A WEEK IN
MOROCCO
Day 1: Marrakech
We arrived in Marrakech around midday. We took a taxi to go to our riad in the heart of the medina (the old city) (tips: bargain the taxi price at the airport). Warm welcome in our riad called Jnane Mogador with a Moroccan tea. A charming riad with a lovely staff. We planed to walk in the souk of Marrakech the afternoon and to discover Moroccan craft objects. (tips if you want to buy a souvenir bargain the price, divide it by 2 or 3). But first we took a fresh orange juice on the place Jemaa el Fna, so sweet and so good! And we had lunch on one of the rooftop restaurant of the place Jemaa El Fna. At the end of the day we came back to our riad where we book a hammam and massage so relaxing and the prices were fair! The night in the middle of the place Jemaa al fna, animation and restaurant take place. We decide to have dinner in one of those restaurant, simple and authentic food.
Day 2: Desert trip : Marrakech - Atlas Mountain - Ait Ben Haddou - Ouarzazate - Dades
It's easier and cheaper to book a desert trip with an agency. It's lot of drive to do in few days! They usually propose you 2, 3 or 4 days in the desert, with 2 days you will not see at all the nice desert dunes so we advise you 3 or 4 days. We personally choose 3 days with Traces Berbères (We booked more than once with them they reply quick and are reliable).
First stop was in the Atlas Mountain, it wasn't snowing but around December you can see snow. We were at 2260m above the sea level the view was amazing. Second stop the village of Ait Ben Haddou, a traditional village made famous by the cinema, use for exemple in Game of Throne. Third stop the city of Ouarzazate, the Moroccan hollywood, with cinema studios, most of the movie related to middle east are made here! Crossing the rose valley where they made rose water, we finally arrive in our hotel in Dades Boulemane. A charming hotel called Jardin de la Source and a lovely staff.
Day 3: Desert trip: Dades - Tinghir - Todra - Merzouga
On the way to the desert of Merzouga but two more stop before. The first stop was in the village of Tinghir, a berber village. We were welcomed by a guide that show us around and the berber rug weaving. (tips: during your trip don't forget to give to the guides and driver a little something at the end). The second stop was in the Todra Gorge. We feel so small in front of this canyon cliff. Morgane went there younger to climb it. In fact it's a nice natural climbing spot!
We arrive before sunset in the dunes of Merzouga, our camels were waiting us for a ride of 1h30. Amazing landscape with the sunset but ride camels is painful after a while! We finally arrived in our camp for the night. The berber guide offered us a shisha, before dinner, and after we were all seating around the fire singing and listening traditional berber song. The sky was full of stars and be careful you can also see shooting stars (tips: in winter is really cold in the desert, so bring warm clothes)
Day 4: Desert trip: Merzouga - Marrakech
The next morning we woke up before sunrise and we did the way back at the back of a pick up! We first drunk a tea in a nomad village. And after we drove to the highest dune, that we climbed (it wasn't easy!) to see an breathtaking view with the sunrise! A magic moment. Back in the pick up, riding the dunes we had trills! And now 9h of drive to come back to Marrakech! A long trip but it was worth it!
Day 5: Marrakech
Last night we change hotel to be in the Palmeraie and discover another side of Marrakech more peaceful. This second hotel is called Murano. The morning we went to the visit the Jardin Majorelle, an amazing place that inspire YSL for it's creation. I advise you to also visite the Museum YSL it's really interesting and well done. Both of them cost around 15£ and we advise you to go early morning because there is always a queue in front!
For lunch we came back in the hotel to enjoy the swimming pool and relax like a real princess and prince life! And the afternoon we did a quad tour. It's an activity that Morgane was always doing young when she was going to Marrakech. And it's so much fun! Daniele love it too! Don't be scared of the speed, and to be dirty because you will eat lot of sand!
Day 6: Essaouira
On the road between Marrakech and Essaouira, look around because you can see goats on argan trees! We arrive for lunch in Essaouira a costal city. We first went to the fish market, authentic place where you can't be picky with the smell and the cleanliness. You can also see all this blue fishermen traditional boats. Next to it you have a square with lot of restaurants that propose you fresh fish from the market on the BBQ, super good and super cheap, we paid 30£ for 4 poeple. After that we walk to the rampart of the medina. We got lost in the street and bought our souvenirs here because so much cheaper than Marrakech. In this relaxing atmosphere we drunk a tea in a cafe under the sunset listening street singer. We really enjoy the simplicity, authenticity and relaxed atmosphere of the city. After having dinner in a rooftop restaurant we come back in our cute riad called Chems Bleu.
Day 7: Oualidia
On the costal road direction Casablanca we stopped for lunch in the city of Oualidia. Famous for its oysters. We advised you to eat in the restaurant L'araignée Gourmande. Since she is kid Morgane was going there, it's a safe bet! After dinner enjoy a walk on the beach. You can also do a little boat tour on this colorful and cute boats. And you can drive to Casablanca.
IN AFRICA
RESTAURANTS
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NORTH EUROPE
. ICELAND . AMSTERDAM . BRIGHTON . LONDON .
IN AFRICA
- THE TRAVEL TIPS FROM A NOMADIC COUPLE -
NOMADICS AGAPEORNIS
10 THINGS TO DO IN
MEXICO CITY
We had lot of cliché about CDMX, we were imagining a big, grey and dangerous capital. But we were happily surprised that CDMX was a big, green and quite safe capital. Obviously we stayed in the center and we were careful as we are careful in every big city.
We took an airbnb in the neighborhood of Roma. We were close to everything : bars, restaurants, shops, historic center and airport and it was safe, so it was perfect. To move around we walked a lot but we also use the underground.
1- Go to Mercado de Artesanías La Ciudadela. This market is next to the center, it’s where you can buy all your Mexican souvenirs. Mexican culture is so rich of craftsmanship even if you don’t buy it was really nice to discover it. There is also some restaurant inside, we stopped to have breakfast it was super good.
2. Visit a museum Arte Popular. You will find lot of museum in Mexico city. Unfortunately when we were there many of the art museum were closed… little advice check on the website of the museum if it’s open before going. We went on the museum de Arte Popular, it was Sunday so the entrance was free. (Many museums are free the Sunday). We really like this museum it was super interesting we learned a lot about the Mexican culture. We really advise you to visit it!
3. Go to the Palacio de Bellas Artes. If it’s Sunday, you can enter for free, the architecture is super nice. In front of the building you have the Mirador of the Torre Latino, where you can have a super view of the city. We didn’t do it because we found it expensive and the queue was huge. Instead we walk down the shopping street direction Catedral Metropolitana.
4. Walk around la Plaza de la constitución. This square have a lot of animations. There is also the beautiful Catedral Metropolitana, the Palacio National and ruins from a old temple Tenochtitlan. We found a rooftop to have a drink on the top of a library. The view was super nice. The library is called Porrúa.
5. Go to the Plaza Garibaldi. On this square you have the museum of Tequila and many mariachis. We didn’t went to the museum because we were planning to go to the city of tequila later. But we enjoy seeing the group of mariachis singing around. But we didn’t stay that long we felt this neighborhood a bit dodgy.
6. Have a drink in Roma. Roma is the trendy neighborhood, you will find lot of nice bars and restaurants. We went to Mercado Roma, it’s a food court with lot of choice of food and a nice bar with good music on the roof.
7. Go to the parc Chapultepec. The parc Chapultepec is huge. We first started to visit the museum of Anthropology. This museum is super interesting and huge. After that we walk through the park direction the castle of Chapultepec. We couldn’t visit it because it has a maximum of entrance per day ( it was during covid, so not sure it’s still the case )
8. Go to Coyoacán. Coyoacán is in the south of Mexico City. We really loved this neighborhood because it keeps it’s authenticity. You can discover la plaza de Coyoacán where we stopped to have a beer at La Cervecería de Barrio, the cute market of Coyoacán and of course the famous museum of Frida Khalo. You absolutely need to book your ticket online few days before.
9. Visit the pyramid of Teotihuacán. We took the underground to Autobuses del Norte then we took a bus, it’s about an hour drive. The entrance is 80 MXN. The site is huge, the pyramid are still in good condition, it was really impressive.
10. Have Brunch in Roma. We found a super brunch place called Juana Juana. The place is super nice and the food was super good. We really recommend it.
