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Getting to MOROCCO in ideal flying weather

On Tuesday morning, 17 April 2012, we flew from Hannover via Nueremberg to Agadir in Morocco in the ten day vacation. In particular, the flight from South Germany over France, Spain to North Africa were ideal visibility. It get me very impressive shots.

Almost to the day (on Saturday, 15 April 1972) 40 years ago , I flew in the night the same distance from Frankfurt and Zurich to North Africa. However, then came my first flight on to Dakar in Senegal, where we landed in the early morning around 4 clock. Across the Atlantic, we met in the amount of Recife in Brazil and then flew on to my destination Buenos Aires. In Argentina, I spent as a commissioning engineer for over half a year an exciting time in La Plata. In between I also undertook a number of interesting trips to Chile, Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay.

While I was at that time made beautiful DIA recordings of the Brazilian coastline and landing in Buenos Aires with my SLR camera Asahi Pentax Spotmatic, I now own a modern, digital NIKON SLR camera and can immediately check the images on the monitor. So I was surprised by the impressive Alps mountain range from an altitude of nearly 10,000 meters.

The Alps mountain range

The airport of Toulouse

We flew parallel to the Alps and passed the Lake of Geneva, which, however, under a cloud formation was obscured at low altitude. In Toulouse in France, we flew over the AIRBUS manufacturing premises with the large airfield. After our plane flew over Toulouse, the pilot changed the flight direction to the south and we crossed after a short time the Pyrenees.

The Pyrenees

The Pyrenees

About Spain, the impression changed from the machined cultural landscape as it was found in Germany and France, to parched tracts of land that are made available with the help of water from reservoirs. Quite surprisingly, showed up shortly before the Mediterranean, the snow-capped Sierra Nevada and then we approached even the North African coast. As we flew over the Atlas Mountains, it was not very far up to our Destination: Agadir. A very interesting flight left after 3.5 hours on end and I have gained impressive images. In my book "Unterwegs mit dem Flugzeug" I have shown the aerial photos of the trip to Morocco in the chapter " Anreise nach Marokko bei idealem Flugwetter".

Reservoir in Spain

Sierra Nevada and the Mediterranean Coast

The coast of North Africa

The Atlas Mountains

Village in the Atlas Mountains

Atlas Mountains to Agadir

First inquiries in AGADIR

Although we arrived with a very positive holiday mood and in fine summer weather in Agadir, at the beginning we had surprisingly difficult to find our way in this Muslim culture. It began during the transfer from the airport to the hotel so that the driver of our bus our famous " Agadir Beach Club" could not find, and we got as presents a free city tour (but without statements). In our beautiful hotel we were offered only once the traditional Moroccan tea, escorted to a separate room, then gave us papers that we had to be very accurately fill with our personal information. Then we were given the room key - far away from the hotel reception.

Agadir Beach Club

Also, the first reconnaissance mission in the very modern and international city center was a big disappointment: we were in search of just one supermarket where we could buy drinks and fruit. But it found far and wide no markets or were closed to 15 clock. This irritated us a lot - even though I could make myself understood in French and we were obviously always misguided. Therefore, we decided once for a lunch in front of a small restaurant near the bird park (at the Place Bijaouane). We we enjoyed the grilled fish and drinking to beer or Rose wine. The whole thing cost 20 euros (a passable price).

After we walked through the bird park up, I discovered your right to Shopping market "Mini Prix" (this I had already noticed in the morning during the " city tour " with our transfer bus). There we could buy the desired beverage. Our red wine, however, was priceless: 58 euros - a misunderstanding. After fruit we had to look any further! This we found in the " vaults " of the Marche Central, which is located next to the Mini Prix. After this frustration we had no desire to further ventures and we retired to our hotel room to relax back .

The following day was the motto: " New game - new luck ". We had learned from the very helpful lady at the hotel information that could be quite inexpensive taxi ride (20 dirhams, or about 2 euros) to a very large supermarket ' Marjane ' . There you would get everything - in addition to drinks and fruit also clothing and shoes. The latter (swimsuit , shorts and sandals) we were able to buy very reasonably priced. On the way back by taxi to the hotel I discovered in the vicinity of a shopping arcade laying at the right hand from the hotel (the day before we were to the left hand went to the city center) and was easy to reach after a walk of 10 minutes.

Shopping mall near the hotel

Supermarket near the hotel

painter

exhibition of paintings

Now this was the adventure of 3 Day: The exploration of the discovered shopping arcade. Jutta was a very nice, typical local beach dress that she could bargain down to 400 dirham (about 40 euros). And there we found the little supermarket that could satisfy all our desires (the fruit we took after lunch from the buffet). However, the market had a longer lunch break to 16 clock .

Agadir Beach Club: "Rest in paradise flowers"

Happily went exploring our very large hotel complex " Agadir Beach Club" from the beginning a lot less stressful and we very quickly found a cozy place at the swimming pool on a deck chair with a mat and - on request - even an umbrella (this was after 11 clock very useful). Less pleasant was the swimming pool which was not deep enough to swim well can. Nevertheless I found for my mandatory hotel review the representative entitled " Rest in paradise flowers " (with pleasure that I read of the " HolidayCheck Award 2012 " , which the " Agadir Beach Club" was honored as one of the 99 best hotels in the world).

The hotel complex

Our balcony among the trees (above)

The swimming pool

The hotel complex

The arrangement of the building complex in ring shape with a lovely garden setting was an oasis of calm in the noisy and busy Agadir. We enjoyed our time in the morning at the swimming pool and subjected us to the excellent buffet lunch (from 12 clock 30) for Siesta back to our room.

flowers

flowers

After the disappointment of the first day we were able to in the following days the international Agadir, which has set with its numerous hotels for the tourists from Europe, but withaout charm. This is also linked to the particular fate of Agadir together on 29 February 1960 saw the inhabitants of a momentous earthquake (the epicenter was below the Medina). Within 15 seconds, four-fifths of all houses collapsed and 15,000 people (of total 50,000) were killed. They did not lose courage and built with international assistance, the new, modern Agadir on. Therefore, now it feels like in Agadir in a southern French resort. The Arabic flair we learned later from our excursions to Essaouira and Taroudant know.

Wonderful walks on the wide sandy beach

The beautiful beach (10 km long and up to 200 m wide) is certainly the particular attraction of modern Agadir. On the back of our "Agadir Beach Club Hotel" was a door through which you could easily go on the beach boardwalk to the beautiful sandy beach. Through this door " smuggled " we also unobserved drinks into the hotel - although it was not officially allowed. The door to the beach was closed every night by 19 clock 30.

The wide sandy beach

The beach at the Centre

The bar on the beach

Directly opposite the hotel, there was a beach with plenty of sun loungers and parasols. Anyone who wanted to could spend the whole day there. We moved long walks on the beach before, they washed our feet and reoccupied our poolside lounge chairs and moved us back to our room. There, we felt comfortable and completely unmolested by the " free traders ".

The harbor in the background

The fishing harbor

During our beach walks towards Agadir city center you could very well see the port facilities at the upper end of the beach. On our day trip to Essaouira, we drove past the harbor above and get it to me very nice shots.

The Atlantic coast of north AGADIR

This bus excursion to Essaouira on the Atlantic coast (on Monday, 20 April 2012) in a northerly direction turned out to be a real journey into the past of the Moroccan people. But first things first! Behind Agadir began a dramatic rocky coastline with foamy waves. In Tarhazout we discovered before the "Paradis Plaga" avid surfers that fascinated these fantastic waves. This interest runs the Government - specifically the Ministry of Tourism - not rest. She plans there stylish accommodation with max. 16,000 beds ("Vision 2010").

The Atlantic Coast

The Atlantic Coast

The Atlantic Coast

A journey into the past

When reaching Cap Rhir (with the lighthouse at 361 meters above sea leve), we removed ourselves from the coast and headed inland. Then on the P 8 it went in a northerly direction until shortly before Essaouira. Although we came through fertile valleys (those with larger banana plantations were located), we passed a similar barren landscape as I have experienced more than 40 years ago in the Andes.

Banana plantation

herd of goats

Goats in the duck

We found them a real culture shock, to lead in a comfortable coach through a landscape where people were moving like hundreds of years ago on donkeys and camels at a leisurely pace. And even though the sun is shining very intense, we could almost nowhere seen solar panels on the roofs. What surprised us, however, houses that had to be demolished were (the remains were still around) because they did not meet the strict requirements earthquake in Morocco.

Goats at harvest

Donkey waits for its owner

Donkey rider

Dromedar rider

landscape

The production of valuable Argane oil

Cooperative Marjana

The sale store

After a short break in Tamanar we drove on to the Cooperative Marjana where you demonstrated to us the laborious production of valuable Argane oil. Moroccan women sat on the floor and cracked painfully with stones the nuts to then win with an ancient stone mill the expensive oil. Jutta and I had some doubts whether the production is really the applied (in China we had experienced a grinding shop for precious stones where only one worked, when tourists were present ).

FILLING : In a GOOGLE + - Contribution from Agadir / Morocco I received the following additional information for Cooperative Marjana:

"Good morning sir,

We are an agricultural cooperative for the production of argan oil and its derivatives

Our product holds a certificate of quality European

Certificate of quality organic

Certificate Products Staff

Look for business partners in Morocco and abroad

Of communication you can contact us on

00212 528 887 013 "

(Post " Argane oil ")

production

production

For sale shop

Encounter with Islam in ESSAOUIRA

The former Portuguese fort

After a journey time of 4 h (from Agadir) we arrived at around 11 clock 30 in the city of Essaouira, which was recommended to us because of its traditional Islamic atmosphere at. Highly visible was the former Portuguese fort at the port. But my wife and I were just using alone in the old town look (behind the massive fortress walls). Therefore, we separated from the tour group that we saw each other again until the date of departure by 15 clock 30 in Agadir.

Dog at the fountain

butcher

carpet shop

gate

We were very impressed by this city that Muhammed Ben Abdallah middle of the 18th Century was of a captured French engineer , named Cornut build . Thus, an old town with straight streets and not, as was customary in Morocco as a maze with crooked dead ends.

plaque

Restaurant " La Cantina "

However, we were only looking for a small, clean restaurant because we wanted to have lunch. Quite surprisingly, we found the English run restaurant " La Cantina " . The chilli burger and the homemade cake tasted excellent and the friendly English ladies were certainly excited about our enthusiasm.

At the entrance to the mosque

on the way

Tradition and modernity

After this delicious meal, we went in search of photo opportunities. In the interesting streets and buildings that was no problem. Difficult to the recordings of the Moroccan styled. We knew that would be lived much more traditional in Essaouira the Muslim faith than the international Agadir. Accordingly photo shy were the veiled Moroccan women. This responded partially even outraged when they were photographed. But had Jutta a "happy hand " , slightly less inhibitions and get it to her very remarkable recordings (without it the camera out of his hand was torn as the "Valley of the Kings" at Luxor in 2003 in Egypt - only against a payment of 50 € at the guards of the royal tombs they got him without film back).

Stormy Sea

Stormy sea at fort

The author at the fort

Cannon at the fort

fruit stand

Sea Gull

Fisherman when cleaning

fishing boats

At the harbor

Jutta at the harbor

Friendly Moroccans

Pisces

After these exciting experiences in the old town, we walked to the fishing port. Highly visible was the imposing castle, which built by the Portuguese in 1506, to demonstrate their economic interest in the North African coast. Everything still looks as if it had been only left yesterday. Even the big guns are still in battle position.

On " Place Moulay Hassan "

passerby

Jutta is impressed by Essaouira

After all the sightseeing at the fishing harbor, we sat at the " Place Moulay Hassan " on a bench and let the people pass by us (we had more than 2 hours of time to catch). Now we felt arrived in traditional Morocco - Agadir was what the international simply not possible. We are already looking forward to our second trip to the former caravanserai with the slave market, Taroudant. Without much difficulty we got around 19 clock back to Agadir (distance approximately 220 km) back. A rewarding adventure with many impressions we had behind us.

The souks in the former caravanserai of Taroudant

On Monday, the 23 April 2012, the time had come with the trip to Taroudant. But this should be just a half-day trip because we only had about 80 km to travel at this time. After a ride on highways and a boring, flat landscape, we arrived in the fertile valley of "Oued Sous". We were in one of the largest orchards in Morocco. The juicy Moroccan oranges we had previously met and loved it.

Tea Restaurant

At about 9 clock 30 we stopped for a tea break of half an hour. We went into into a beautiful and cool garden where us a free mint tea was served. Peppermint tea is also called " Moroccan whiskey " in Morocco and consists of green tea, are given in the smaller peppermint leaves. It tastes very refreshing and is always a pleasure.

The city gate

The Moroccan tour guide

After this refreshing break, we drove the short distance to one of the entrance gates of Taroudant. We left the bus and joined us for a half-hour walk through the souks of Taroudant with the Moroccan guide, Azizi Samir Abdelaziz ( asamir@menara.ma ) on. He spoke French , German and English and made a very good job.

In the Souk

copperware

Since he did not know my name, he called me suddenly while the guide " Ali Baba " (a baker probably had bread offered to try, which I should also cost ). To be addressed as " Ali Baba " because of my gray beard, I was not new. Already in 2003, during our cruise on the Nile in Egypt they called me " Ali Baba " too. Incidentally, in 1954 the movie " Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves " with the French actor Fernandel ("Don Camillo") was partly filmed in Taroudant - informed me the tour guide .

Colorful mixtures

The tours of the two souks were very impressive, the variety of goods inspiring and the different colors and smells changed from stand to stand And again it was very difficult to take pictures of the people - to make - especially from sellers. Even after a firm purchase they were not willing to let yourself take pictures.

The Berber House

After our guide (around 11 clock 30) Jutta and I visited alone the Berber house. I do not impressive was (a conglomeration of old and new decorative items - I had a museum expected) and really wanted to go back because Jutta found a small, beautiful carpet, which she downloaded was about 1,600 to 800 dirhams (about 80 euros). Now, this keepsake adorns my office.

Hamam on Marocan!

A special event that should complement our image of Arab Morocco still, was the visit of the "Turkish bath" (hamam). It is a tradition for us to visit the hamam in Arab countries. Only in Turkey but we had this opportunity so far. There you can visit the hammam together - but there is also the "Arab Dress Code " means the genitals remain with towels throughout the procedure covered.

In the Hamam of the "Agadir Beach Club Hotel" all this was not possible: we had to separately visit the relatively small Haman. My session began at 10 clock and ended an hour later. The scrub was excellent. Strong masseuse was proud that they " scratch tracks" was able to show me my skin small. The face was not spared. In the afternoon the women were allowed in the hamam. Jutta's shift started by 15 clock. At 16 clock we met again at the fitness center. And then the hour massage began: Jutta with a wife and I with a man (and in separate rooms). Another experience that leaves us better understand the Arabic traditions!

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 19.02.2014

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