With friends from the Northwest Houston Photography Club, Alan, Jim and Sharon, we traveled to Morocco for a two week tour to capture images, learn more about the country, the culture, the people, and the food.
Having toured Morocco in 2013, the first thing I noticed in this trip was how the country is booming with expanding infrastructure. Large construction cranes are seen in all the cities moving materials and people as buidings rise, changing the landscape. The current government is investing millions and millions to provide a better future for it's citizens. For a photographer, the new construction and progress contrasts nicely with the old world culture.
Moroccans as a whole are very friendly and welcoming of Americans. We never expereinced any hostility from anyone we met or saw on the streets. Only smiles, words of welcome, offers of help.
Here are a few of my images from the trip. Some are edited, others still raw.
Relax, enjoy, comment if you wish..
In RABAT, Morocco's capital, the new modern architecturual designed Royal Peforming Arts Theatre. Seafood is big here, this design has hints of a clamshell.
Traditional hotel tea service...
Historic Mausoleum of Mohammed V... in Rabat.
Neighborhood mosque...
***************************
On to Casablanca, a city of seven million inhabitants...
making it the 2nd largest city in Africa.
Some of the street images captured there.
Even the people who hang out on the dark streets were friendly.
Meet "Smiley"
*******************************
After crossing the Atlas Mountains, we spent a night in a tent in the Sahara desert.
Call it "Glamping".
A nomad's dwelling... encroaching mountains of Sahara sand in the distance...
Camel caravans still traverse the desert today,
bringing goods to an isolated oasis.
A Berber tribesman...
*******************************
Alan and I made a special side trip to Chefchauen
"the blue city" in the northern mountains.
"the blue city" in the northern mountains.
Of course it was cold and raining when we arrived in this mountain village, after riding for six hours in a van.
The streets of Chefchauen are either going up or going down, very few are flat.
In the old town, there are no cars, Even motorbikes would struggle
to navigate the narrow steep alleyways.
The story of the blue paint is still being debated, nevertheless the color makes this village iconic, a one of a kind in Morocco.
Village life returned to normal, more activity is seen once the rain clouds lifted.
A sunset in Chefchuaen as seen from our six room hotel rooftop.
The mosque was not painted blue.
If you are ever in Chefchuaen, go to La Triana restaurant. Try their appetizer plate of goat cheese with almonds, walnuts and honey. You could make a healthy meal of just this plate. Delicious.
*****************************************
The typical Moroccan medina or marketplace of twisting, winding streets where many souks offer fresh food, clothes, etc., for the local population.
From his various tubs of dry grain, this vendor bags and weighs
what the housewife selected.
He seems to be saying, "Buy my fresh fish of the day, please."
Offering a selection of vegtables and fruit, each vendor has their specialty.
Looks like it is wash day up a side alley from the medina.
************************
The housewives of Morocco ...
We were warned that Moroccan women do not wish to have their pictuires taken, especially the faces. It is a cultural taboo that can cause confrontations and fights if you try.
That said, over the years I have developed several techniques for capturing taboo images without the subject matter knowing they were being photographed. I take a risk employing these techniques, but I was able to capture many images in Morocco without a single word being said to me, no confrontations, no arguements, no shouting, no drama. No one noticed.
So here we go...
A modern housewife...
A traditional medina housewife...
The traditional old school with a designer face covering ...
A younger ultaconservative housewife...
****************
Morocco is in transition from the old to the new, making it an exciting time to visit and witness the changes. The people are welcoming, the prices are affordable and the time is right.
I highly recommend visiting Morocco in the near future if you can.
Before times and world politics change.
Hassan, our Trafalgar tour guide, made this trip very special and personal
for everyone in the group.
*******************************
Those who know me, know that photography is my passion as well as sidecar adventures. Am afraid that some day, time will make my sidecar adventures a distant memory, but photography will carry me forward.
*****
Capturing unique images from the present will preserve history for future generations to appreciate.
Ride safe, ride far, see the world while it is still within reach.
CCjon
