to the west, there are endless undiscovered beaches. Also, there are four mountain ranges–at times snow-capped, which have been inhabited by Berbers tribes for centuries or even thousands of years. This makes for an adventurous exploration of uncounted, remote valleys! South is the vast Sahara Desert–giant orange dunes and shockingly contrasting lush, palm-fringed oases.
3. I am fascinated by the Berber people, some who have populated Morocco as early as the Bronze Age. They are tribal and each tribe has its own dialect of Berber, style of dress, particular pattern of weaving, music and personality.
4. Morocco is most certainly a timeless place. The magical Kingdom of Morocco, to me, represents one of the last surviving examples of an ancient world. It is a land that almost seems suspended in medieval times.
5. Morocco is a land of contrasts–and somehow, these contrasts make me feel so alive! The vast sandy, rocky desert contrasts with the lush green oases. There is an incredible intermingling of ancient and modern. A man riding his donkey might be passing a chic Moroccan woman wearing the latest Parisian fashions, in the old French quarter of Marrakech.
6. I love the ancient cities of Morocco and strolling through the narrow alleyways, watching the locals going about their daily chores. I love the adventure of discovering a hidden work of Islamic architecture as I ramble through the winding alleys or find an ancient treasure in a small hidden shop in the labyrinth of the old city.7. I have always been fascinated by the vast array of exquisite handicrafts in Morocco. These arts have been passed on from generation-to-generation, so thus reveal the traditions of this ancient society. Among the ageless arts include pottery, textiles, iron work, wood work, jewelry, silver and leather work. Traditional Islamic architecture employs the arts of tile work, stucco work and wood work. Truly Morocco is a magical land of beautiful arts!
8. The cuisine of Morocco is extraordinary and is often compared to other ancient food traditions such as those of France or China. Fragrant stews or tagines are spiced with saffron and cumin. The fresh fruits and vegetables are amazingly flavorful–and the dates, olives and olive oil are the best!9. There must be at least 300 days of sunshine a year in Morocco! The skies can be blue, blue, BLUE! Again there is a stupendous contrast with the blue sky and green of the oasis and the orange of the sand dunes!
10. And last, but so very important, are the people of Morocco. The people that I have met, and have become friends with over my many years in Morocco– especially the Berbers, in the remote villages. These people have opened their hearts to me, taken me into their homes, and treated me as one of their family. This ability to come so close with this ancient culture–to actually feel it and have it touch my heart–is a miracle which never ceases to amaze me.
- See more at: http://travelblog.mtsobek.com/2011/08/16/top-10-reasons-i-love-morocco/#sthash.stBlGO3e.h1zTmXPu.dpufv
e recently sat down with MTS guest favorite, guide Kristy Larson, and asked her why she loves Morocco. Kristy moved to Morocco over 30 years ago as a Peace Corps volunteer and never left. For the past 20+ years, Kristy has been leading trips in Morocco for MTS. She has a passion for traditional Moroccan arts and handicrafts, speaks Arabic and Berber dialects, and has a great rapport with the Moroccan people.
Top 10 Reasons I Love Morocco
1. First of all I must say I have never been to any country which has such a diverse culture as Morocco. The country has been influenced and settled first by the indigenous Berbers, then Phoenicians, Romans, and then after came the Arabs, the Sub-Saharan Africans and finally the Europeans. It is such an exotic mixture of all these cultures and always such a stimulus to my being!
2. Next certainly is the magnificence of the geographic diversity of Morocco. With the Mediterranean to the north and Atlantic to the west, there are endless undiscovered beaches. Also, there are four mountain ranges–at times snow-capped, which have been inhabited by Berbers tribes for centuries or even thousands of years. This makes for an adventurous exploration of uncounted, remote valleys! South is the vast Sahara Desert–giant orange dunes and shockingly contrasting lush, palm-fringed oases.
3. I am fascinated by the Berber people, some who have populated Morocco as early as the Bronze Age. They are tribal and each tribe has its own dialect of Berber, style of dress, particular pattern of weaving, music and personality.
4. Morocco is most certainly a timeless place. The magical Kingdom of Morocco, to me, represents one of the last surviving examples of an ancient world. It is a land that almost seems suspended in medieval times.
5. Morocco is a land of contrasts–and somehow, these contrasts make me feel so alive! The vast sandy, rocky desert contrasts with the lush green oases. There is an incredible intermingling of ancient and modern. A man riding his donkey might be passing a chic Moroccan woman wearing the latest Parisian fashions, in the old French quarter of Marrakech.
6. I love the ancient cities of Morocco and strolling through the narrow alleyways, watching the locals going about their daily chores. I love the adventure of discovering a hidden work of Islamic architecture as I ramble through the winding alleys or find an ancient treasure in a small hidden shop in the labyrinth of the old city.
7. I have always been fascinated by the vast array of exquisite handicrafts in Morocco. These arts have been passed on from generation-to-generation, so thus reveal the traditions of this ancient society. Among the ageless arts include pottery, textiles, iron work, wood work, jewelry, silver and leather work. Traditional Islamic architecture employs the arts of tile work, stucco work and wood work. Truly Morocco is a magical land of beautiful arts!
8. The cuisine of Morocco is extraordinary and is often compared to other ancient food traditions such as those of France or China. Fragrant stews or tagines are spiced with saffron and cumin. The fresh fruits and vegetables are amazingly flavorful–and the dates, olives and olive oil are the best!
9. There must be at least 300 days of sunshine a year in Morocco! The skies can be blue, blue, BLUE! Again there is a stupendous contrast with the blue sky and green of the oasis and the orange of the sand dunes!
10. And last, but so very important, are the people of Morocco. The people that I have met, and have become friends with over my many years in Morocco– especially the Berbers, in the remote villages. These people have opened their hearts to me, taken me into their homes, and treated me as one of their family. This ability to come so close with this ancient culture–to actually feel it and have it touch my heart–is a miracle which never ceases to amaze me.
- See more at: http://travelblog.mtsobek.com/2011/08/16/top-10-reasons-i-love-morocco/#sthash.stBlGO3e.h1zTmXPu.dpuf
Top 10 Reasons I Love Morocco
by MTS guide Kristy Larson
2. Next certainly is the magnificence of the geographic diversity of Morocco. With the Mediterranean to the north and Atlantic to the west, there are endless undiscovered beaches. Also, there are four mountain ranges–at times snow-capped, which have been inhabited by Berbers tribes for centuries or even thousands of years. This makes for an adventurous exploration of uncounted, remote valleys! South is the vast Sahara Desert–giant orange dunes and shockingly contrasting lush, palm-fringed oases.
3. I am fascinated by the Berber people, some who have populated Morocco as early as the Bronze Age. They are tribal and each tribe has its own dialect of Berber, style of dress, particular pattern of weaving, music and personality.
4. Morocco is most certainly a timeless place. The magical Kingdom of Morocco, to me, represents one of the last surviving examples of an ancient world. It is a land that almost seems suspended in medieval times.
5. Morocco is a land of contrasts–and somehow, these contrasts make me feel so alive! The vast sandy, rocky desert contrasts with the lush green oases. There is an incredible intermingling of ancient and modern. A man riding his donkey might be passing a chic Moroccan woman wearing the latest Parisian fashions, in the old French quarter of Marrakech.
6. I love the ancient cities of Morocco and strolling through the narrow alleyways, watching the locals going about their daily chores. I love the adventure of discovering a hidden work of Islamic architecture as I ramble through the winding alleys or find an ancient treasure in a small hidden shop in the labyrinth of the old city.7. I have always been fascinated by the vast array of exquisite handicrafts in Morocco. These arts have been passed on from generation-to-generation, so thus reveal the traditions of this ancient society. Among the ageless arts include pottery, textiles, iron work, wood work, jewelry, silver and leather work. Traditional Islamic architecture employs the arts of tile work, stucco work and wood work. Truly Morocco is a magical land of beautiful arts!
8. The cuisine of Morocco is extraordinary and is often compared to other ancient food traditions such as those of France or China. Fragrant stews or tagines are spiced with saffron and cumin. The fresh fruits and vegetables are amazingly flavorful–and the dates, olives and olive oil are the best!9. There must be at least 300 days of sunshine a year in Morocco! The skies can be blue, blue, BLUE! Again there is a stupendous contrast with the blue sky and green of the oasis and the orange of the sand dunes!
10. And last, but so very important, are the people of Morocco. The people that I have met, and have become friends with over my many years in Morocco– especially the Berbers, in the remote villages. These people have opened their hearts to me, taken me into their homes, and treated me as one of their family. This ability to come so close with this ancient culture–to actually feel it and have it touch my heart–is a miracle which never ceases to amaze me.
- See more at: http://travelblog.mtsobek.com/2011/08/16/top-10-reasons-i-love-morocco/#sthash.stBlGO3e.h1zTmXPu.dpuf
e recently sat down with MTS guest favorite, guide Kristy Larson, and asked her why she loves Morocco. Kristy moved to Morocco over 30 years ago as a Peace Corps volunteer and never left. For the past 20+ years, Kristy has been leading trips in Morocco for MTS. She has a passion for traditional Moroccan arts and handicrafts, speaks Arabic and Berber dialects, and has a great rapport with the Moroccan people.
Top 10 Reasons I Love Morocco
1. First of all I must say I have never been to any country which has such a diverse culture as Morocco. The country has been influenced and settled first by the indigenous Berbers, then Phoenicians, Romans, and then after came the Arabs, the Sub-Saharan Africans and finally the Europeans. It is such an exotic mixture of all these cultures and always such a stimulus to my being!
2. Next certainly is the magnificence of the geographic diversity of Morocco. With the Mediterranean to the north and Atlantic to the west, there are endless undiscovered beaches. Also, there are four mountain ranges–at times snow-capped, which have been inhabited by Berbers tribes for centuries or even thousands of years. This makes for an adventurous exploration of uncounted, remote valleys! South is the vast Sahara Desert–giant orange dunes and shockingly contrasting lush, palm-fringed oases.
3. I am fascinated by the Berber people, some who have populated Morocco as early as the Bronze Age. They are tribal and each tribe has its own dialect of Berber, style of dress, particular pattern of weaving, music and personality.
4. Morocco is most certainly a timeless place. The magical Kingdom of Morocco, to me, represents one of the last surviving examples of an ancient world. It is a land that almost seems suspended in medieval times.
5. Morocco is a land of contrasts–and somehow, these contrasts make me feel so alive! The vast sandy, rocky desert contrasts with the lush green oases. There is an incredible intermingling of ancient and modern. A man riding his donkey might be passing a chic Moroccan woman wearing the latest Parisian fashions, in the old French quarter of Marrakech.
6. I love the ancient cities of Morocco and strolling through the narrow alleyways, watching the locals going about their daily chores. I love the adventure of discovering a hidden work of Islamic architecture as I ramble through the winding alleys or find an ancient treasure in a small hidden shop in the labyrinth of the old city.
7. I have always been fascinated by the vast array of exquisite handicrafts in Morocco. These arts have been passed on from generation-to-generation, so thus reveal the traditions of this ancient society. Among the ageless arts include pottery, textiles, iron work, wood work, jewelry, silver and leather work. Traditional Islamic architecture employs the arts of tile work, stucco work and wood work. Truly Morocco is a magical land of beautiful arts!
8. The cuisine of Morocco is extraordinary and is often compared to other ancient food traditions such as those of France or China. Fragrant stews or tagines are spiced with saffron and cumin. The fresh fruits and vegetables are amazingly flavorful–and the dates, olives and olive oil are the best!
9. There must be at least 300 days of sunshine a year in Morocco! The skies can be blue, blue, BLUE! Again there is a stupendous contrast with the blue sky and green of the oasis and the orange of the sand dunes!
10. And last, but so very important, are the people of Morocco. The people that I have met, and have become friends with over my many years in Morocco– especially the Berbers, in the remote villages. These people have opened their hearts to me, taken me into their homes, and treated me as one of their family. This ability to come so close with this ancient culture–to actually feel it and have it touch my heart–is a miracle which never ceases to amaze me.
- See more at: http://travelblog.mtsobek.com/2011/08/16/top-10-reasons-i-love-morocco/#sthash.stBlGO3e.h1zTmXPu.dpuf
Top 10 Reasons I Love Morocco
by MTS guide Kristy Larson
2. Next certainly is the magnificence of the geographic diversity of Morocco. With the Mediterranean to the north and Atlantic to the west, there are endless undiscovered beaches. Also, there are four mountain ranges–at times snow-capped, which have been inhabited by Berbers tribes for centuries or even thousands of years. This makes for an adventurous exploration of uncounted, remote valleys! South is the vast Sahara Desert–giant orange dunes and shockingly contrasting lush, palm-fringed oases.
3. I am fascinated by the Berber people, some who have populated Morocco as early as the Bronze Age. They are tribal and each tribe has its own dialect of Berber, style of dress, particular pattern of weaving, music and personality.
4. Morocco is most certainly a timeless place. The magical Kingdom of Morocco, to me, represents one of the last surviving examples of an ancient world. It is a land that almost seems suspended in medieval times.
5. Morocco is a land of contrasts–and somehow, these contrasts make me feel so alive! The vast sandy, rocky desert contrasts with the lush green oases. There is an incredible intermingling of ancient and modern. A man riding his donkey might be passing a chic Moroccan woman wearing the latest Parisian fashions, in the old French quarter of Marrakech.
6. I love the ancient cities of Morocco and strolling through the narrow alleyways, watching the locals going about their daily chores. I love the adventure of discovering a hidden work of Islamic architecture as I ramble through the winding alleys or find an ancient treasure in a small hidden shop in the labyrinth of the old city.7. I have always been fascinated by the vast array of exquisite handicrafts in Morocco. These arts have been passed on from generation-to-generation, so thus reveal the traditions of this ancient society. Among the ageless arts include pottery, textiles, iron work, wood work, jewelry, silver and leather work. Traditional Islamic architecture employs the arts of tile work, stucco work and wood work. Truly Morocco is a magical land of beautiful arts!
8. The cuisine of Morocco is extraordinary and is often compared to other ancient food traditions such as those of France or China. Fragrant stews or tagines are spiced with saffron and cumin. The fresh fruits and vegetables are amazingly flavorful–and the dates, olives and olive oil are the best!9. There must be at least 300 days of sunshine a year in Morocco! The skies can be blue, blue, BLUE! Again there is a stupendous contrast with the blue sky and green of the oasis and the orange of the sand dunes!
10. And last, but so very important, are the people of Morocco. The people that I have met, and have become friends with over my many years in Morocco– especially the Berbers, in the remote villages. These people have opened their hearts to me, taken me into their homes, and treated me as one of their family. This ability to come so close with this ancient culture–to actually feel it and have it touch my heart–is a miracle which never ceases to amaze me.
- See more at: http://travelblog.mtsobek.com/2011/08/16/top-10-reasons-i-love-morocco/#sthash.stBlGO3e.h1zTmXPu.dpuf
