Hello friends! Are you ready for a new adventure in another fascinating country? Well, this time we will travel to a place full of colors, aromas, culture, and great gastronomy: Morocco!
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Where is Morocco and why is it such a popular country?
Morocco is one of the most popular destinations in North Africa. It’s bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea and is distinguished by Berber, Arab and European cultural influences, we can even say that it is one of the most popular countries in Africa! Morocco is very popular among travelers because it has basically everything; from dreamy landscapes with deserts, jungles, and mountains, to great food.
Morocco’s National Flag
But let’s start by identifying Morocco, we’ll start by talking about, yeah, you guessed it, its flag. This flag has a red background color, which represents the descendants of Muhammad. It also has a green color in the interlaced pentagram, this is the seal of Solomon. And the star means wisdom, life, and health.
What language is spoken in Morocco
Let’s talk about the language. We know that to make new friends we must know a little more about them, and for this, you must know what language people speak in Morocco. This is divided into two: the first is classical Arabic, the language used in the laws that govern this country and is called ‘cultured Arabic‘. The second is Moroccan Arabic, which is the language spoken by most of the people in the country, but it has its roots in cultured Arabic.
If you want to start a conversation with someone you can say “hello“, which in Arabic is “ahlan wa sahlan” which literally means “family and ease.” This is an expression used to say hello or welcome.
How to Greet in Morocco
When greeting someone, Moroccans usually ask about their family as well; But something super important is that they don’t use the left hand, since they consider it impure. Have you seen how some people greet each other with kisses? in Morocco, only people of the same sex greet like this, never of the opposite sex! Unless the person is family or very close.
Something very nice is that it is not judged or pointed out when seeing two men or women holding hands. It is a token of affection to friends! They love to show affection with kisses and hugs, regardless of gender. That’s awesome!
Customs and Cultures in Morocco
Many of the customs here can seem very different from those we know in other parts of the world and among them is the way of dressing. Remember that respect is the basis of any friendship and for Moroccans, it’s considered somewhat disrespectful to wear light clothes in the streets and much more if you visit some of their mosques (you may be wondering what mosques are) but we will talk about that in a minute.
Keep in mind that as well as wearing light clothes, behavior is also very important, since Moroccans appreciate tranquility and ways of acting.
Because its customs and culture come from African, Arab, and Mediterranean cultures, in Morocco it is customary to drink tea at all hours, and it is common to share this drink with your guests as a symbol of hospitality, and due to the high temperatures in Some areas of the country, it’s also done to avoid dehydration.
Hospitality is something that distinguishes the Arab world, so don’t be surprised that in addition to tea, you may have many invitations to eat. But wait! When you arrive at a house, remember to remove your shoes before entering its carpeted floors.
Eating Customs in Morocco
So speaking of customs, when it’s time for lunch, you will be surprised by the abundance that is presented on Moroccan tables but don’t feel pressured to finish with all the food, as it will not be rude to leave food on your plate. If you have the honor of being invited to a family dinner, remember that you must wash your hands before sitting at the table and it is very important that you do not eat a bite without first hearing the prayer that the owner of the house will make. Now, don’t wait to see someone clinking wine glasses because drinking alcohol is not something typical and even doing it in the streets is seen as highly disrespectful.
But if you like picnics, am afraid this is not the place, as this country tries to keep dinner activities private.
Moroccan Cuisines
Speaking of food! Moroccan food can be considered rich and diverse, this may be due to the interaction it has had with other cultures.
Among its traditional dishes is Moroccan bread. Do you dare to try the bread whose recipe has passed through several generations? It has a round shape and is made in a clay and straw oven. You can eat it with Harira, which is the most popular soup made with beef or chicken, tomatoes, and legumes.
Something that you will find in many places will be Moroccan salad, super easy to find in every restaurant. It has few, but very nutritious ingredients: tomatoes, green peppers, and red onion. It also has a little bit of lemon juice, salt, and olive oil.
Ah! Don’t forget the couscous and skewers. They are indispensable for this trip.
What is a Mosque
What is a mosque? Well, these buildings are places of prayer in the Islamic region, and although you cannot enter just any mosque, there will be some that do open their doors to the public.
And this mosque The Hassan II Mosque is a monumental mosque located in the coastal city of Casablanca on Boulevard Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdallah.
Right on an artificial island in the Atlantic Ocean in reference to a verse from the Koran, that states that “the throne of Allah is in the water“!
The Beautiful Landscape in Morocco
Morocco is a very special and unique place in every way, but the beauty of the landscapes is definitely one of those things that you have to know.
From the dunes of Merzouga, located in southeastern Morocco near the Algerian border, where you can enjoy a camel ride with spectacular views; to the wild desert M’hamid, a small town also located in southeastern Morocco, the heart of the nomadic culture.
Akchour Falls will take your breath away. Located in the north of the Rif mountain range, it’s such a hidden paradise!
If you want to see many colors in the same landscape, you have to visit The Cathedral Rock Imsfran. It’s a huge rock 6, 141 feet (1, 871 meters) high and it’s one of the most beautiful landscapes to visit on your way to the Atlas Mountains.
Wait until you see them! They are impressive! The Atlas mountain range stretches for about 1, 553 miles (2, 500 km) across northwestern Africa, through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, and separates the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts from the Sahara desert.
The Animals in Morocco
And speaking of incredible things, we cannot forget the animals of Morocco.
Morocco is a place that has many species thanks to its wide diversity of landscapes. So here you will find animals that you will not easily find anywhere else.
The Barbary monkey is one of the most curious animals out there. Though it’s very sad to know that it is in danger of extinction since it is one of the most representative of the country and here you can see it in its natural habitat.
And of course, we can’t miss good old camels. They are very very characteristic of Morocco, surely you think of them every time you see a desert.
And last but not least, we present to you the Lion of the Atlas. This species can only be found in this country. Unfortunately, it’s declared extinct, so you can only see them in the country’s gardens and not in their natural habitats.
Let’s not forget the desert fox, the hare, otters, and even gazelles. It’s impossible to mention all of them!
Sports Played in Morocco
Now let’s talk about Moroccan sports and fun.
Soccer is the king of sports in Morocco. The best example is the Spanish Super Cup, held in Tangier in August 2018.
Horse riding is an ancient heritage. Morocco has inherited a long tradition illustrated by the national studs of Marrakech, Meknes, Oujda, Jadida, and Bouznika. If you travel to Morocco do not forget to ride a horse for an obstacle course or for a leisurely walk on the beach or almost anywhere in Morocco.
Another activity to have fun is cycling, which is also a very popular activity in the Atlas Mountains. Around Agadir and Marrakech, there are routes amidst mountain-topped national parks like Talassemtane, which present mountain bikers with some major challenges!
A super fun activity is sport fishing, a very common Moroccan tradition. But why try sport fishing? Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, Morocco multiplies the opportunities to cast a fishing line. Agadir, Legzira, Essaouira, Dakhla Bay, and the coasts of Sidi Ifni are the ideal places to carry out this activity.
Rafting and kayaking is an exciting experiences in the mountains. The water also provides a lot of fun. The Oued Ahansal means 2 days of water sports: a 28 miles (45 km) descent to reach the famous great lake of Bin the Ouidane as well as the opportunity to go rafting and kayaking.
Moroccan Music
Continuing with the fun in this country, we cannot put aside the music.
Moroccan music is mainly composed of four great genres and a wide variety: Berber music (the most common), Chaabi music (Amazigh), Gnawa music (a mix of Amazigh with African style), and finally, Andalusian.
Speaking of music, you have surely heard of Arab dance. Arab dance is a thousand-year-old dance. It has its origin in Egypt, where it was danced in temples, as part of the cult to human fertility, to the earth, and for the worship of the gods. With the Arab “invasion” they danced in the harems of the sultans and later they began to dance professionally.
And that is Morocco, my friends. What a great country!
Goodbye friends, or as we say in Arabic, Wadaean!
