Casablanca
Morocco is mainly cities, sand, Bedouins and their camels. But it is also breathtaking landscapes, timeless architecture worthy of the best Hollywood movies. Morocco can be visited by rental car, bus, motorcycle, but also by bike.
Visiting Morocco often means landing in the capital Marrakech, renting a car, and making your way to other sites. For meteorological reasons independent to the organization, this trip began in Casablanca, the plane diverted to the largest economic city in Morocco.
Souk
Each Moroccan city has its market. An essential visit for a scenery refreshment.
The streets of old Casablanca
Casablanca built its new city, but had the intelligence to keep its old neighborhood, where the innumerable stalls of merchants extend.
The Hassan II Mosque
The Hassan II Mosque is without a doubt the jewel of Casablanca. The exterior and the inner courtyard can be visited.
The Church of the Sacred Heart
The church was built in 1930 by the architect Paul Tournon. Today desacralized, it hosts exhibitions and cultural events.
Fez
The journey continues by bus. 2nd largest city after Casablanca, located in northeastern Morocco. It is located about 250km from Casablanca. The transitions between cities are long. Travel time must be taken into account, but also the countless hours of waiting in bus stations. The trip to Fez takes a whole day.
Fez appears to be straight out of the desert that surrounds it from all sides.
The city gates
The city has several entrances and exits. Once inside the walls, you have to be careful not to get lost. Fez is a real labyrinth. Children have fun redirecting, for a reward, the tourists who got lost.
The craftsmen of Fez
A little nod to my father whose profession was woodturning.
The streets of the Fez maze
Be careful not to get lost in the maze of alleys. And even more to the pickpockets and the beaters. Without a guide, it is advisable to know how to find your way or to hire a child for a small reward.
Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, Volubilis and Meknes
Two villages that really deserve a visit. Unfortunately, the buses do not go there. It will be necessary to rent a car with driver for the day. However, the organization is very easy, just ask in any hotel.
The architecture and its colorful doors
Walking in the streets of the city, unlike Fez, is without risk. The city having been built on a hill, it is very simple to return to its starting point. The inhabitants are overflowing with creativity in the decoration of their front doors. Each one more beautiful than the other. The colors used give the impression of a large open-air fresco.
The alleys
The alleys often go from the full light to the darkness of a passage under the tracks, which gives breathtaking images.
The market
The olive market, a local product, is well known far beyond the city.
The tea
Tea, a national and healthy drink in hot countries. It is served very hot, with a lot of sugar and mint.
The archaeological site of Volubilis
At the exit of Moulay Idriss is the archaeological site of Volubilis. Some beautiful mosaics are represented, worthy passage of the Roman Empire.
The alleys of Meknes
Another city, located a little further southwest of Moulay Idriss, Meknes is also a labyrinthine city, but nothing to do with Fez. Its alleys are at the top of the others, high in colors.
Meknes Hammam
The steam baths are part of the Moroccan culture and more widely Arab countries. They are often handcrafted constructions.
Merzouga
The journey continues by night bus. From Fez, it takes more than 8 hours by bus to reach Merzouga and the gates of the desert.
Ouarzazate
There are no less than 15 hours of travel between Merzouga and Ourzazate. The bus leaves in the late afternoon and arrives in the early morning. Ourzazate is an oasis in the middle of the desert where life has gradually settled down. It’s cool there, compared to the desert of Merzouga. Ourzazate attracts tourists attracted by motor sports in the middle of the desert, in buggy or motorcycle. But it is also possible to practice mountain biking.
Mountain bike trek in the atlas
Starting from Ourzazate, one of the goals of this trip was to make a 4-day mountain bike trek in the atlas. It’s physical and it climbs. But the region really worth the detour. Sensations guaranteed, especially the descent. Wonderful landscapes that go from yellow sand to snow peaking on the summits, then going down, by rocky all black plains.
Marrakech
The journey was soon coming to an end. A last drink between cyclists, then departure for Marrakech. It is the most famous city in Morocco and yet it is not the most populated. Marrakech was the starting point of this trip, but as explained at the beginning of this story, it became the point of arrival. It takes about 4 hours to reach it from Ourzazate. There was not enough time to visit this city, another time for sure.
