Things to do in Morocco

My birthday is a big deal. I owe this to my mother’s love for organizing elaborate birthday parties for us when we were kids. So turning 30 had to be celebrated for the big event it is. I chose to spend this momentous occasion in Morocco. Here’s what I loved about this African country with a huge European and Middle-eastern influence; here’s also what you should do in Morocco:

View the Hassan II mosque from across The Atlantic Ocean

Casablanca is a lot like Mumbai in the sense that it’s the business centre. The biggest and brightest thing about it is the Hassan II mosque. With the largest mosque minaret in the world, at 210 metres, it is hard to miss from anywhere in the city. Entering the premise of this prayer house by the ocean left us feeling tiny in comparison.

The intricate mosaics in shades of blue, yellow, and green add to the grandeur and make for Instagram-friendly pictures. 

But the absolute best part about Hassan II is its view from across the Atlantic Ocean, on which it stands. Drive to the other side of town, past the Corniche and up the hill to the last shanties of Casablanca, and be blown away by the beauty of this structure.

Bargain for leather in Fes

Each of Morocco’s cities, except Agadir, has a medina – or a traditional market dating back centuries. The one in Fes is a proper labyrinth. Our guide was a local so he could navigate the place like the back of his hand but I’d probably get out of there in a few years, if I were left there without Maps. Discover trinket stalls, dry fruit and perfume shops, mosques, museums and leather shops on either sides of the streets as you squeeze past animals pulling carts.

While you’re there, viewing a tannery from one of the many buildings that sell leather goods is a surreal experience. We were taken to view the Sidi Moussa tannery, one of the three at the medina. 

The Chouara tannery is the largest and oldest. Sniff on lots of the mint leaves you’ll be handed at the door to avoid nausea from the smell of drying animal skin. If you are a fan, buy one of the many shapes and shades of leather goods available but be sure to bargain first! It’s expected and encouraged.

Take a history lesson

A little off Fes is Meknes, an imperial city. Century-old remnants such as Bab Mansour, an intricately designed colourful gate, whose maker lost his life in the 1700s so he wouldn’t recreate such a beauty, pay testament to this fact. We discovered the sites, and gates, of this quiet city on the way to Volubilis, which is the highlight of this region.

A Berber city from the 3^rd century, Volubilis was home to Prophet Idris, descendant of Prophet Mohammed. The excavations are half complete but lend a glimpse of this once-rich Roman settlement, complete with its mosaic flooring and Jacuzzi-like home baths. We drove through his eponymous town a few kilometre away, atop two hills, to enjoy the view of the dotted homes and wonderful winds.

Watch the Mediterranean Sea meet the Atlantic Ocean

On our way to Tangier from Fes, we made a quick stop at Chefchaouen, the blue city of Morocco. Perched atop the Rif Mountains, this cool blue city warmed our eyes and filled our bellies with a scrumptious tagine lunch. 

But as we came down to the coastal city of Tangier, we were welcomed with the stark mix of blue and green waters. The Strait of Gibraltar is the meeting point of the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. Watching them flow and ebb by the beaches of Tangier was the highlight of my trip. On that warm and sunny but windy afternoon, I wanted to do nothing but dip my toes in the very cold water. But it was a wise decision to enjoy the view from the viewing deck uphill from the city centre. What’s more, Spain is literally a 45-minute ferry ride from this bountiful city!

Another city that offered us a ‘wow’-worthy view of coloured waters was Rabat. We soaked up the sun as we saw the Atlantic Ocean meet the Bou Regreg River, at the Kasbah of Udayas, across from the city of Sale. Make the short climb uphill from the Kasbah’s gates, to the 12^th century fortress; the view is guaranteed to take your breath away. 

Eat pigeon pie

Vegetarian or non-vegetarian, whatever is your food preference, you will not be left wanting for delectable food in Morocco. After you’ve had copious amount of sweet mint tea (every hotel welcomed us with this) and tasted all types of tagines (meats and vegetables cooked in an earthen pot) try pastilla. This flaky pastry stuffed with pigeon—most commonly chicken—mince is both sweet and savoury. It packs a punch of flavours and goes well with harira, Morocco’s answer to tomato soup but with bits of meat, veggies, lentils and chickpeas too. 

When we were passing through Larache, a coastal town, on the way to Tangier, we gorged on whole prawns tossed in butter, garlic and parsley—shell and all. Do not miss the seafood on the coast! It is fresh and mouth-watering. Lastly, finish your meals with sweetmeats that put the ‘s’ in sugar.

Shop for olives in Marrakesh

Jemaa al Fnaa is, arguably, Africa’s most famous square. Home to some of the oldest and largest souks in Marrakesh, a visit to this area was a must. It is a bustling (often chaotic for a non-Mumbaiite) market during the day that transforms into a food lover’s paradise by night. We drank an abundant amount of orange juice for only Rs 20 per glass while shopping for ceramics, processed leather footwear and souvenirs. But the highlight of this place were the olives.

Our guide once told us that there are many olive trees in Morocco as there are people—so that’s about 3.5 crore! Safe to say, we ate a lot of olives on our trip. This square has a special souk that is dedicated to olives of various colours that are garnished with multiple herbs. At as little as Rs 150 per box, we picked these up to share with loved ones back home instead of the customary chocolate.