Morocco on the coast of north Africa, can be easily reached from a variety of airports throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. It is one of the closest and most easily accessible exotic cultures, which is virtually on the doorstep of us all. Many tourists travel to browse the souks of Marrakech or Fes, surf the beaches of Essaouira, bathe …
Feeling special at the Sahara Palace Hotel – Marrakech
Everybody wants to feel special, and arriving at the Sahara Palace Hotel, a The Park managed hotel in Marrakech, Morocco for a sneak peek and dinner with General Manager Mr Rahman, I certainly felt pretty special. The visit had started low key enough, I was collected from my riad in the heart of the busy Medina of Marrakech by the …
Postcard from Marrakech; Favourite Destinations Photo Series
This might seem to be a surprising choice of image to represent the bustling Moroccan city of Marrakech. Maybe an image of the amazing Djemaa el Fna square, perhaps a colourful fabric or spice stall from the surrounding souks may seem more appropriate. These seem to be the foundations of the North African culture, hives of frenetic activity and tourism, …
Postcards from Morocco; Mosaics in the Medina
The medinas of Morocco are fascinating, a colourful alien culture which is within easy reach of most of Europe. Most are vibrant labyrinths, bustling hives of activity which offer a snapshot of the culture of the North African country. Since the ‘Arab Spring’ revolution there has been a downturn in visitor numbers to parts of the region. The unrest causing …
The Joy of Souks
Browsing souqs (souks) whether in Morocco, Egypt or in Oman is always a fascinating experience. They are entirely different from western markets, hives of activity where haggling is usually not only encouraged but expected. Often bustling, especially in popular tourist destinations where visiting a souq is one of the one of the highlights of the trip. Alien experiences which allow …
Postcard from Essaouira, a Moroccan fish market
The fish market in the Moroccan city of Essaouira, is an alien place to most westerners and probably a place that many would not dream of buying anything from especially food for their own table. There is little doubt that it is unlikely the market has ever seen a visit from an Environmental Health Officer, it is an extremely grubby …
Postcard from Essaouira, Morocco; The card game
This image is a perfect example of a photography principle I am often banging on about; get the image first and foremost! It was taken near the jewish quarter in the medina at Essaouira in Morocco. Exploring the maze of backstreets we came upon this little scene of some men playing cards in a small room. The image is far …
Morocco; A story of three medinas
Medinas are the old usually fortified parts of many Arabic cities, especially in Morocco, North Africa; this is a tale of just three. There is something special about entering a medina; they are often hectic, filled with various forms of transportation with travellers attempting to negotiate the narrow streets and merchants. They are a labyrinth of tiny alleyways which adds …
Postcard from the Moroccan 3 Amigos, Essaouira
I met these three guys outside an orphanage in Essaouira where a fundraising auction was being held. Seeing some of the young children was really heartwarming and it was great seeing the community get behind the project, buying various pieces of art. These guys were sitting outside on arrival, their colourful costumes immediately attracted my eye but their smiles when …
Postcard from giant beach mushrooms, Essaouira
I loved these beach sunshades the moment I laid eyes on them, and spent awhile trying to find an uncluttered image which showed them off without too many distractions. I just love the haphazard spacing and angles, they look like giants just threw them into the sand leaving them where they landed. They also look like huge mushrooms but maybe …