Morocco Rocks the Kasbah

Morocco kasbah-du-toubkal-main-lodge The only time I ever thought about Morocco was when Casablanca was on Turner Classic Movies or someone mentioned Bogie and Bacall, but that changed abruptly when I was offered an opportunity to participate in a leadership retreat in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco. My journey began in Marrakech. I flew Royal Air Maroc, traveling on a fresh-off-the-assembly-line Airbus. Very new. Very big. Very full. With only 36 hours to explore Marrakech, I immediately searched out my hotel, the Riad Balkisse (4 Derb Charij Riad El Muhka, Tel: 212-5243-81998. www.riadbalkisse.com), which was admittedly not luxurious, but clean, hospitable, extraordinarily affordable, and located within Marrakech’s red-walled medina, a fortified labyrinth built by the Berbers in the 11th century. Originally intended to keep invasive marauders out, the walls can no longer contain this thriving urban center of nearly a million residents, plus many more tourists. Marrakech is a mix of ancient and contemporary influences. A university student told me that the dominant attitude throughout the city is “open Islam,” which accepts many Western ideas about other religions, human rights, women’s rights, education, and sexuality. Residents and tourists in mini-skirts and designer jeans engage with women in veils and men in traditional fezzes. Music is a mix of world, Western, and Berber rhythms and instruments. Architecture blends ultra-modern with classic Moroccan elements like tiles, interior fountains, and lavish textiles. Outside the medina, streets are congested with cabs, scooters, and buses. Luxury hotels and over- priced restaurants are crammed along main traffic arteries along with trendy boutiques, banks, and the ubiquitous Starbucks.

By Stephanie Blackwood – Full Story at Passport Magazine

Morocco Gay Travel Resources

]]>

Morroco's Ouzoud Falls

Ouzoud Waterfalls We were picked up from our hostel around 8 in the morning but didn’t really leave Marrakech until 9:30. Our tour bus had pick to up some people from one hostel to another. The journey from Marrakech to Ouzoud Falls was almost three hours with one stop for bathroom break. We finally reached our destination at 12:20 in the afternoon. Our trek guide was already waiting for us and he wasted no time. He gathered us around told us that the hike to the Ouzoud Falls would be around two hours – and it would cost us 3 euros each for his guiding service. When we booked this trip at the hostel, we weren’t informed about this extra/hidden service. All we were told is that lunch wasn’t included in the price (20 euros). This fee was strictly for transport only.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Morocco Gay Travel Resources

]]>

Taourirt Kasbah in Ouarzazate, Morocco – Keep Calm and Wander

taourirt-kasbah-ouarzazate-morocco-10 When “Lawrence of Arabia” was filmed at the nearby Ait Benhaddou, all other kasbahs in Ouarzazate became known, too. Taourirt kasbah is just one of the many in the area. It was once an important kasbah in the country’s trading history with rest of Africa. What I like most here is that only a portion was carefully restored and the rest are genuine parts of the old days. Outside, the kasbah glows pink at midday and gold in the afternoon. It’s along the highway and right across the Atlas Film Studio Museum.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Morocco Gay Travel Resources

]]>

Marrakech Medina: An Assault to the Senses

Marrakech Medina Marrakech medina is an assault to the senses. The souk is a visual feast of colours – from clothes to shoes to spices and jewelries. Yes, it’s a shopping paradise for those who love colours, moorish designs and fashion. The best thing about this souk is that the vendors are respectful. They don’t harass you to buy something from them. They’d call your attention once or twice to what they’re selling but a polite “thanks” is enough for them to know that you’re just window shopping. The vendors here are the exact opposite of the ones in the medina in Fez who are worst I ever had in Morocco.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Morocco Gay Travel Resources

]]>

Majorelle Garden – Here Lies Yves St Laurent

Majorelle Garden At Majorelle Garden in Marrakech (Morocco), the legendary French fashion designer, Yves St Laurent rests peacefully – among bamboos, cacti and other exotic plants. “The Blue House” or “The Blue Mansion”, as the locals call it, is an amazing oasis of tropical plants, a fountain and a lily pond. The garden was owned by a French painter, Jacques Majorelle, who dedicated his life turning the two and a half acres of land to a delightful garden that is now today. In 1980, the garden was bought by fashion icon, Yves St Laurent who fell in-love with the city. Many of his designs were inspired by the beauty he saw around the country.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Morocco Gay Travel Resources

]]>

Atlas Film Studio Museum in Morocco – Keep Calm and Wander

Atlas Film Studio Ouarzazate is the door to the Sahara, the world’s longest desert. And believe it or not, the desert here is backdropped by snow-capped Atlas Mountains – even in summer. It’s only here where you can see that extreme scenery of nature, totally different from each other but they blend well as one landscape that’s made to perfection. Perhaps, you’ve seen these landscapes in Hollywood movies before – but maybe, you thought, “Ah, they’re just cinematic effects, or computer-generated images.” You could be wrong. Or you could be right. Movies like Gladiator, The Passion of Christ, Prince of Persia, Alexander, Cleopatra, Jesus of Nazareth, Babel, Lawrence of Arabia and many more were shot at Atlas Film Studios, just outside Ouarzazate. Aside from a huge studio, they also have the Atlas Film Studio Museum where some rooms here were used in the movies.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Morocco Gay Travel Resources

]]>

Morocco's Hassan II Mosque at Night

Hassan II Mosque The Hassan II Mosque by night looks like it is surrounded by glowing embers of shining gold. It looks more tantalizing to our sense of sight than it is during the day. The pulsating rhythm of the rising tides that smash the seawall blends well with the call of prayer that comes out from the mosque. As you can see, the pinnacle of the minaret is topped with a laser light which is directed towards Mecca, islam’s holiest city. I came here late in the afternoon and left ’till it got dark. Hassan II Mosque is the world’s third largest mosque but its minaret is the tallest in the world.

By Alain – Full Story at Keep Calm and Wander

Morocco Gay Travel Resources

]]>

International Mr. Leather Patrick Smith Sees Egypt and Morocco

International Mr. Leather Patrick Smith After trips to Ukraine and Uganda last year, International Mr. Leather Patrick Smith has taken his LGBTI awareness mission to the African countries of Egypt and Morocco. Wrapping up his visit this week, Patrick used the opportunity to meet with local LGBTI activists, including a co-founder of the Moroccan LGBT group ASWAT. ‘It is pretty discouraging to hear how underground these groups must be,’ Patrick says on the ‘less-organized’ gay rights movements in the countries in question . ‘How do you build an infrastructure when any sort of visibility can land you in jail, or dead?’

By Jamie Tabberer – Full Story at Gay Star News

Egypt Gay Travel Resources

]]>