The traditional dress morocco


The traditional dress




The traditional dress for men is called a djellaba, a long, loose, hooded garment with full sleeves. For special occasions, men also wear a red cap called tarboosh and mostly referred to as Fez. Nearly all men wear babouches soft leather slippers with no heel, commonly in yellowbut also in many colours.

Many women do as well but others wear high-heeled sandals, often in silver or gold tinsel.

The distinction is the djellabas has a hood, while a Gandora does not. The women?s djellabas are mostly of bright colors with ornate patterns, stitching, or beading, while men wear djellabas in plainer, neutral colors. Women are strongly attached to their Moroccan clothes or "Moroccan wardrobe", despite the financial costs involved.

The production of such garments is relatively expensive, as most of the work is done by hand. Despite the costs involved most women purchase a minimum of one new kaftan or "tk'chita" every year, normally for a special, social event, such as a religious festival or a wedding. Nowadays, it is an unwritten rule that Moroccan dress is worn at such events.

The Gandora is very simular to the Djellaba the differance being the Djellaba has a hood and short sleeves. Masculine embroidery on the front around the neck and arms openings. For a convenient use, this garment has one slit on side and one pocket on the other side at the waist level.This gandora is made with cotton and is more suitable for summer use.

The origins of the fez, or "tarboosh" in Morocco, is not clear. The design may have come from ancient Greece or the Balkans. In the 19th Century it gained wide acceptance when the Ottoman rulers moved to modernize traditional costumes.



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Clothes in morocco

Moroccan Clothes


 


Moroccan clothes are traditionally rich and varied - variety of fabrics, shapes and colors expressing a certain art of draping - Moroccan costume for man or woman comes by local cultures of each region or each social group.


Two major trends emerge, namely the urban dress and country dress,  in both cases the use of various devices is used to enhance the look and divert the attention of potential weaknesses of the body.

The constant among men is wearing a Djellaba which is a loose clothing. Woolen fabric or lightweight, it is equipped with long wide sleeves and a hood.

Similarly, there is Silham or Burnous, solid color, black or white, borne on the Djellaba with hood.

Under Djellaba they wear the Caftan which is a long dress with no collar, long sleeves, closed at the front of many embroidered buttons.

For the head, Tarbouch as head covering for the urban and Razza for the country and Rural belgha (babouch, slippers) in both cases.




Moroccan clothes for women are also diverse.

The Haik, a sort of cloak of fine cloth large and white, is the rule especially in rural areas, and in certain regions. When you leave the city, you will see increasingly rural women in the female version of the djellaba.

They usually wear the Qmis(long jacket) underneath, a lightweight fabric covering a seroual (baggy pants).

The caftan and Mansouria fabric are the usual two long dresses for women. The Moroccan kaftan or caftan is for celebration and special occasions. This dress highlights the femininity with a bonus: it combines the splendor and elegance because of the meticulous production.

Fine fabrics and brightly colored silks are the traditional fashion. The tailors put their skill and art to create the sumptuous dress.

Gold embroidery, silver, contours and ends delicately decorated, all returning a sensation of richness and femininity.

A belt embroidered with silk thread or gold (or at least among wealthy women, silver or solid gold) shakes the Caftan size.This coat, has always been a source of inspiration throughout the world. morocco culture,moroccan food,morocco food,moroccan cuisine,morocco beaches,moroccan meal,beaches in morocco,moroccan culture,hercules cave,hercules cave morocco

Mazagan, an exceptional resort overlooking the ocean


Mazagan, an exceptional resort overlooking the ocean



On the edge of the Atlantic, 45 minutes by car from Casablanca international airport, the luxurious Mazagan resort became a reality . In an exceptional position, with luxurious facilities and an architecture and ambiance which give the surroundings a feeling of authenticity, this high-level resort opened in October 2009 . It offers very high-end accommodation in a five-star hotel with 500 rooms set around magnificent pools and beautiful landscaped gardens, not to mention a magnificent lobby lounge bar. The splendid "Gary Player" golf
course surrounded by sumptuous villas, an ultramodern beauty and fitness centre - everything is on hand for an unforgettable stay amid the complex’s internal lagoons.



Fine dining is never far away with several elegantly decorated gastronomic restaurants. In the evening the "Sanctuary" discotheque is open to night-owls until the early hours. Mazagan is also a great destination for business meetings due to its conference and seminar centre which can be adapted to suit the needs of its business clientele. Especially carefully designed play areas are set aside for children as well as a creche and clubs tailored to all age groups, a sign that the resort is also designed to accommodate families. Luxury boutiques present the latest fashionable designer brands for those who enjoy shopping. An excellent casino completes the astonishing complex. A wide range of activities are on offer around the beach with a base for water sports, as well as horse-riding, falconry displays and even Moroccan cookery lessons.



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Essaouira welcomes you !


Essaouira welcomes you !



The resort of Mogador located three kilometres away from the town of Essaouira and 10 minutes drive from the airport opened its doors in an exceptional natural setting

Set on six hundred hectares of forest domain, the new Mogador Essaouira resort is bordered with a magnificent natural dune and four kilometre of an untapped wild beach!



Owing to a development that preserves the nearby greenery while respecting the site’s landscape, Mogador is a perfect resort when it comes to integrated and lasting development. The resort which is conceived in a contemporary style, offers in the meantime a diverse type of accommodation. Mogador is also a golf destination which delights both professional and amateurs since it has two eighteen holes golf courses with a unique golfing experience. The course is designed by Gary Player who is one of the best in the history of golf. The dunes are perfectly replaced by bunkers while each natural element intervenes to add a touch of beauty to a leisurely stroll. 
For those travelling as friends, in a couple or with a family, Mogador offers a wide variety of cultural and fan activities to choose from namely, art galleries, museums, bookshop cafes , lounge bars and restaurants...
Sport fans won’t be disappointed since they can make use of the existing nautical club to try a pure sailing experience, windsurfing or kite surfing as well as an equestrian centre for strolls along the beach.... There are also some well being facilities where one can relax. To the delight of kids, there is “la villa des enfants” that offers various training programmes.



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Morocco - a country rich in nature!








Nature is never far away in Morocco. Desert, mountains, valleys and sea - the country has plenty to offer fans of the outdoors!
Hikers of all levels will love walking the Moroccan mountains. Among the temperate peaks of the Rif mountain range, its cliffs jutting out into the Mediterranean make this under-explored region magical.

Morocco mountainMorocco mountain

The lakes are packed with trout waiting for amateur fishermen. The more sporty will want to tackle the challenges of the Middle and Upper Atlas mountains on foot, by mountain bike or in a paraglider, or to practice mountain climbing, canyoning or pot-holing. Its summits can reach 4000m high. Ifrane, the little Moroccan Switzerland, may come as a pleasant surprise with its summer coolness, winter snow and traditional "mule-ski" trails.
Nothing is as indescribable as a stay on the edge of the desert... Head to Ouarzazate to discover its immensity and colours. At night, opt for an encampment in the desert, a chalet in the mountains and, wherever you are, bed and breakfast with the locals for an unforgettable and authentic experience. These are at the heart of the Moroccan identity, like palmtrees, argan oil and the honey from its lavender.
Looking out over the Atlantic, you will be enchanted by the turquoise waters of Dakhla bay! There you will meet migratory birds and pink flamingos.
In Morocco, every taste is naturally catered for!




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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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