Marrakech. Tangier. Fez. Ouarzazate. Essaouira. Casablanca. Morocco has a number of famous cities, cities that either have been on the independent traveller's itinerary for years. The appear in oriental books and movies, the pop up in inspired travelogues in newspapers and in recent years, the Internet. These towns are really tourist traps — but they deserve their position. You know, even the most popular tourist town in Morocco is still far away from being depleted of originality and authenticity.
Marrakech is the bustling town that really never sleeps (unlike the city that claims to be that place, New York). Day and night, there is something going on in Marrakech. Spectacles of the sort that disappeared from Europe centuries ago, food stalls serving delicious food under primitive halogen lamps, kilometres of dizzying market streets.
Tangier is deliciously doubtful as ever. Morals have never bothered the people here, and as in the good old days smuggling, mafia, corrupt police, fast money and prostitution dominates the scene. The weird thing is that Tangier is a safe city and the inhabitants sweet and friendly.
Fez is the world's largest medieval city, and a place where you actually will get lost. Huge and grey, Fez is still colourful like almost no other place.
Ouarzazate is not much of a town, but is set in a landscape that offers days of excitement. Nowhere is the near past of tribes and chiefs, harems, kasbahs and ksours closer at hand.
Casablanca is not what you would expect (the famous movie is set in the streets of Tangier), modern and efficient. But Casablanca is lively and offers more for young travellers who need to chill out with a beer after a week or two of genuine Morocco.
