THE BRIEFEST OF UP DATE .......
………….. As
it’s flat-out at the office!
As
always the Christmas/New Year holiday period produced the usual high level of
enquiries and bookings, leaving us with very little left on our 10 date 2016
Moroccan Tour scheduling.
By Christmas we found ourselves down to just 4 tour dates with places available for 2016…………..Now there are just 3 dates left!!
The
MARCH Tour is now CLOSED………
APRIL
has just ONE vehicle place left……..
SEPTEMBER
has only THREE vehicle places left…….
OCTOBER
has just THREE vehicle places remaining…….
In the
last blog posting, just over a week ago, I suggested that subject to demand we
would consider a couple of additional dates……We did and they are now FULL. We
may, and I stress may, be able to accommodate an additional NOVEMBER tour but
for that and the aforementioned dates get in touch ASAP.
Whatever
your plans and wherever your travels take you our British, Spanish and Moroccan
staff at Desert Detours wish you a safe, healthy and exciting 2016……..
2016 TOUR DATES………..ALL THAT’S LEFT
1st Mar ‘16
|
THE MOROCCAN “CLASSIC” TOUR Trans
Riff-Atlas-Forest-Sahara-Atlantic Coast
|
CLOSED
|
1st April ‘16
|
THE MOROCCAN “CLASSIC” TOUR Trans
Riff-Atlas-Forest-Sahara-Atlantic Coast
|
ONLY ONE PLACE
|
3rd SEPT ‘16
|
THE MOROCCAN “CLASSIC” TOUR
Trans Riff-Atlas-Forest-Sahara-Atlantic Coast |
THREE PLACES
|
1st Oct ‘16
|
THE MOROCCAN “CLASSIC” TOUR
Trans Riff-Atlas-Forest-Sahara-Atlantic Coast |
THREE PLACES
|
THINGS THAT GO BOOM IN THE
NIGHT…………….
Whilst
working on my “Moroccan Blog” I came across some interesting news items
that are building up a momentum of interest.
Strange noises recorded over the last few days in a number of Moroccan
cities.
These bizarre and unfamiliar sounds have been heard
across a number of Moroccan cities since the New Year and have left people
wondering about its inexplicable nature. The odd
sounds have been reportedly heard in Casablanca, Agadir as well as other
Moroccan cities, shepherds and villagers are also submitting reports from
rural areas.
In the absence of a concrete scientific
explanation, the strange noise/s, which have been recorded and posted on
YouTube by many people, are prompting several theories, most of which are too
far from human reasoning.
Interestingly these sounds, as well as being
widespread, are heard both during the day and night.
Some social media users have associated the
occurrence with a religious explanation, claiming that “this is one of the
signs of the end of the world.” Others went as far as saying that the sound
came from “the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program, (HAARP),” an
important U.S. military defense program, which has generated quite a bit of
controversy over the past years. The HAARP program is allegedly a ‘secret
weapon’ used for weather modification and electromagnetic warfare.
Hoax or real………………You decide!
TAKE A BRIEF STEP BACK IN
TIME……………………
Considered one of the top destinations for
travellers worldwide, Marrakech is associated with rich culture, artistry, entertainment,
great nightlife, amazing cuisine, warm hospitality, and some of the most iconic
locations in Morocco.
I stumbled on this old
Pathe documentary [there are actually more than a few around for those
interested] and thought I would share. What I found particularly interesting
was the locations shown in the film and still recognizable……..
The 1948 documentary
“Marrakech – Desert Paradise” was presented by Pathé Pictures and depicted the
“Red City” in its mid-20th century. The documentary reflects the diversity of
Marrakech’s expression of Berber, Moorish, Middle Eastern, with Mediterranean
and Western Asian influences. Those that saw the Marrakech of the 1940s enjoyed
the unique tastes of authentic Moroccan spices, full Muslim garb, opium pipes,
where street shopping at the market place was the norm…….incredibly much has
remained….you just need to explore a little.
Situated in the foot hills
of the Atlas Mountains and founded by the Berber Almoravid dynasty in 1062
Marrakech was then just an oasis watering-hole, now it is undoubtedly the most
famous, alluring and charismatic town in Morocco….. “Ochre City”, “The land of
God” are just a couple of its many designations. Winston Churchill, the legendary British
politician, enjoyed his stays in the emblematic Mamounia Hotel, and many
rejoiced in the lifestyle of the 1948 “Pearl of the South”.
Now the real spirit of the
city, as it was in 1948, is its heart…..The Medina. This captivating
documentary recounts the lifestyle of the Moroccan city and if you have visited
recently look closely, past the men dressed in their traditional djellaba and the
women who were only recognizable by their full-cover veils, you will see one or
two familiar sights.
Winston
Churchill once said that Marrakech was “the most beautiful place on
Earth.”………Many have found it to be true, as the saying goes “He who once sees
Marrakech must always return.”
THESE BOOTS WERE MADE FOR WALKING……………..
If the fashion pundits are to be believed,
2016 will be the year of the babouche. Yes, the famous Moroccan slipper is
making another comeback [the last time was in the 17th century.] But if the image in
your head is of the traditional yellow or white slippers, then think again.
Fashion firms say that the backless flat is the must-have shoe, cool and insouciant. Gucci introduced them last season, as a chic fur-lined leather loafer, and the trend has continued with Wang, Victoria Beckham, Opening Ceremony and Narciso Rodriguez jumping on the babouche bandwagon and offering their own twist on the style for their pre-fall collections. The Céline version should set you back about £500 and will no doubt sell out, leaving the less well-off fashionistas searching for a cheaper, “more authentic” pair.
Fashion firms say that the backless flat is the must-have shoe, cool and insouciant. Gucci introduced them last season, as a chic fur-lined leather loafer, and the trend has continued with Wang, Victoria Beckham, Opening Ceremony and Narciso Rodriguez jumping on the babouche bandwagon and offering their own twist on the style for their pre-fall collections. The Céline version should set you back about £500 and will no doubt sell out, leaving the less well-off fashionistas searching for a cheaper, “more authentic” pair.
But there is of course good news. You could buy the real thing,
handmade even, in the markets and medinas of all the major and Imperial
Cities……Meknes, Casablanca and Fez etc. for around £8. Or you could fly into
Marrakech for a weekend stay in a classy Riad and buy your babouche…..and still be way
ahead of the game!
Pedigree? The babouche has been crafted by Moroccan artisans and worn by Bedouins
for more than a thousand years. They became very trendy in Paris during the 17th
century.
And the name babouche? The word comes from the Persian papus بابوش
composed of pa (foot) and pus (cover). In France, from the XVI
century when they were very popular, the name appears as papouch or
babuc.
Even The Times in London has
taken note of the babouche trend, albeit with a satirical piece...
Oi! Aladdin! Don’t you know panto season’s over, mate? I beg your pardon? Are you
talking to me?
To you and
your funny pointy shoes, yeah. Off to catch a ride on a magic carpet, are
you? Honestly, the
indignities I suffer in the name of aesthetics. These are not “funny, pointy
shoes”, they are predicted to be the “shoe of 2016” by people who know a lot
more about this sort of thing than you do.
I know an Aladdin shoe when I see one.
Then perhaps you’ll also know that this style of footwear is called a “babouche”? And that it originated in Morocco, thereby making your laboured Aladdin joke both geographically and politically incorrect.
You what? and were resurrected in that very same city last year by the Céline designer and fashion oracle Phoebe Philo. Victoria Beckham’s done a pair too — it’s just a matter of minutes before they end up in Topshop.
And, if you think it is only the babouche that is in fashion, take time to check out Dolce & Gabbana's Luxury hijab collection.
