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and I have still not figured out where to go and how to travel.
I am a seasoned backpacker (travelled to about 50 countries), and am very comfortable driving anywhere and everywhere.
Now what I'd like help on is whether I should drive or use public transport? What are the cost economics? Adventure diffferences? Practicality? Enjoyability? Accessability? and any other ___ity? ;)
I will be flying into Madrid. How & where in Morocco do I go to first? How many days/weeks to spend?
My plan is to go straight to Morocco - spend 2 about 2 weks there & then head back into Spain for another 2 weeks.
Help, suggestions, comments please! Many thanks!
Vela
I am a seasoned backpacker (travelled to about 50 countries), and am very comfortable driving anywhere and everywhere.
Now what I'd like help on is whether I should drive or use public transport? What are the cost economics? Adventure diffferences? Practicality? Enjoyability? Accessability? and any other ___ity? ;)
I will be flying into Madrid. How & where in Morocco do I go to first? How many days/weeks to spend?
My plan is to go straight to Morocco - spend 2 about 2 weks there & then head back into Spain for another 2 weeks.
Help, suggestions, comments please! Many thanks!
Vela
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SF Bay Area
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Re: I'll be in Morocco Next week...
Wed, April 20, 2005 - 6:25 PM2 weeks in spain, 2 in Morocco... sounds like my trip!
the route I went (and I wouldn't change a thing) was to take a ferry from Algeciras into Ceuta and hire a cab to drive me to Chef Chaouen (some hours away). it's very a picturesque whitewashed village and small enough to not get lost. a pleasant intro to Morocco. from here I went to Fez, which blew my mind. I stayed in the medina the whole time. the smells, the maze of alleyways, the hustle...
from here I went south to Merzouga and headed into the Sahara for 2 nights. if you don't know which guide place to go, then your ride will most likely choose his friends for you and you'll be stuck with his choice as the camel guides are not within walking distance of each other.
don't miss the Todra Gorge. it is near a town called Tineghir and I found it the most peaceful relaxing place after 2 weeks of haggling over cabfare and turning down carpet merchants (i can't buy everything!)
the only thing i wish i had more time for was Marakech, which I breezed thru on my way to catch my plane back in madrid. I stayed just one night, i could easily have stayed a year.
I found it quite hassle free to get around by bus or train.
hope that helps a bit. -
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Re: I'll be in Morocco Next week...
Wed, April 20, 2005 - 9:29 PMGreat pointer SK ... yes Merrekesh is a must ... BUT if you can make it to a port town you WILL fall in love with go to Essaouira, I went there and eventually I want to buy a home there ... read about it here:
travel2.nytimes.com/mem/trav...page.html
Spending time in the Sahara sounds sounds like a mystical event. -
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Re: I'll be in Morocco Next week...
Thu, April 21, 2005 - 1:09 PMoh yeah, Essaouira.
I couldn't make it due to time restraints, but the guy I was travelling with went on and said he loved it.
don't dismiss the Todra Gorge. it can be a much needed oasis to relax towards the end of your 2 weeks, if you can't make it to the coast in time.
I don't think it ever took more than half a day to travel between any of the points I mentioned....
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Re: I'll be in Morocco Next week...
Thu, April 21, 2005 - 2:21 AMSuper - thanks a bunch for your input!
So now I've done some home-work (i.e. read a little bit from my Lonely Planet), and have come to the conclusion that the places to MUST visit (not in any order) are: Tangier, Chefchaouen, Fes, Merzouga, Essaouira & Marrakesh.
I'm also looking for reasons why I should visit Rabat, Casablanca, Meknes, and Tinerhir. This is my MIGHT VISIT list.
And finally, should I TOTALLY SKIP Asilah, Tetouan, Serfrou, Irfane, Volubilis, and Chigaga Erg?
So questions:
1. Is there any other place that I should go to and is not already on my lists?
2. How many days would you suggest for each place? And,
3. How many days for transit?
Thanks a bunch for your feedback,
Vela -
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Re: I'll be in Morocco Next week...
Thu, April 21, 2005 - 9:14 AMAlisah is great for beach and great freshly cooked seafood. It is also a surfers place ... I used to go there with my boogie board. Its just not THAT scenic.
Rabat and (as the locals call it) Casa (for short) are URBAN cities. Casa rocks IF you venture you will the old french architecture and such but it it like me going to dwntwn SF say Chinatown. It s there but most not worth a huge detour on yur agenda. Unless you want to go out clubbing and such ... then I would say go for it. Meknes I could go either way. Tetouan is spanish land and it is pretty. You will Mt. Mousa along the way (called jebel Mousa which I climbed waaaaaaaaay back when). Think of it as a Mini Tangiers but with more spanish influence.
I was raised in Tangiers and it will always remain in my heart, but keep your eye open. The con men KNOW its the starting point for many so there have been occaisions where poeple have been swindled there. Bottom line is, if a guy acts too over the top, talks too fast and agrees alot and says dont worry too much ... then keep your radar on. You will find tangiers (topography and city layout and location) is very much similr to SF. Crowded houses, windy city, the strait, the views.
Tangiers I would say 2 days to 3.
Bottom line you want to maxmise your days in the HISTORIC and REALLy pretty cities: FES, Marrakechm, Essaouira, Merzouga e.t.c.
I would defnitily reconsider: Ifrane (huge skiing enclave) but now it should be melting.
Happy traveling and alwyas keep your passport ID and MONEY on you at all times. Just in case.
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