Morocco!

By Bridget Marquardt on June 11, 2009 3:58 PM | Permalink | 6 Comments

There is no question it is a long trip from California to Morocco. It took a total of 27 hours from my front door to the door of the hotel in Marrakech, but once you are there you forget all about your journey and start focusing on the experience. And Morocco is an experience!! It is colorful and vibrant, bustling and exotic.

ESSAOUIRA
Our trip began in Marrakech, but since that isn't near the beach, we took a three-hour drive to Essaouira. Essaouira is a windy seaside community that is laid back and famous for surfing, especially kite surfing! However, it is probably most famous for being the inspiration for the Jimi Hendrix song, "Castles in the Sand." My friend, Playmate Pilar Lastra, joined me for this exotic excursion.

As soon as we got to Essaouira we met up with Khalid Benchegra. He is a Moroccan TV/Movie star and he took us to the Medina (old walled city) and shopping in the Souks (or stores) within the medina. Khalid was a great tour guide and he helped us find some cute traditional clothing.

One thing I was struck by in Essaouira was the amount of cats running around. And they are so friendly and very healthy!!! I think every shop owner had at least three!! So, I definitely got my kitty quota in since I really miss mine!!

After we left the medina, Khalid took us to the Kasbah. Inside the Kasbah there was a Gnaoua band playing. Gnaoua is a traditional Moroccan music and of course we had to stop, listen to the music and dance around. Khalid told me the history of the Gnaoua and then I even got to try my hand at the guitar!!! I don't think I was very good at it, but it was cool to be able to say that we literally "Rocked the Kasbah"!!!

Another thing we got to do that day and it actually did not make it into the episode was to visit a fortuneteller!! She was sitting just outside the medina walls and there was something about her and the setting that just made the whole experience seem so much more authentic then having my fortune read back home. I hope she is legit because my fortune was very positive.

Another Moroccan tradition that we got to witness first hand was an Arabian horse show called Fantasia. Fantasia is a reenactment of Moroccan warriors. There were 14 horses and riders, all elaborately dressed and each of them had a rifle!!! It was a little intimidating at first to see 14 horses charging down the beach and rifles in the air, but when they stopped and we approached them you can see the beauty and the attention to detail. They really take pride in their horses and take immaculate care of them. It was an honor when they allowed Pilar and me to take the horses on a ride along the beach and watch the sunset.

The next day, Pilar and I set out on a dune buggy tour of the beach! We raced along the coast and up and down sand dunes … some that I was even a little nervous about!! Our guide, Rashid, took us to see the "Castle in the Sand" which is literally an ancient castle half buried in the sand and was the inspiration for the Jimi Hendrix song! It was a great day but the fun wasn't over.

Once we showered the layers of sand off we went and had drinks on a rooftop bar at a place called Taros. It was a great way to end the day. At Taros we also learned about Moroccan grey wine! I've heard of white, red and even rose colored wine … but GREY?? This was new to me. I liked it, but decided I was more of a red wine person -- but Pilar fell in love with it!

Our last adventure in Essaouira was trying our hand at kite surfing. Now, even though I realize that kite surfing takes many lessons and is not something you can just pick up overnight, I didn't want to come all the way here and not try their most popular sport. So we gave it a try. We met our instructors at the Oceanside Café and they were both named Aziz!!! Luckily, you just start out with a kite-flying lesson on the beach. But it is still no ordinary kite! It is harnessed to you and let me tell you … when the wind picks it up it really drags you!! I was very nervous, thankful I had expert help and relieved when it was all over!!! I don't think kite surfing is for me … but at least I gave it a try! And while we were there, we did get the added benefit of seeing lots of camels right there on the beach!

AGADIR
Agadir was beautiful and very different from Essaouira. Essaouira is traditional compared to Agadir. Agadir was very resort-like with lots of European tourists that, even though they are in a Muslim country, still practice European customs of being topless pool and seaside. The Sofitel resort that we stayed at was gorgeous. And the pool was absolutely incredible with more features than I can even name … bridges, towers, cabanas, floating beds, etc. So of course I had to spend some time by the pool!

One of the first things we did was get a henna tattoo by the pool. There were tons to choose from, but I wanted something very traditional. Our tattoo artist was incredible and she made the process seem so simple … so I had to try it out on Pilar … mine didn't turn out so well. Poor Pilar, at least they wash off in a couple of weeks …

Later that day, Pilar and I dressed up in traditional Moroccan threads and headed into the hotel's outdoor courtyard also known as a "Riad." There we tried Moroccan mint tea and my favorite thing … we got to smoke flavored tobacco from the Hookah -- or as they call it, the Shisha -- while we listened to Gnaoua music.

The next day we took a belly dancing lesson on the beach. It was so much fun! I really enjoyed it. I would love to start getting belly dancing lessons back home! I love the moves and of course, I love the costumes!!

After our belly dancing lesson, Pilar and I took a sunset camel ride along the beach. It was really beautiful and I couldn't leave Morocco without riding a camel!!!

Pilar and I decided we wanted some authentic Moroccan food so we went to a dinner at Le Mauresque for a traditional Moroccan meal, music & belly dancing show. First, Berber folk musicians and dancers came to our table, and boy, could they move their bodies and tongues! Then we had a few courses of food -- a delicious tomato soup and seven different salads, followed by pigeon pastry -- which I actually liked! Next, a belly dancer and her tablah player came out and made us get up and join them ... a perfect time for me to show off my new moves. ;) Then the moment we had all been waiting for … the main entrée … CAMEL!!!! And honestly, it wasn't bad! It tasted like roast to me. And after the cameras quit rolling, I made our whole crew try it out. LOL. If I have to try it, they all do, too!

CASABLANCA
Pilar had to get back to work so she flew out a day earlier than me, but I stuck around for one more night because I couldn't come all the way to Morocco and not stop in Casablanca at Rick's Café. I met with the American owner, Kathy, drank champagne cocktails, listened to the piano player named Isam, and had a delicious dinner. This is a terrific place to stop whether you are a fan of the movie or not, but then who isn't a fan of Casablanca?

Tags: bridget , morocco , casablanca , pilar , belly dancing , agadir , essaouira , fantasia , taros , marrakech , khalid benchegra