Advertisement
I thought there might be a Morocco Tribe, and hey look... here you are! I see one of my San Diego friends, Frank and Erica, met up with some of you as well.
I am planning a trip sometime between mid-April to early May. I know, not that far away, huh! I am going with someone who I think would prefer a tour, but I want to get ideas for planning a trip on our own. My friend isn't a rough it kind of gal so I think camping is out and definitely nothing that involves camel riding, but neither of us require posh accomodations either.
I like to see the sights, but also like to experience more traditional everyday life. We both dance so would really love to experience traditional music and dancing somewhere along the way.
I am planning a trip sometime between mid-April to early May. I know, not that far away, huh! I am going with someone who I think would prefer a tour, but I want to get ideas for planning a trip on our own. My friend isn't a rough it kind of gal so I think camping is out and definitely nothing that involves camel riding, but neither of us require posh accomodations either.
I like to see the sights, but also like to experience more traditional everyday life. We both dance so would really love to experience traditional music and dancing somewhere along the way.
posted by:
|
San Diego
|
Advertisement
Advertisement
-
Re: Planning a Trip
Sun, January 28, 2007 - 8:23 AMDarn that pressing send before I'm ready!
Thank you so much for any help you can provide!
-
Re: Planning a Trip
Sun, January 28, 2007 - 9:17 AMHi Kim
Morroco is a lot of fun.
Depending on which part you're visiting and how long your trip is, there are many attractions i can recommend.
It's also more fun to just go and discover.
There is a music festival in the dunes of the sahara around the time you're gonna be there:
www.nomadstribe.com (may 4-7 2007)
If you're lucky i'll be there around that time and i'll be able to show you some parts of the beautiful "Maghreb"
(morocco, how it is pronounced in arabic - the gh sound is like a rolled R with a spitting sound to it)
For dancing, it may be a bit different then in SoCal, although it is much harder to get involved with troupes and other performers.
My friend Oum is an amazing singer and would definetely help you out with dancing gigs.
She's performing at www.womenofafricafestival.org/ which is a 4 day music festival celebrating the African woman.
Their site is not complete but it is happening in Marakech from April19 to 22nd, 2007
In the meantime, most books you'll find on visiting Morocco will have plenty of useful information.
And of course, please contacting if you have any questions.....
Cheers!
Sef -
-
Re: Planning a Trip
Sun, January 28, 2007 - 9:50 AMWow, both festivals sound amazing! The english site isn't working, but I was able to pick out enough from my limited French understanding. I wish we could swing a long enough trip to get in all days of both of them! I figure we have about 11-12 days incountry then that leaves us two more days for travel from and to LA. I wish the US would get with the program like other countries so we had a little more time for holidays. *sigh*
Yeah, for dancing I figured it would be just to watch and learn but not join in. I really love Moroccan music and one of these days I want to learn some different folkloric dance styles. I keep meaning to get the Lonely Planet Guide, but everytime I look, the bookstore is sold out. *grrr* -
-
Re: Planning a Trip
Sun, January 28, 2007 - 10:23 AMi'm not surprised you can't find Lonely Planet Guide, it's a popular one!
the first event i sent in my previous post doesn't have an english version yet.
it's all the way in Merzouga, which is an 8-10 hour drive from Casablanca.
But the second one is in Marakech which is fairly accessible and nearby most cities.
I recommend seeing of course Marakech (biggest touristical city), then the south, Agadir, Essaouira.
If you choose to go north, Meknes, Fes are amazing to see, go past Ketama (puff puff),
Chaouen, Akchour, all the way to Asilah, Tangier and Tetouan.
if you have specific questions, i am available via PM.
Live in Love!
Sef -
-
Re: Planning a Trip
Sun, January 28, 2007 - 8:11 PMHi Kim, I am a bit jealous that you get to go, but I am sure many people here will be happy to give you info. I think the Lonely Planet guide is being reprinted with a new edition and should be available in a month or two. I have seen copies on Amazon though. I just picked up a little book at Borders called Culture Smart Morocco and I am finding it a fascinating read. It gives lots of information about the customs and etiquette, but it gives a lot of information about the history of the country as well. All in all, I would highly recommend it.
Dian -
-
Re: Planning a Trip
Mon, January 29, 2007 - 11:26 AMhey bro i might going to that festival with some friends here i guess! i had heard nomadtribe is really wonderful and poeple from all over the world comes and meet each other and things,
dian where have you been! well.....that's right i see and iam very sure people here are just to helps each other for infos and discovering places and to learn about the tribes and habits and cultures and things ..etc so where can i found that little book! The Culture Smart Morocco?
Kim, El Magherib is an colorful mix of African, Islamic, Arab, Berber and European influences. Fes, Marrakesh and Meknes are famous imperial cities. Also famous are the walled Medinas with good carpet shops. Marocco has a very young population (50% under 20 years). The smoking of Kif (cannabis) is an ancient tradition in northern Morocco. and also magherib is an multicultural country and i'm sure of that all people here knew that and things, i might giving a help and answering about questions if there is! that's why we are here. and YeS! Frank and Erica are my friends as well, i knew them a mounths and we did meet here in essaouira city at the festival of music world gnaoua! last year! we had have a great four days and lots of laughs....
if you went to the red's marrakech!
you have to visite "Chez Ali Castle" is really amazing, I recommend it ;-D
The Best Regards from the middle of the world lol
Peace & Love,
Samir ;-) -
-
Re: Planning a Trip
Tue, January 30, 2007 - 1:28 PMHi Samir, how are you doing?
I got that little book Culture Smart Morocco at Borders, but I am pretty sure you could get it through Amazon as well.
Ok, I need to get back to work,
Dian
-
-
Re: Planning a Trip
Fri, February 2, 2007 - 8:12 AMHi Dian, I'm doing very well! thanks hope your's fine as well, i will try to get one of that books
have a nice day ,
Samir ,
-
-
-
-
-
Re: Planning a Trip
Sun, March 25, 2007 - 5:04 AMKim,
The way to learn "Moroccan Dancing" is to get invited to a tradition wedding. The "women's room" upstairs is all about dancing in a traditional wedding. Women dance for each other (in what I consider to be "true" bellydancing, to comment on an earlier thread). Yes, they are fully clothed, probably in amazing hand-made traditional dresses. They take off their belts, tie their headscarves low around their hips and start to swivel. They do belly rolls, hip isolations, hula-like figure eights. All of this to the sound of hand-percussion and hand drums, tongue trills (ululations) and whatever music is being played downstairs for the men (usually by a hired band). The women really love showing off their moves for each other and in my experience they love it when you take your turn as well. So I guess the first thing is getting somebody to invite you to a wedding...
-
-
Re: Planning a Trip
Mon, February 12, 2007 - 5:47 PMsooo... the engish site is not yet up for nomadstribe. do you know how to get login info for the french site? -
-
Re: Planning a Trip
Mon, February 12, 2007 - 5:48 PMerrrm. that was supposed to reply to sef. guh, this laptop is infuriating! -
-
Aloha!
Tue, February 13, 2007 - 6:28 AMyes i do have the login for that event.
PM and i'll sendd it to you ; D
are you ready for your move? -
-
Re: Aloha!
Sat, February 17, 2007 - 8:14 AMI'm never been there! and i told some of my friends about that and we might go too this year!
is that festival free! can you tell us more about it! Please...
-
-
-
-
