Sand and Sujood in morocco

THE BEACH. There is just something about it that pulls me in. I have loved the beach my entire life. Even when I was a kid, I remember going to Silver Lake with my mom or my Auntie Kelly and packing a whole day's worth of fun into the car and hitting the road. We'd bring all kinds of things to cook out, watermelon, fruit salad, floaty things, and lots of sunscreen. 

Now that I live in a beach city, my trips to the water are still a part of my life. Every week, Mo and I like to take mini road trips and head out with no plan. We often end up in little places off the beaten path and make our own little picnics. It's my favorite part of the week and it's something we both look forward to.

Since there are 5 prayers in a day, most often the noon-ish prayer called Dhor and theAsr prayer is in the afternoon. Just because we are at the beach does not mean that we don't take time out to pray.  We always bring prayer mats with us and my phone has a compass app on it so we know which direction to face when we pray. There's a position during prayer while your head is on the ground and it is called Sujood.

We always make time to pray and it feels so good. There's nothing more peaceful than feeling the raw earth underneath you and hearing the sound of crashing waves next to you. Worship is for the Most High.

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One day, we brought a sheet and made a makeshift lean-to with it. It was perfect because it was like a little fort and provided us with perfect shade.

It gets the thumbs up of approval

These gnaoua guys were walking along the beach, rang-bang-boomin' around and playing their racket!  They're like musical nomads.

After I took this out (which is a fancy-shmancy fan I bought in Spain), Mo said, "Oh good, you brought the air conditioner!" 

I found this cluster of sea-stuff and I thought for sure they were going to open up and start belting out show tunes from "The Little Mermaid" or something.

How about this seaweed?! 

This guy was so happy while he was fishing. Hopefully he caught some big ol' floppy fish!

Does anyone know what these red things are? I found lots of them hiding under rocks right on the shore. They look like clown noses or something and I've never seen them before. If you know what they are, can you please comment?

This is a little stretch of beach just north of Taghazout. 

One Sunday, we found this perfect little cave opening to shade us from the hot sun. It was perfect! We had lunch underneath there, too.

Time to pray again. :)

This is after we both prayed Asr together. The day was warm, sunny, and with a perfect breeze.



And lastly, check this out:

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7 Moroccan Wedding Wonders

There are 7 Wonders of the World, and 7 Moroccan Wedding Wonders according to me. Care to see what I mean? Step into my world...

In case nobody told you, Moroccans love to party. Yes it's true. They love to whoop it up for weddings, the birth of a baby, family members coming to town from far away or from the BLED, whatever. If there's an opportunity to get together, they're all about it.

I, however, am not.

In fact, whenever I hear about an upcoming party (most of the time it's only 24hours notice--or less), I immediately start planning my "Possible Excuses For Not Going" list. This is no easy task you see, because there can be no repeats. Faking sick is too cliché and besides I've used that one too many times. Since I'm here without any family, playing the "prior engagements" card is not an option. Plus I don't work so scheduling conflicts are also out. As much as I object, I'm usually pushed, pulled, or dragged to these ridiculous parties.

What makes them so bad, you ask? Hmph. Where do I start?

[ DISCLAIMER: for the umpteenth time, this is my personal blog and I write about what I have seen and done. Before anyone gets all twisted, let me say that I understand certain cities or families might do things differently but I have not been a part of those parties. I write about what I have personally experienced. ]


I'll use a wedding as a basic example-- although you could pretty much swap titles for any other type of party. They're all exactly the same. The wedding trumps all because of the outdoor tent involved. The other ones just omit the tent and instead cram a tent's worth of people inside of a house.



In America, when someone gets engaged, the soon to be married couple sends out invitations. Yes, actual paper invitations IN THE MAIL even. They are customized with the vital info for the big day and include RSVP cards so the families know how many guests to expect and exactly how many plates of perfectly planned out food to order. Let me stop right here.

In Morocco, the "invitation" comes in the form of a phone call usually a few days (sometimes less) before the wedding. It's a general extension to whomever is within earshot of the phone call, plus any other relatives, friends, or peeps in your posse. This is mistake #1. How does the wedding couple know how many people are coming? They don't. How many tables/chairs to set up? It's a gamble  How much food to prepare? They just wing it.  It's all a shot in the dark. Most of the time, presumption and reality are way off target.

This brings me to

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Morocco Amazing

Amazing Morocco Tour  is a private running tour Company. It is an Experience to the exotic Kingdom of Morocco which is the bridge and gate between Europe and Africa. Amazing Morocco Tours offers you a glimpse at the Sahara desert, its lush oases and earthen architecture. It offers the magnificent Atlas Mountains - ideal for hiking or trekking—and the sophisticated Imperial Cities of Marrakech, Rabat, Meknes and especially Fes - often called the world’s best example of a living medieval city.


In planning your trip, you will receive the care you need in designing an  itinerary that reflects your interests, passions, and philosophy about travel. We will provide you with background information, reading your suggestions and fulfilling your needs .

Our tours are available with guides fluent in English and other languages.  All drivers and guides are native-born and equally as skilled in the operation as they are dedicated to providing the highest-quality service to our clients. Therefore, Let us show you our amazing Morocco!



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History & Culture in morocco

History & Culture



 Morocco's history began with the Berbers, the aboriginal people who have inhabited the country since the end of the 2nd millennium BC Rome extended its rule over the area after defeating Carthage in 146 BC, and testimony to its presence still exists in the fine Roman ruins at Volubilis. As Rome fell into decline Morocco was invaded first by the Vandals and then, in the 7th century, by the Arabs. Although external Arab rule lasted little more than a century, the arrival of Islam proved to be a permanent addition to Moroccan culture. In the ensuing centuries a series of ruling dynasties came to power, including the Idrissids, the Almoravids, and the Almohads, but none seemed capable of long maintaining the critical support of the Berber leaders.

 By the 15th century Spain and Portugal began to intrude into Morocco, after having expelled the Moors from their own lands. Although Morocco successfully repulsed these invasions, the tide of European imperialism eventually proved too great. By the middle of the 19th century Morocco's strategic importance had become evident to all of the European powers, and they engaged in a protracted struggle for possession of the country. Finally, in 1911, France was formally acknowledged as protector of the greater part of the country, with Spain receiving a number of isolated locales. French rule came to an end in 1953, although its cultural influence on Morocco remains strongly in evidence. Today the country is ruled by King Mohammed VI. He appears to be leading Morocco toward both long-term stability and a greater degree of economic prosperity.



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morocco , Location, Geography, and Climate

Morocco is in many ways a country apart. It nestles on the northwestern tip of Africa, separated from the rest of the continent by the towering Atlas Mountains and by the Sahara itself. Its climate, geography, and history are all more closely related to the Mediterranean than to the rest of Africa, and for this reason visitors are often struck by the odd sensation of having not quite reached Africa in Morocco. In the north, its fine beaches, lush highland valleys, and evocative old cities reinforce this impression. Yet, as one moves south and east, into and over the starkly beautiful ranges of the Atlases, Morocco's Mediterranean character melts away like a mirage. The Sahara stretches out to the horizon, and forbidding kasbahs stare.

 Location, Geography, and Climate

 Morocco is situated on the extreme northwestern corner of Africa and is bordered by Mauritania and Algeria, both to the south and east.

 Morocco's varied geography includes no less than four separate mountain ranges, in addition to lush river valleys, beautiful sandy coasts, and wide expanses of desert. The three most prominent mountain ranges, which run parallel to each other from the southwest to the northeast, are the Middle Atlas, the High Atlas, and the Anti-Atlas. The ascent of the country's highest peak, Jebel Toukbal (13,665 ft./4,165 m.), is a spectacular and not particularly difficult High Atlas trek. The Moroccan coastline, which fronts onto both the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, offers plenty of great beaches as well as a number of fascinating old coastal cities. In the southeast, Morocco's mountain ranges yield inexorably to the desolate expanse of the Sahara. The rivers that flow down this side of the High Atlas support long, narrow, and lush river valleys that resemble linear oases.


 The climate in Morocco is reliably dry, although small amounts of rain do fall between November and March. Temperature varies considerably by season and locale. While the southern and southeastern desert regions can reach extremely high temperatures during the hot summer months, the higher altitudes of the mountains are cool in summer evenings and freezing in winter. Most travellers find the early summer months to be the most comfortable time to visit, as rain is not a threat and temperatures are warm during the day and pleasantly cool at night.

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morocco mall ouverture

 

The flagship Aksal Nesk and Investment, Morocco Mall will open its doors Monday to the general public. Guided tour of one of the most awarded malls in the world.


The Morocco Mall is spread over 200,000 m2 with an area of ​​70,000 m2 commercial. It will create 5000 direct jobs and 21,000 indirect jobs.
Countdown to the imminent opening of Morocco Mall. Final preparations for the opening tonight, with the sultry Jennifer Lopez enchant some 3,000 VIP guests. What looks like the project that took more than 2 billion dirhams in investments? Tour.

Firstly, the Morocco Mall is the pioneer of its size, this type of complex in Morocco. A rich and diverse helped place among the top 5 in the world in its class.

More than 350 outlets of clothing (men, women and children), equipment and hi-tech, retail, spread over three levels, took place within the complex. Signs vary consumer brands (Zara, H & M, Fnac ...) to luxury brands. Moreover, on this record, it should be noted that the area is unique luxury mall in Morocco. Dior, Fendi, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, or Azuelos La Martina did not skimp on the means, in terms of luxurious design of their stores and originality of their facades. To recall, a similar project was to be undertaken by the group in Marrakech Best Real Estate in the mall Almazar but Almazar Faubourg has never emerged.

3D, a musical fountain ... and sharks!

For leisure, Casablancans will be pampered with a unique offering. In fact, 25% of the area of ​​the Morocco Mall is dedicated to recreation. It will include the largest Imax 3D cinema in Africa - what to do Megarama fears. This room will include 365 seats, 8 seats for the disabled. The program will mix between 3D and 2D thematic films and movies playing, and Hollywood blockbusters. Away from the movie theater, children will delight in Adventure Land, an amusement park spread over 5000 m² with 700 m² rink, arcade games and a ballroom.

Not to mention the mall aquarium ranked third in the world like this, after those of Washington and Berlin, an aquarium will have a central panoramic elevator. About 3750 types of coral and 37 species of fish will be placed in the pool, 4 sharks.

Also a fountain on an area of ​​6000 m2 will part with an aquatic show 4 min every 20 min, the rhythm of the songs Moroccan, Arab and international. It is also ranked third musical fountain in the world of this type.

For its part, the restoration has its share of 70 local and international brands (Venezia Ice, Rotana Café, Second Cup, StarBucks, Burger King, KFC, McDonald ...) and 8 restaurants with ocean views. This represents a supply of 1,200 seats. ◆

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morocco mall ouverture

Mall Maroc continue à faire les manchettes mondiales. Après avoir remporté un record du monde Guinness en Novembre 2011, et après la cérémonie d'ouverture spectaculaire avec comme invité spécial Lopez Mega Star Jennifer, le projet a remporté le meilleur centre commercial "le MIPIM Award prestigieuse au MIPIM à Cannes au début Mars 2012. Le prix, l'un des plus important dans l'industrie du détail et de la propriété, est un témoignage de la réussite Mall du Maroc apres, seulement 90 jours de son ouverture au public.

Le Prix, qui a reçu les temoiniage de plus de 50 pays dans 11 catégories, a vu la concurrence féroce entre de nombreuses entreprises d'architecture respectés, parmi eux Foster & Partners, l'Atelier Jean Nouvel et Aedas, qui se sont affrontées à deux tours. Le premier tour a été décidé par un jury d'experts de l'industrie, qui ont choisi 3 finalistes dans chaque catégorie. Dans la ronde finale, le public au MIPIM, quelque 20.000 délégués, ont voté pour leur projet favori du Maroc Mall face a ses deux concurrents en provenance de Hong Kong et Séoul, Corée du Sud. Au cours de la remise des prix à la fameuse «Palais des Festivals à Cannes, Mall Maroc a été félicité pour son architecture exceptionnelle, intelligente combinaison de détail et de la contribution positive du centre commercial à l'économie marocaine et la réputation du pays dans le monde.

Mall Maroc, qui borde l'océan Atlantique sur la côte de Casablanca Corniche, est le centre de destination première et la seule dans le bassin méditerranéen et en Afrique. Il s'étend sur 10 hectares (24,700 acres) avec 250.000 m² (2,691,000 pieds carrés) de la construction, 30.000 m² (323.000 pieds carrés) d'espace extérieur et 14.000 m² (150,694 pieds carrés) de jardins paysagers. Avec 70.000 m² (753,500 pieds carrés) d'espace commercial sur 3 niveaux et 350 magasins, le centre commercial le Maroc réunit 600 marques d'une grande variété, dont beaucoup d'ouvrir un magasin en Afrique pour la première fois, tels que: les Galeries Lafayette, la FNAC et cinéma IMAX.

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