| The best moment for a box of chocolates is before you bite into one. Once you knew it was caramel, the magic was over. Some trips are like that. But not Morocco. The magic had just begun. Medinas, mosques, mazes, markets, mountains, and mint tea. Morocco is a kaleidoscope of colours, aromas and sensations—a palpable sense of living history. Morocco tingles in seconds with 1001 little plates of sensory explosions. It’s almost visceral. |
Morocco is a feast for the senses. It all started with ordering the camel tagine… Wherever I travel I like to eat what the locals eat. For instance, I knew that Morocco is famous for their tagines – chicken, beef, vegetarian, lamb, seafood, and that Moroccans eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. So when I saw camel tagine on the menu in one of the restaurants, I was challenged by a non-groumand to order it. I found it quite delicious and vowed that I would make the dish when I got home, but alas, soon discovered that camel meat is not readily available here. |
 |
Morocco is an explosion of spellbinding patterns and colours. Rows of terracotta pots in lines as straight as prayer mats. Intricate plasterwork, soaring minarets, ornate carved cedar ceilings, and jewel-like mosaics. Brass lamps, copper pots, camel bone jars, boxes hand-carved with beautiful designs, porcelain dinnerware and tagines, silver teapots, herbs and spices, as well as linens, leather hassocks and rugs. The periwinkle blooms of jacaranda trees and knobby olive trees. |
 |
There are aromas of fresh bread, simmering tagines, and grilling meat. The taste of a glass of freshly squeezed Sanguine oranges and lemonade sweetened with sugarcane. |
 |
Intricate plasterwork, soaring minarets, ornate carved cedar doors and ceilings, and jewel-like mosaics. It’s an explosion of spellbinding patterns and colours. Brass lamps, copper pots, camel bone jars, boxes handcarved with beautiful designs, handmade porcelain dinnerware and tagines, silver teapots, herbs and spices, as well as linens, leather hassocks, and rugs. The melodic call to prayer echoes from nearby minarets. The cacophony sounds of cart-pulling donkeys and bustling scooters carrying egg cartons piled high. There is the chatter and bargaining of vendors, an old man sawing with his bow at the two remaining strings of an ancient violin. The sound he produced was just as bad as one would imagine it could be. |
 |
Every transaction is a dance and every purchase is a story. Exploring Morocco’s bustling markets and ancient medinas is an experience like no other. At the heart of every medina lies its souk – a traditional market where locals and visitors alike come to shop, socialize, and immerse themselves in the vibrant Moroccan culture. Each turn is down a narrow ancient labyrinth and every turn is another opportunity for discovery. Maybe a centuries-old madrasa (Islamic school), a hidden courtyard, an area filled with craftsmen at work, or a tiny shop packed floor to ceiling with treasures waiting to be discovered. Getting out without an injury is a feat; getting out without buying something is inconceivable. |
|
It’s a date. Souks are typically organized by trade, with different sections dedicated to specific goods. I wander from the spice souk, air heavy with the scent of cumin, coriander. ginger, cinnamon and saffron, to the leather souk where artisans work on vibrant bags and “babouches”, before stumbling upon the carpet souks and shops selling traditional djellabas or kaftans, all in kaleidoscopes of colours and patterns. |
“Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world… Casablanca is routinely listed as one of the best films of all time. It has always been, and still is, mine. So imagine my delight when my first stop in Morocco was the iconic Rick’s Cafe. But, contrary to contrary to popular belief, not one clip was shot in Morocco. The masterpiece was shot in two regions: the Warner Bros lot in Burbank and the Metropolitan Airport at Van Nuys near Burbank. But Ouarzazate is home to Atlas Studios, one of the largest and favourite film studios in the world. Many famous films have been shot here, in countless settings from ancient Rome to futuristic galaxies. |
 |
The city of Fez proudly keeps one foot firmly planted in the past, and is home to the largest Medina in the world. Inside towering 16 km. long walls, it is impossible not to lose yourself in the maze of over 10,000 narrow labyrinth alleys. This is not the venue for the spatially challenged or claustrophobic-sensitive. The city boasts the largest car-free urban area in the world. The air is thick with the scent of leather, where hides are still processed using methods unchanged since medieval times. The sight of the colourful dying pits is unforgettable. |
 |
Chefchaouen: The Blue Pearl is nestled in the Rif Mountains. It’s a city dipped in painted ambiance. Almost every wall and doorway is blue zellige( handmade tiles) or painted in blues that soothe the soul. It’s a place to wander without purpose, to breathe slowly. |
 |
In Marakkesh, the Jemaa El-Fna square is bustling with fortune tellers, dancers, snake charmers, musicians, monkey handlers, magicians, and stalls selling mountains of exotic spices, lamps, intricate jewellery, carpets and fabrics. Again, it’s a veritable heaven for us textile “afectuosos”. Dating back to its founding in 1062, it’s the pulse of the city. |
 |
Morocco’s slice of the Sahara desert is stunning. I spent one night among the miles of undulating, wind-swept sand dunes that disappear into the impossible distance. I hear the delicate footsteps of camels on a walking tour. Time stands still. |
 |
You may arrive as a traveler—but Morocco will never let you leave unchanged. It’s cultural voyeurism to the max. |
 |
| Karyn is the owner of Albertine Design Group Ltd., an interior design firm that specializes in “making the most of what you already have” by organizing, rearranging, and transforming spaces for enhanced and harmonious living, decorating for special events, and styling. Skilled in caring for paper napkins, porcelain, Persian rugs, and designer clothes—she is always available and completely devoted. Karyn’s greatest gift is the passion she has for her work, understanding the symbiosis between beauty and function to create an inspiring, stylish and original space. She works personally with each client, accounting for tastes, budget and individual requirements. Albertine Design Group Inc. is a Calgary design firm with subsidiary, CRAZY HOUSE Home Staging: The Art of Preparing a Home for Sale. |
 |
Under the Moroccan sun
June 11, 2025 by Leave a Comment
Speak Your Mind