Anyone been to Morroco?

[Furball]

I have been to Tunisia a couple of times, i think that those sort of countries are the stunninghunk of the world.  Really didnt like it.  Pollution, rubbish (trash) everywhere, people pestering you for your money constantly.

[Curval]

Vudack

I was really "down" on Morroco in this thread, but take what "I" said with a grain of salt.  I was simply relaying second hand information.

I think you should go...unless you are extremely concerned about safey.

You are young, you should get out there and experience everything you possibly can.  Travel, experience and above all learn everything you can from it.

With your refund cheque you can either buy yourself a new computer and sit around doing the "same old same old", maybe buy a new gun and put some holes in paper or animals...or you can have an amazing life experience (good and/or bad).

You may never get the chance again man.  My advice is go.

[moot]

Not without first hand advice from later than 20 years ago..

[lasersailor184]

If one day I suddenly woke up in morocco, you know what the first thing I would say to myself would be?



"****!"

[CyranoAH]

Went with a Raid (20+ planes) to Er Rachidia, bordering the Sahara, and had been to the north before. Both my parents are from the spanish colonies in Africa (Ceuta and Melilla), so I have visited several times.

If you really want to enjoy Morocco, avoid tourist spots such as Casablanca and Marrakech. The real Morocco is where tourist don't go so often. You'll find plenty of extremely welcoming people there, not much begging, and a lot of history.

If you have to go to a big city, try Fez, the medina is something to see.

As for danger... I don't think an american will be in danger there. I would perhaps avoid Tanger, but that's all.

Daniel

[straffo]

What Daniel said , btw learning a bit of French would help greatly

[GtoRA2]

Maybe you can ask beetle. If he has been there he can tell you how much better he is then the natives.  

Plus after only 10 minutes there he is an expert on the culture and customs.

[Blank]

lol, just read all the replies here made me laugh hehe

I have been to the area around Agadir 2 times now and i got back from  my most recent trip 2 weeks ago, i was there for 3 weeks on a surf trip, surfing anker point and a bunch of other world class surf spots, as morocco is a cheap uncrowded surf heaven.

Morocco used to be berber, then the arabs came, then, french colonial and some spanish colonisation depending where you are.

Main languages are French (young people) and arabic/berber/english, older people dont speak such good french it seems in the areas we went to.

If you learn just a few arabic words like thankyou 'shokran' and see you later, no problem etc you will be welcomed alot more, more so than just trying to speak french i found, and we had many humorous chats with locals about language, history just because of trying a little to speak 'thier language', we even asked if 'durka durka jihad mohammad' (from team america' actually had any sensible meaning which had everyone laughing :-)



The people are very very friendly, and its common to be invited for dinner (a tagine) or to come in for a mint tea and a chat, and we made many good friends in taghazout last year who remembered us this year when we returned.

around this area (kinda south west) they are more Burber than arabic and they arn't all crazy islamic fundamentalists!!

Merrakesh = amazing experience walking around the market (souk) the smell and aroma of spices and bartering with the store holders is funny,

(tip: wear sunglasses if you dont want to get hassled as  much as you look around as they cant make eye contact, but remove them to build trust when bartering or when talking to the police/officials)

High Atlas mountains are amazing, we drove the 'Tizi n test' mountain pass, to get from agadir to merrakesh,  if you suffer vertigo dont do it!!

would i go back, without a moments hessitation, its an amazing place.

but like any poorer country, dont be flashy, dont wave hundreds of Dirams around, and have button up pockets ;-)

Also buy loads of Pens to give away to the little kids, as they are always asking for 'Un stylo, un stylo' and for a pen that cost a few pence, you'll help kids with school, and make friends with the locals.

anyway, i'm going back to my place i lurk in again, carry on :-)

[B@tfinkV]

only very briefly.


dont drink the water, dont eat anything that isnt piping hot enough to burn your mouth, dont speak to people who look like they could hide a dagger in thier cloaks.

visit the mountains, and hunt down the source of the legendary morrocan hash farms buried deep into the wilderness, and gaurded by very relaxed people with guns. (no, of course we didnt find them)

take some sun screen and a decent reuseable water bottle.

[Saintaw]

2 words: Katma valley.


mhhhhhh

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Originally posted by B@tfinkV
only very briefly.


dont drink the water, dont eat anything dont look at anyone dont talk to anyone dont walk on the soil dont step on any weird animals dont use the lavatories blah blah blah

Isn't it a lot simplier just to stay the heck away?