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Morocco is a country located in the northwest corner of Africa, due south of Spain. It's a popular tourist destination
for people from all over the world. The country is famous for its long and varied history and its rich heritage of merchants
and traders. Virtually every westerner is familiar with the famous movie "Casablanca", which takes place largely in
Rick's Cafe, located in Casablanca, Morocco. It is, in fact, an actual cafe - still conducting business just outside
Casablanca's "medina". Many of Morocco's cities are thousands of years old. These ancient cities - medinas - were built with tall walls surrounding them for security. These cities in more recent history have grown dramatically - particularly under French rule - and the modern portions of these cities exist outside and around the medinas, which still have their surrounding walls. Access to the medinas are limited to the "babs" or gates, which are often very ornamental in design and uniquely Moroccan in appearance. Indeed, Moroccan architecture in general is often unique in appearance. And many modern Moroccan buildings are built with that same unique look. Consequently, as one drives through the countryside, particulary in the southern portion of the country along the "route of a thousand kasbahs", one can see new buildings alongside ancient kasbahs, with both looking much the same aside from the decay and state of collapse that, sadly, is the current condition of many of the ancient kasbahs. The medinas of many of Morocco's cities such as Rabat, Meknes, and Marakesh are fascinating places to visit. It is in the medinas where Morocco's most fascinating markets exist. In these markets, anything and everything can be found. Merchants selling goods of every kind can be found here. Stands and stalls selling fruits, vegetables, goat's heads, cow hooves, and freshly caught fish are interspersed with stands selling shoes, lanterns, carpets, tajine pots, tea pots....on and on with items too varied to list entirely. And so much of it is so colorful, it is a treat for the eyes. Many of the streets in the medinas are mere alleys, with room only for pedestrian traffic. And these streets are often jam packed with people, both locals and tourists. Despite this, motorized bikes zip in and around the masses of people. And merchants are calling out the products they're selling or beckoning passersby. My photos of Morocco include images from these markets in the medinas as well as the residential portions of the medinas and some of the inhabited kasbahs I visited. My trip to Morocco included visits to Casablanca, Marakesh, Meknes, Rabat, Larache, Ouarzazate, and the Sahara desert, so photos of each of these places can be found here. |
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Ancient Kasbah #9695 This is one of the many kasbahs along the route of a thousand kasbahs in southern Morocco. |
Dades Gorge #9725 The scenic Dades Gorge in southern Morocco. |
Larache Street #9994 A street scene in Larache, Morocco. |
Dates #9541 Dates for sale in a market in Marakesh, Morocco. |
Mederssa Doorway #9635 Medersa doorway in the kasbah of Ouarzazate, Morocco. |
Moulay Idriss #9419 This is a view overlooking Moulay Idriss, Morocco. |
Mountain Village #9618 This is a mountain village in southern Morocco. |
Rabat Street #9996 A street in the medina of Rabat, Morocco. |
Sahara and Camels #9785 Camels resting on the sands of the Sahara Desert in Morocco. |
Sahara Desert #9777 The sands of the Sahara Desert in Morocco. |
Volubilis #9437 The Roman ruins of Volubilis in Morocco. |
Sahara Sands #9831 Sunset on the sands of the Sahara Desert. |
Volubilis #9451 The Roman ruins of Volubilis in Morocco. |
Sahara Sensuous Sand #9827 The sensuous sands of the Sahara Desert at sunset. |
Volubilis #9452 The Roman town of Volubilis was established in Morocco in the third century BC. |
Volubilis #9455 The Roman ruins of Volubilis in Morocco were occupied until the 18th century. |
Volubilis #9458 The Roman ruins of Volubilis are a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Morocco. |
Volubilis #9483 These are the Roman ruins of Volubilis in Morocco. |
Boats #9358 These old boats were on the shore near the port of Larache, Morocco. |
Bowls #9929 Bowls in a market in Ouarzazate, Morocco. |
Lanterns #9605 These lanterns were seen in a market in the medina of Marrakesh, Morocco. |
Moroccan Shoes #9567 Shoes on display in a market in Meknes, Morocco. |
Spice Jars #9930 Spice jars in a market in Ouarzazate, Morocco. |
Shoes #9535 These shoes were on display in a market in the medina of Meknes, Morocco. |
Adventure Travel |
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Robert Stephens |
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All photographs are the property of Robert Stephens and TheWorldinLight Photographic Gallery. Unauthorized reproduction or use is prohibited by US copyright law. |