A veiled woman passing
A veiled woman passing by in the medina (old town) of the blue village of Chefchaouen, Morocco. Until 1920 Chefchaouen was closed to Europeans. Now that it’s opened it’s gates, the outside world has influenced the town. Fortunately it has retained much of its low key charm and is one of the most friendly towns in Morocco.
Local artists in Asilah,
Local artists are thriving in Asilah, which hosts an annual art festival in August, the Moussem. Artists from around the world attend to paint murals on the town walls, inspired by the town itself.
The golden doors of Fez
The golden doors of Fez
Blue light on riff mountains , Morocco.
Blue light in Morocco. mountain
Asilah attracts artists from around the world during its cultural festival
Every year the town of Asilah attracts artists from around the world during its cultural festival, who paint beautiful murals on walls around the town.
An elderly lady in one of the alleys in Essaouira
Blue on blue – An elderly lady poses for the camera in one of the myriad alleys in the medina.
The old medina of Tetouane
The old medina of Tetouane
The dyes of the tanneries in Fez come in all colours .
The dyes come in all colours and although traditionally plant pigments were used to create the colour, nowadays chemical dyes are taking over. The process itself however has remained the same for centuries.
A veiled Berber woman .
A veiled Berber woman .
Asilah is an ancient town with dramatic Portuguese ramparts and a charming Andulusian medina
Asilah is an ancient town with dramatic Portuguese ramparts and a charming Andulusian medina. Situated on the north-western coast, the town has been revived by its flourishing artistic community.
A man walks away from his olive tree
A man walks away from his olive tree in the desert: welcome relief from the heat in northern Morocco.
A caravan of tourists arriving at sunset from Merzouga .
A caravan of tourists arriving at sunset from Merzouga to stay overnight in an oasis with tents. Not to be missed is the sun rising or setting over the sand dunes, called The Erg Chebbi, near Merzouga.
Murals adorning the whitewashed walls of Asilah
Murals adorning the whitewashed walls of Asilah are inviting enough to walk into. Even this resident seems taken in.
A child throws one of the hides that has dried in the sun
A child throws one of the hides that has dried in the sun down to the roof of a workshops below where it can be processed further.
A Berber man in a traditional djellaba
A Berber man in a traditional djellaba – a cotton or wool cloak hooded garment.
16th century water reservoir in the former Portuguese coastal village of El Jadida
This is a 16th century water reservoir in the former Portuguese coastal village of El Jadida.Traces of the town’s Portuguese past remain today in its lanes and ramparts, and most notably in its remarkable underground cistern – pillared and vaulted like a church crypt, illuminated by eerie shafts of sunlight, and flooded with a few inches of water to conjure the reflection – an astonishing setting used by Orson Welles in his version of Othello.
Berber woman is preparing traditional Moroccan pancakes
An elderly Berber woman is preparing traditional Moroccan pancakes, not unlike the French crepes, that will be used in desserts.
One of many sandcastles close to Erfoud
One of many sandcastles close to Erfoud. Erfoud is a desert outpost where visitors can enjoy Moroccan bargaining at its best and most hospitable.
A child playing surrounded by the blue walls of the Medina in Chefchaouen
A child playing surrounded by the blue walls of the Medina in Chefchaouen.The blue Andalusian architecture including arches, small squares and fountains make this a very special attraction.
A shepherd takes a break, knowing his camels know the ‘road’ home.
A shepherd takes a break, knowing his camels know the ‘road’ home.
Cafe Paris in Tangier, a reminder of Morocco’s colonial past.
Elderly men while away the hours in the grand Cafe Paris in Tangier, a reminder of Morocco’s colonial past.
Sacs of pulses, grains and couscous line the small street of the souk in Fez.
Sacs of pulses, grains and couscous line the small street of the souk in Fez.
Belly dancing in Marrakesh
Belly dancing in Marrakesh
The lights at El Fna shine through the smoke produced from all the food squares
The lights at El Fna shine through the smoke produced from all the food squares giving the square a mystical, mysterious atmosphere.
Villa Dar Amane in Marrakesh was done by stylist Valerie Barkowski.
The interior design of this contemporary villa Dar Amane in Marrakesh was done by the Belgian stylist Valerie Barkowski. The atmosphere is sober and serene, not at all folkloric. This riad in Marrakesh can be rented for maximum eight persons (+ two children).
Moroccan pudding, made with cinnamon, saffron and rice.
Moroccan pudding, made with cinnamon, saffron and rice.
A young girl’s eyes betray her smile beneath her veil.
A young girl’s eyes betray her smile beneath her veil. Nowadays, in the bigger cities, jewellery and make-up are beginning to make an appearance alongside the traditional headscarf.
Magic in Marrakesh
Magic in Marrakesh
Two locals see out the day .
Two locals see out the day together, dressed in the traditional men’s robe, the jellaba.
Taking a break
Asilah’s ancient buildings by the sea dates from 3000 years ago
Local residents wait in the shadow of one of Asilah’s ancient buildings by the sea (the town dates from 3000 years ago), before attending mosque.
A Berber woman walking through the old Medina of Chefchaouen.
A Berber woman walking through the old town (Medina) of Chefchaouen. Walking through the ancient city of Chefchaouen is like stepping back in time a few hundred years.
Staff ensures guests have everything they need ,at Dar Amane.
Always there when you need her at the Dar Amane villa, this member of staff ensures guests have everything they need. Picking up a traditional tray used here for carrying laundry, fruit, towels and amenities around the villa to guests.
One of the female chefs at La Maison Bleue shows of her henna-ed hands.
One of the female chefs at La Maison Bleue shows of her henna-ed hands.
The art of nature. A sand dune in the Sahara desert
The art of nature. A sand dune in the Sahara desert forms its own sculpture.
Spices and herbs are an integral part of every souk
Spices and herbs are an intgeral part of every souk. Here, at the start of the day, the merchants have formed little mounds to show off their wares to their best advantage.
A man is harvesting salt from the sea.
A man is harvesting salt from the sea. Fresh sea salt is used in every traditional restaurant in Morocco.
La Maison Bleue
In this riad a perfectly still swimming pool now takes up the place where there was once a garden.
a typical tajine: lamb with plums and olives.
Tajine refers both to a tradiotional Moroccan recipe as well as to the conical earthenware dish it is served in. Here, a typical tajine: lamb with plums and olives.
Roman ruins of the city of Vollubilis
Sunrise at the Roman ruins of the city of Vollubilis, once a rich cultural centre.
Coco, female chef, is preparing couscous
In La Maison Bleue, Coco, one of a band of female chefs, is preparing couscous, a staple in Moroccan cuisine.
Friends at the villa Dar Amane sharing a traditional Moroccan meal
Friends at the villa Dar Amane sharing a traditional Moroccan meal of couscous with their hands, just like the Berbers.
Alleyways of Tetouan’s old medina.
In the tiny alleyways of Tetouan’s old medina.
The intricate roof of a riad
The intricate roof of a riad
Friends on the rooftop of the villa Dar Amane enjoy a Moroccan tea
Friends on the rooftop of the villa Dar Amane enjoy a Moroccan tea and sunny view over the city. The sun canopy is made from part of a Berber tent.
Men take the leather out of the dye bath
The men take the leather out of the dye bath to make room for new hides.
Houses of Ouarzazate, south Morocco
Guests relax in the lounge at La Maison Bleue.
In the evening guests relax around the lounge at La Maison Bleue.
Bowl filled with rose petals
A golden bowl filled with rose petals artfully placed in the courtyard of Dar Amane.
Musicians play traditional Berber music with strong African influences
These musicians play traditional Berber music with strong African influences since many slave were brought to Fez from Tanger.
different kinds of fresh Moroccan olive oil.
These silver pitchers all contain different kinds of olive oil.
At the Tanneries
When the hides are dry, they are taken inside to be processed further. This saffron-yellow hide will probably be used to make yellow Babouches (traditional hand-embroidered Moroccan slippers). Yellow is the traditional colour for men’s slippers.
Traditional Berber slippers.
Traditional Berber slippers.
Market in le souk of Marrakesh
Market in le souk of Marrakesh
Olives are a traditional Moroccan export product and is liberally used in the local cuisine.
Olives are a traditional Moroccan export product and is liberally used in the local cuisine.
Tetouan’s old medina.
El Fna Square in Marrakesh.
El Fna Square in Marrakesh. This is the largest and most famous square in the city. Snake charmers, performers, comedians, fortune tellers all gather here when the sun goes down.
A young fisherman’s daughter along the Atlantic coast in Morocco.
A young fisherman’s daughter walking home from the oyster farm along the Atlantic coast in Morocco.
The local cemetery of Asilah is a patchwork of beautifully tiled graves
The local cemetary is a patchwork of beautifully tiled graves enjoying one of the best views in town. The pier just behind serves as a meeting point for the town’s youth.
Nomad women wearing cloth cloaks to protect them from the sandstorms.
Nomad women and child riding on donkey’s wearing cloth cloaks to protect them from the sandstorms.
The monumental Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca.
The monumental Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, with one of the tallest minarets in the world.
Enjoying an aperitif in the living room of Dar Armane
Enjoying an aperitif in the living room.
A vulture perches on the prow of a fishing boat
A vulture perches on the prow of a fishing boat on the beach.
Biking the Atlas .
A Berber woman is squatting amongs her merchandise.
The souk is a highly organised affair. Depending on the type of products merchants take up their position. A Berber woman is squatting amongs her merchandise.
Tanneries of Fez have been there since the 16th century.
Hidden behind various houses and carpet shops in the middle of the old Fez medina is a square as big as two football pitches where the tanneries are located. From the surrounding rooftops you can see the intricate honeycomb of vats where animal hides have been dyed since the 16th century.
Local artists in Asilah,
Local artists are thriving in Asilah, which hosts an annual art festival in August, the Moussem. Artists from around the world attend to paint murals on the town walls, inspired by the town itself.
Tagine chicken and olives at Dar Amane
Tagine chicken and olives. Tagine is made in a special clay pot that cooks for hours on the stove.
Women from the market come over to do henna work
Women from the market come over to the villa to do henna work.
The 16th century colonial Portuguese village of El Jadida.
The 16th century colonial village of El Jadida. The Portuguese lost control of this trading post after bitter fighting in 1769.
A tagine made up of chicken, lemon and olives.
A tagine made up of chicken, lemon and olives.
The ramparts of the ancient town Asilah
The ramparts of the ancient town serve nowadays as a playground for local children.
Moments of Morroco
Only an hour’s ferry trip from Spain, Tangier is the gateway to Morocco and offers a fascinating mix of Andalusian and Moorish influences. From here you can go on to discover the magic of the North: the artist’s village of Asilah, Tetouan’s impressive medinas, the beautiful blue mountain town of Chefchaouen, the Roman ruins of Vollubilis and Mèknes – known as the ‘Versailles of Morocco.’ Not to be missed are the many attractions of Fez & Marrakech the oldest of Morocco’s imperial cities, to compleet the journey we visit the dazzling Atlas mountains and the beginning of the Sahara .
Text : Floris Leeuwenberg