Journey across Morocco [Part 1] - Land of the setting sun-
この記事は日本語の記事を英語に翻訳したものです。
原作はhttp://tufs-wonderfulwander.info/archives/21413からチェックできます。ぜひご覧ください。
Assalamu alaikum! I have spent around two weeks traveling across Morocco, a country in north-west Africa. I'm going to show you my trip in Morocco, a country full of charm, in several articles.
Morocco -the land where the sun sets-
Morocco is situated in the region known as the Maghreb, along with countries such as Algeria and Tunisia. In Arabic, Maghreb means "the west" and "the land of the setting sun".
If we turn back the clock to 607, Prince Shotoku once referred to Japan as "the land of the rising sun". These names for the two countries sound like they are related, almost like brothers.
The official lanIguages of Morocco are Arabic and Berber. Arabic spoken in Morocco, also known as Darija, may not be understood by some Arabic speakers outside Morocco. Berber is the language of Morocco's indigenous Berber people.
It varied by region, but I encountered many Moroccans who were proficient in multiple languages, including French, English, Spanish, and occasionally Japanese. I had no trouble traveling around Morocco, despite speaking almost no Arabic and mainly English.
travel plan
I was racking my brains with the expensive flights from Germany, and then I came across cheaper flights from Italy. So, I made the decision to save money by taking an overnight bus from Germany to Italy and then flying to Morocco from there.
First, fly from Milan, Italy to Marrakech. From there, travel to the Atlantic port city of Essaouira, then back to Marrakech and fly to the northern city of Tangier. From there, take a bus to Chefchaouen, where the entire city is painted blue, and then to Fez, also known as the Labyrinth City.
Even if I have a holiday for rest and relaxation, I want to pack my schedule tight and do as much as possible. And then I need another holiday to recover from the fatigue... Is that common? haha
I would like to be able to travel in a relaxed and leisurely manner as well.
Marrakech Menara International Airport
I arrived at Marrakech Menara Airport about three and a half hours after leaving Milan. I was soaked from head to toe from the pouring rain in Milan. When I arrived in Marrakech and stepped out of the plane, the color of the sky was so beautiful that it almost made me cry.
I walked through the airport and followed the signs to immigration. The immigration inspectors were relaxed and chatting with each other, so it took a while. We need to wait patiently.
When it was my turn, I was asked about the purpose of my visit, where I would be staying, and my occupation. It would be helpful to have your hotel booking ready on your phone beforehand.
The inspector wrote a number in your passport, which you need later when checking in at your hotel.
After getting my passport stamped, I finally entered the country. It seemed like their main job is chatting and their side job is working as an immigration officer. The luggage inspection was also quite relaxed, making me wonder if they were really checking. haha
Currency in Morocco
Currency in Morocco is the Moroccan dirham (DH). There are currency exchange places in the airport, but it's important to be cautious as the rates can vary and some places may not have a good reputation.
Because I was unsure about the reliability of exchange places, I used ATMs instead.
There are three ATMs near the airport exit, but they charge a fee. However, there are also ATMs in the city that do not charge fees. It's better to withdraw the minimum amount of cash you need to the city and then use fee-free ATMs in the city.
In Morocco, many markets and street food shops do not accept cards, so it's essential to have cash on hand. 10 DH is almost equal to 1 Euro, making it easy to calculate by simply removing one zero. As of the end of May 2024, the exchange rate is 15.8 Japanese yen for 1 DH. While prices are generally cheaper in Morocco compared to Japan, the depreciation of the yen can still have a quite big impact.
Take the bus to the city centre
After exiting the airport building and navigating through the pick-up crowd, you'll notice a large car park across the road. As you climb the stairs, you may be approached by taxi drivers, but it's best to avoid them.
A taxi to Funa Square typically costs between 100 and 150 DH. I prefer not to negotiate and I'm concerned about being overcharged, so I'd rather not take a taxi if possible.
Instead, head up the stairs and go straight ahead to your left, where bus L19 stops. This bus will take you from the airport to Funa Square for only 30 DH for a round trip, which is less than a third of the price of a taxi for one way.
The receipt you receive when boarding the bus will also serve as your return ticket, so be sure to keep it safe until your departure day.
The journey from the airport to Funa Square takes about 13 minutes. The bus offers Wi-Fi, so you can enjoy a comfortable ride even if you don't have a SIM card yet.
There are cheaper local buses, but I haven't tried them yet. If I have the chance to visit again, I will definitely give them a try.
The vibrant Funa Square
A few minutes walk from the bus stop brings you to Funa Square. Many carriages were parked along the way, and the square was full of stalls and people.
Since I hadn't bought a SIM card and didn't have internet, I relied on the map I had taken a picture of beforehand to get to the hostel.
I walked for about 20 minutes to reach the hostel, with help from people on the street.
It is very convenient to be able to look up a map quickly on your phone, but sometimes I feel a little sad that I would have had a more adventurous feeling if I had traveled in the days when the internet was not so widespread.
This time, I enjoyed the feeling of such a petite adventure. I am also full of gratitude to the kind people of Marrakech.
Arrival at the hostel
Morocco offers a variety of accommodation options, including traditional residences known as riads. During my trip, I stayed at Riad Hostel Jad Ziad, where you can stay in a riad at a reasonable price by sharing a room with several other people.
The cost can vary based on the time of year, but during my stay, it was less than 15 euros per night, and that included breakfast.
The hostel has a very cozy atmosphere, and I had the opportunity to make friends with other guests and enjoy going out and meals together. I'll share more about my experiences in a future article.
In my last article, it took me more than half an year to publish the second part... I hope to be able to smoothly publish the second part in this series.
The next article will be about our trip in Marrakech, the city and its sights. Hope to see you next time!