Read more about the article Casablanca – Morocco
Casablanca - Morocco

Casablanca – Morocco

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Berber Anfa

It is nice to be back in Morocco, specially since we’ve only been to Marrakesh 3 years ago and that city is probably the exception to the rest of the country, quite annoying in the sense of the hundreds of people trying to sell you anything or trying to make you go to their shop or restaurant. On and on and on! What a relieve to be honest not to experience such a hassle in Casablanca, nor the rest of the cities we would visit in this trip.

Although Casablanca is one of the cities with the “less sights” compared to most of the other large and medium size cities in Morocco, it is still a nice city very worth to visit. We’ve heard before from people and friends saying there is only the Great Mosque and nothing else, but as usual in these cases we prefer to rather trust more our experience and intuition and see for ourselves and boom!, we were right. It is in fact a modern city with many things to do and see. Already it is nice just to walk the wide avenues and admire the pretty French colonial buildings everywhere, most of which are in immaculate state of preservation with hundreds more being restored. A very clean and elegant city, nothing to compare with the rather messy and stuck in time Marrakesh of our previous experience.

The location of the city also makes a difference. Right by the Atlantic coast, although it does have in fact a very Mediterranean flair, even though this is the other coast! But the white colour of the buildings, the nice Corniche promenade by the coast and beach, and the very long daylight are all a great bonuses. (more…)

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Read more about the article Alexandria – Egypt
Alexandria - Egypt

Alexandria – Egypt

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Where the greatest ancient lighthouse once stood

Even though we had a very tight agenda and not too many days and time overall while in Egypt for this trip, we definitely planned a day out to visit what was once upon a time, one of the greatest, most luxurious and vibrant cities the earth has seen, Alexandria. Unfortunately, today that glorious of the past is long gone. First, and main cause, the many earthquakes which made the ancient city to sank and disappear under the Mediterranean Sea, together with the remaining of the Great Lighthouse; and secondly, for the current state of the city where no one seems to take care that much for the old architecture and buildings, the lack of cleanliness and general care.

We found ourselves immersed in a city full of waste. In every park, corner or even by the beach, there was dump. Hundreds of plastic bags full of rubbish everywhere. Really disappointing to see, and at points quite uncomfortable. We knew it was just a matter of bad luck that time since it was a general cleaning strike; still, the dump was not just coming from it, but for months and months of careless behaviour.

Then, all these countless beautiful French colonial buildings in that state of disrepair. Just some paint and general care and would make a totally different city. I hope they don’t take that long until they realise what incredible potential they have in this city and do something about to solve it. It could definitely be a very beautiful and elegant city. (more…)

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Read more about the article Giza, Saqqara and Dahshur – Egypt
Giza - Egypt

Giza, Saqqara and Dahshur – Egypt

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The last surviving Wonder of the Ancient World

This is without exception, the highlight of any trip to Egypt that also includes Cairo. Giza in any case, it is nowadays a suburb of the ever expanding Cairo, where the houses have reached literally the very limit of the fences that separate it with the Giza Plateau. Not a very wise decision, as it’s not any more as impressive as it would have been to arrive to Giza and see the Pyramids in full from far, and not a Pizza Hut for example, right opposite the Sphinx entrance!

The first and most impressive, complete, historical and largest of the ancient Pharaohs necropolis is Giza; then at just few kilometres to the south is Abusir, the next funerary complex which is closed to visitors, at least by the time of our trip here. And immediately south of Abusir is the enormous Saqqara, where the oldest pyramid ever built in humanity is located (the Step Pyramid, or Pyramid of Djoser), with many others from larger to much smaller, many tombs and the Imhotep Museum.

The last necropolis complex, and still within an acceptable radius distance from Cairo is Dahshur, where the first true smooth-sided pyramid was ever built, The Red Pyramid of Sneferu; and one of the very last ever built by the Egyptians, the Bent Pyramid; unique in the way that has two different angles since they did not know anymore how to build pyramids. Completing the funerary complex is the Black Pyramid of Sneferu, nowadays collapsed, but the original maze of corridors still intact underground.

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Read more about the article Cairo – Egypt
Cairo - Egypt

Cairo – Egypt

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The largest city in the Arab world

As Easter came, what best way to spend it than going away and get the best of the bank holidays, escaping the horrible cold weather in Europe for the 30+ degrees in Cairo. Yes, one of the most beautiful dream destinations finally becoming a reality. And in the planning, coupling this trip to some of the greatest places this marvellous country has to offer.

This is the largest city in the Arab world, and one of the largest in the planet. A massive melting pot of ancient civilizations and cross-roads of cultures, ever growing as far your eyes can reach. Once the epi-centre of the world’s second oldest civilization known to man, and do the wealthiest and longest ever to be in the planet. Consider the fact that we are closer to Cleopatra in time than the original Egyptians. It’s fascinating to think about it, and of course the invaluable legacy left and the few we know about them with only around 10% of the entire civilization uncovered from the sand, and that is already vast.

No matter what we hear in the news, sometimes sad, other horrific when a terrorist attack happened in the city, what is certain is the great and fascinating people; truly nice and helpful, very hospitable and kind making you feel secure and protected; and there are hordes of people. Way too many inhabitants everywhere, packing the streets and the roads everywhere. It is a very secure city and a tourist should not fear nor be scared. Egypt is a very potent tourist destination, ever growing and developing.

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Read more about the article Marrakesh – Morocco
Marrakesh - Morocco

Marrakesh – Morocco

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The Red City, The daughter of the desert

Another of our winter, low season trips take us this time to one of the most historical cities in Morocco, ancient Marrakesh; and what is best, for such a great air fare deal. I keep recalling on this, honestly, if you are the kind of person who loves culture and sights rather than relax and beach only, consider visiting countries such as Morocco during the low season, this is, during the European winter months, when everything is way cheaper and you get to enjoy the cities without the hordes of tourists. Yet also, it’s a nice treat escape the cold January days for some 25 degrees and sun.

On this occasion I will be quite honest and direct to the point. Marrakesh was not a city that will leave some legacy in my list of great destinations. Instead, I was quite surprised to find quite a dirty place but worst of all, the annoying people everywhere trying to sell you anything, pushing you, grabbing and touching you to drive attention to what they have to offer. Noticeable in the main market square, and towards the evening, if you are looking around for a restaurant, you will not have a second of peace and silence. You will be surrounded by one after another “restaurant waiters” trying to get you on to what they claim “the best ever restaurant”.

Learn to send them away, say no, don’t worry even if this means no eye contact, and have your time to check the menus by yourself. Don’t hesitate in needing to say no rudely to whoever comes from the restaurant nearby. You must be really tough and direct. This people don’t listen until you really use a stronger vocabulary. As opposed, everywhere else we’ve been in Morocco is the antipodes; so polite, so nice and so easy to communicate and immerse into their culture.

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Read more about the article Tunis, Carthage and Sidi Bou Said – Tunisia
Tunis, Carthage and Sidi Bou Said - Tunisia

Tunis, Carthage and Sidi Bou Said – Tunisia

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Liberty, Order, Justice

Tunis, a vibrant modern capital city growing constantly in the shadow of its rich ancient history; beautiful, elegant, organised and safe yet often bypassed by the tourists seeking the resorts along the coast such as Sousse, Monastir or Djerba; however it really deserves a special mention and visit. This is a place where you will fill at times as if you were anywhere in France while at the turn of a street, in the middle of an Arabian Night tale, all in perfect harmony coexisting each others with care and respect. No wonder why Tunisia has gained its reputation as one of the most open and respectful country among the Arab world. A mosque, a Catholic church or a Synagogue on the same street? no problem, everyone is welcomed.

Having been a French colony, the architecture and language is clearly part of its heritage. French and Arab is understood and spoken across the nation, not so much with the English for what a little bit of French would help you going further and getting better deals when bargaining the shops of the bazaar in the Medina. While this is a maze of labyrinthine narrow streets completely filled with shops along both sides of the road, traditional Arab architecture in the mosques, houses, schools and palaces all of which now listed an UNESCO World Heritage Site; in the other hand, and side by side, is the Ville Nouvelle. The new city created by the French with planned tree-lined wide avenues and squares built with the architectural styles of that era. Expect to see mostly art-nouveau and art-deco.

Visiting the city, both the Medina and Ville Nouvelle is easy and straightforward. An entire day is generally a good calculation. Certainly less than that will be pointless to be honest, 2 days would be ideal, but any longer is unnecessary. Still, you need to include in your plans Carthage and Sidi Bou Said (explained later), and this means an extra day. Now if you ask me if the city and these places can all be visited in a weekend trip, then yes, but only if knowing how to move from a place to another without losing any time. But in a country where you can have some great beers and wine in nice bars (it is allowed to drink alcohol), with that many incredible coffee and shisha places, restaurants and shops, don’t rush this too much, 3 days is the ideal.

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