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very California. The King of Saudi Arabia built a merchandise, camel head and camel meat, caged cluster of red earthen buildings that now house
home here so I feel like I could live here too. chickens and stray cats, clay tagines and painted merchants who sell their local handicrafts.
The most enchanting of all Moroccan cities pottery, the tannery and all kinds of leather goods The improbable, magical site will be instantly
is the blue city of Chefchaouen. This stunning including pointy slippers, Moroccan poufs, belts recognizable to those who’ve seen Game of
village is nestled in the Rif Mountains, a 2.5 hour & bags, Berber and Arabian wool rugs, donkey Thrones or Lawrence of Arabia.
drive from Tangier and four hour drive from Fez. carts and horses. This is the place to buy authentic Marrakesh is Moroccan cool and the best
The town was painted blue by Jewish immigrants rugs at a value and, I should add, with the help of place to end a Moroccan adventure. Here
in the 1930s. A photographer’s dream and a a local guide. One would never want to attempt to one finds the most luxurious resort hotels,
shopper’s paradise, the best activity is getting lost navigate Morocco without a local guide. including La Mamounia, Royal Monsour
in the pedestrian alleyways. Moroccans love their To experience the essence of Morocco, one and Relais & Chateaux Palais Ronsard. At
breads and sweets, so you’ll find many pastry must live like a Nomad for at least one night in journeys end, lavish in the riches of the hotel’s
shops, cafes and Riads to try local Moroccan a luxury desert camp. The endless dunes of the opulent amenities and spend two days shopping
desserts topped off with a glass of mint tea. Merzouga Sahara are a spectacular must see! The in the most marvelous Marrakesh souks for
Enroute to Fez one crosses the Rif Mountain most memorable part of my adventure was a desert silk kaftans, Berber jewelry, leather, genuine
range where donkeys are used as transportation sunrise on camelback. We woke to the dark before Moroccan Argan oil, pounded copper, baskets
and shepherds tend to large flocks of sheep in dawn and rode camels into the red dunes as the and basket lamps.
the vast rocky landscape. This is considered the sun rose over the rolling ancient powdered sand. Now is the time to travel to Morocco,
goat cheese region, so you’ll find it on menus As the sun silently rose, we climbed the crested while the experience is culturally authentic
everywhere. The black goats live in the Rif dunes and the skies bloomed from purple to red to and commercialism hasn’t yet caught up with
Mountains and are famous for hanging out in the pink and orange. It was EPIC! the travel trend. Spring and Fall are the best
trees. There is plenty of drive time between times to travel to Morocco for the best weather.
The best handicraft and most cinematic souk Morocco’s highlights, and I don’t recommend Advance planning with a travel expert and a
is in Fez. The medina, Fez El Bali, is over 1200 self-drive. A hired private car and driver/guide private guide is essential.
years old and a designated UNESCO World is a must. Ait Ben Haddou sits in the middle of Lisa is a Luxury Travel Advisor affiliated
Heritage site. The souks inside are a labyrinth of nowhere at the base of the high Atlas Mountains with Preferred Travel & Company. She can be
earthen clay and wood, smells and colors, shade and is a highlight well worth the drive. A Kasbah reached at Lisa@preferrednaples.com
and light, straight out of an Indiana Jones movie. originally constructed by the sons of a leader 239-261-1177
Here one finds donkeys bearing merchants and “Haddou”features an extraordinary 11th century www.preferrednaples.com

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