MOROCCO - between modernity and tradition by Klaus Metzger (free reads TXT) 📕

When reaching Cap Rhir (with the lighthouse at 361 meters above sea leve), we removed ourselves from the coast and headed inland. Then on the P 8 it went in a northerly direction until shortly before Essaouira. Although we came through fertile valleys (those with larger banana plantations were located), we passed a similar barren landscape as I have experienced more than 40 years ago in the Andes.
 
 
Banana plantation


herd of goats
 
Goats in the duck

We found them a real culture shock, to lead in a comfortable coach through a landscape where people were moving like hundreds of years ago on donkeys and camels at a leisurely pace. And even though the sun is shining very intense, we could almost nowhere seen solar panels on the roofs. What surprised us, however, houses that had to be demolished were (the remains were still around) because they did not meet the strict requirements earthquake in Morocco.

 


Goats at harvest
 

Donkey waits for its owner
 

Donkey rider
 

Donkey rider


Dromedar rider
 

landscape The production of valuable Argane oil

 

Cooperative Marjana

 

The sale store

After a short break in Tamanar we drove on to the Cooperative Marjana where you demonstrated to us the laborious production of valuable Argane oil. Moroccan women sat on the floor and cracked painfully with stones the nuts to then win with an ancient stone mill the expensive oil. Jutta and I had some doubts whether the production is really the applied (in China we had experienced a grinding shop for precious stones where only one worked, when tourists were present ).

FILLING : In a GOOGLE + - Contribution from Agadir / Morocco I received the following additional information for Cooperative Marjana:

"Good morning sir,

We are an agricultural cooperative for the production of argan oil and its derivatives

Our product holds a certificate of quality European

Certificate of quality organic

Certificate Products Staff

Look for business partners in Morocco and abroad

Of communication you can contact us on

00212 528 887 013 "

(Post " Argane oil ")

 



production

 

production

 

production

 

production

 

production

production

 

For sale shop

Encounter with Islam in ESSAOUIRA

 

 

The former Portuguese fort

After a journey time of 4 h (from Agadir) we arrived at around 11 clock 30 in the city of Essaouira, which was recommended to us because of its traditional Islamic atmosphere at. Highly visible was the former Portuguese fort at the port. But my wife and I were just using alone in the old town look (behind the massive fortress walls). Therefore, we separated from the tour group that we saw each other again until the date of departure by 15 clock 30 in Agadir.

Dog at the fountain

 

butcher

carpet shop

 

gate

We were very impressed by this city that Muhammed Ben Abdallah middle of the 18th Century was of a captured French engineer , named Cornut build . Thus, an old town with straight streets and not, as was customary in Morocco as a maze with crooked dead ends.

 



plaque

 

Restaurant " La Cantina "

However, we were only looking for a small, clean restaurant because we wanted to have lunch. Quite surprisingly, we found the English run restaurant " La Cantina " . The chilli burger and the homemade cake tasted excellent and the friendly English ladies were certainly excited about our enthusiasm.

At the entrance to the mosque

 

At the entrance to the mosque

on the way

 

Tradition and modernity

After this delicious meal, we went in search of photo opportunities. In the interesting streets and buildings that was no problem. Difficult to the recordings of the Moroccan styled. We knew that would be lived much more traditional in Essaouira the Muslim faith than the international Agadir. Accordingly photo shy were the veiled Moroccan women. This responded partially even outraged when they were photographed. But had Jutta a "happy hand " , slightly less inhibitions and get it to her very remarkable recordings (without it the camera out of his hand was torn as the "Valley of the Kings" at Luxor in 2003 in Egypt - only against a payment of 50 € at the guards of the royal tombs they got him without film back).

 

Stormy Sea

 

Stormy sea at fort

 

The author at the fort

 

Cannon at the fort

 

fruit stand

 

 

Sea Gull

Fisherman when cleaning

fishing boats

 

At the harbor

 

 

 

Jutta at the harbor

Friendly Moroccans

 

Pisces

 

 

 

Pisces

 

After these exciting experiences in the old town, we walked to the fishing port. Highly visible was the imposing castle, which built by the Portuguese in 1506, to demonstrate their economic interest in the North African coast. Everything still looks as if it had been only left yesterday. Even the big guns are still in battle position.



On " Place Moulay Hassan "


passerby



Jutta is impressed by Essaouira

After all the sightseeing at the fishing harbor, we sat at the " Place Moulay Hassan " on a bench and let the people pass by us (we had more than 2 hours of time to catch). Now we felt arrived in traditional Morocco - Agadir was what the international simply not possible. We are already looking forward to our second trip to the former caravanserai with the slave market, Taroudant. Without much difficulty we got around 19 clock back to Agadir (distance approximately 220 km) back. A rewarding adventure with many impressions we had behind us.

The souks in the former caravanserai of Taroudant

On Monday, the 23 April 2012, the time had come with the trip to Taroudant. But this should be just a half-day trip because we only had about 80 km to travel at this time. After a ride on highways and a boring, flat landscape, we arrived in the fertile valley of "Oued Sous". We were in one of the largest orchards in Morocco. The juicy Moroccan oranges we had previously met and loved it.

Tea Restaurant

At about 9 clock 30 we stopped for a tea break of half an hour. We went into into a beautiful and cool garden where us a free mint tea was served. Peppermint tea is also called " Moroccan whiskey " in Morocco and consists of green tea, are given in the smaller peppermint leaves. It tastes very refreshing and is always a pleasure.

The city gate

 

The Moroccan tour guide

 

After this refreshing break, we drove the short distance to one of the entrance gates of Taroudant. We left the bus and joined us for a half-hour walk through the souks of Taroudant with the Moroccan guide, Azizi Samir Abdelaziz ( asamir@menara.ma ) on. He spoke French , German and English and made ​​a very good job.



In the Souk



copperware

 

Since he did not know my name, he called me suddenly while the guide " Ali Baba " (a baker probably had bread offered to try, which I should also cost ). To be addressed as " Ali Baba " because of my gray beard, I was not new. Already in 2003, during our cruise on the Nile in Egypt they called me " Ali Baba " too. Incidentally, in 1954 the movie " Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves " with the French actor Fernandel ("Don Camillo") was partly filmed in Taroudant - informed me the tour guide .

 

Colorful mixtures

 

The tours of the two souks were very impressive, the variety of goods inspiring and the different colors and smells changed from stand to stand And again it was very difficult to take pictures