Morocco is described as exotic and diverse by the " Washington Times"
27-03-2006

"The Washington Times" newspaper which devoted its edition of the 18-19/03/06 to two illustrated pages about a Morocco in the "Voyage" section, says that " Morocco seems to be exotic and distant for the Westerners. It is abundantly rich in exoticism, but the distance between New York and Casablanca is but 5760 km , that is to say 32 km less than that between New York and Paris , and it is only 256 km more than the distance between New York and London ."

Having discovered towards mid-January the city of Fes, the spiritual and cultural capital of Morocco, called also "the Holy City" Richard Slusser, the article's author, says that "in 1981 the Medina was listed by the UNESCO as a world heritage, the first moroccan place of interet to be followed later by the Medinas of Marrakech, Essaouira and Tetouan".

Being fascined by the beauty of the Medina of Fez, (which was) founded in the 9 th century and hosting Al Karaouiyine University, the reporter describes the hispano-Moresque architectural style of the Riad of " la Maison Blue " where he had stayed and which provides from the terrace, a panoramic view on the Borj Nord, fortress of the 16 th century which hosts nowadays sther Guns Museum.

From Fez the journalist goes to Marrakech, the ochre town, wonder-struck by the  well-maintained gardens, the stretches of orchards, and more particularly by lemon-trees, olive-trees and rose-bushes and amazed at Jamaâ El Fna, a big square which is made lively by dancers, acrobats, musicians and snake charmers. Marrakech is still the most sought-after destination (popular) and the privileged area for especially French, English and American tourists. The authors adds that Marrakech and Fez are both located mear the highest mountains, the Toubkal and the middle Atlas where Moroccan as well as Visitors can go skiing in wintertime.

Richard Slusser goes sight seeing in Essaouira, "a white town" which reflects another dimension of Moroccan cities, under the Portuguese influence, after the passage of the Phoenicians, Carthaginian and Romains. He describes the beauty of Essaouira's medina, its handicraft shops specialized in woodcarving and the making of objects sculpture, of furniture, chests, and r "objects d'art".

The journalist speaks about tourist places of interest which are worthy of being visited in Morocco, such as roman ruins of Volubilis, the cities of Rabat and Casablanca, the Atlas mountains the pony treks, the sea side resorts by the Atlantic and Tangier , the "favourite city of celebrites, artists and writers".

Source: MAP
Back