Marrakesh
Lose yourself in the shadowy courtyards of the souks,
where woodcarvers, blacksmiths, jewelers and leather workers entice you to sample
their wares…visit the Marrakesh Museum and the
nearby Ben Youssef Medersa, a religious dormitory
that is a superb example of high quality woodcarving and Andalucian style..spend
an evening at the Djemaa El Fna, where fire-eaters,
snake charmers and dancers perform amid the smoke of hundreds of street stalls
that offer a tantalizing array of local delicacies…visit the Saadian
Tombs, whose elaborately carved marble chambers are surrounded by delightful
gardens…treat yourself to a multi-course banquet
in one of the medina's palace restaurants, such as Yacout
and Le Pavillion…take a daytrip to
Atlas villages whose weekly markets attract villagers and merchants from
throughout the mountains.
Fes
Walk the souk and absorb the medieval atmosphere
of the medina, changed little over the centuries…visit the Nejjarin
souk, the center of the city's woodcarvers, and the nearby woodwork museum…check
out the lovely selection of arts and carpets at the
Dar Batha museum…travel to the western quarter of Fes
El Djedid to see the Royal Palace…take a day trip to Meknes,
Volubilis and Moulay Idriss.
In Essaouria, stroll along the ramparts for panoramic
views across the Medina and Kasbah and out over the sea…in Casablanca,
see the King Hassan mosque, a vast and impressive creation…shop for jewelry
in the souks at Taroudannt, an easy-going Berber
market town…from Ouarzazate, explore the ksour
and kasbahs of Ait Ben Haddou and Skoura…from Zagora, tour the village
of Tamegroute, once a key center of scholasticism…go
birdwatching in the Dades and Todra gorges…explore
the Sahara from Erfoud…see the sand dunes and the springtime pink flamingoes
at Merzouga…stop at the oasis town of Rissani,
with three souks each week that attract Berbers from surrounding villages.
