CNN explores Ouarzazate; “Morocco’s little Hollywood,” where “people are very movie friendly and very efficient”:

In “Game of Thrones,” Yunkai might be a fictional city ruled by an oligarchy of slave merchants, but the scenes had to be filmed in the real world.

The citadel of Ait-Ben-Haddou in Morocco near Ouarzazate (pronounced Wa-za-zat) was chosen as the location, and is one of the most popular film-making destinations in the region.

And scenes set in the ancient city of Astapor, which was a big part of the final episode of season three, was filmed in Essaouira — also in Morocco.

But the creators of “Game of Thrones” were not the first to use the region’s beauty as the backdrop for a major international production. More than a decade before them, Ridley Scott chose the North African country to film the gory glory of ancient Rome in his epic “Gladiator” starring Russell Crowe. And so did the producers of “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” which starred Jake Gyllenhaal…[Full Story]

The post Filming ‘Game of Thrones’ where winter never comes | CNN appeared first on Morocco On The Move.

Morocco saw a six-fold increase in international film spending during 2014 to $120 million, boosted by several popular films and TV shows:

While the United Arab Emirates has attracted such productions as Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Fast & Furious 7 and Jordan is no doubt hoping the rumored Indiana Jones reboot will bring the franchise back to its shores, 2014 saw Morocco quietly underline its status as the Arab world’s most popular destination for international shoots.

According to figures released by the Moroccan Cinematographic Center, the country welcomed $120 million in spending from foreign productions last year, a six-fold increase compared to 2013 and more than the last five years combined. It was a single-year record for Morocco…[Full Story]

The post ‘M:I5,’ ‘Exodus,’ ‘American Sniper’ Help Morocco to Record Spending From Foreign Productions | The Hollywood Reporter appeared first on Morocco On The Move.

Fes, Morocco, tops off Time’s 50 Best Places to Travel list for 2015:

Presenting 50 incredible destinations for 2015. Where will you go this year?

“Fez is multilayered, multifaceted,” says resident Tara Stevens. “Every time I go out the front door, I discover something. This is a city on the cusp of change—and it’s exciting to be a part of that.”

Stevens, a British food writer, and American Stephen Di Renza are behind Fez’s stylish Restaurant No. 7, which hosts a rotating series of guest chefs. They’re part of a group of expats restoring riads and encouraging experimentation—along with enterprising locals like Anis Sefrioui, who recently unveiled Hotel Sahrai, with 50 contemporary rooms overlooking an infinity pool and a light-filled spa with elaborate latticework.

The world is getting smaller, but the chances of having an extraordinary new experience are only increasing. We’ve identified 50 standout destinations, based on industry news and trends, with input from contributing writers, A-List travel agents, and our new local experts. These are the places changing the travel map, whether it’s an emerging arts hub in Germany or a quiet stretch of sand in the Caribbean…[Full Story]

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Moroccan food continues to capture the attention of the American palate:

Morocco’s sweet and savory fragrances of olives, tender meat, dried fruit and rich spices is swirling around American cuisine. As a North African country bordering the Mediterranean, it has for thousands of years imported Asian, European and Arabic flavors into its own rich culinary history. As an elegant and colorful cuisine, it’s a welcome addition to the forever expanding American palate. Caroline Hofberg’s cookbook, Morocco on a Plate, showcases various bread, vegetarian, meat and dessert recipes for curious minds who wish to explore Moroccan cuisine.

When learning about a foreign cuisine, it’s best to learn about the basic flavors. Hofberg starts Morocco on a Plate with a section listing and a description of common ingredients. She then provides recipes for a few complex spice blends. The vegetarian and side dish section has lush recipes with unexpected flavor combinations. Before citrus season ends, I recommend trying the Moroccan Orange and Olive Salad or the Orange Salad with Dates. When summer brings in the tomato season, try the Okra and Tomato Sauce recipe.

In between pages of recipes are vibrate colorful and documentary-style black and white photographs of home cooks, chefs, vendors and food markets. However, there are a few pictures of dishes that doesn’t quite demonstrate the beauty of the recipe. Don’t let those few pictures fool you…[Full Story]

The post Moroccan Cuisine Swirls into the American Kitchen | Parade appeared first on Morocco On The Move.

Morocco’s surprising ski slopes, the view from Oukaimeden:

On a clear day, skiers can see the dunes of the Sahara desert shimmer in the distance from the Moroccan ski resort of Oukaimeden, the highest in North Africa.

The view is impressive, even on a cloudy day, but ski instructors say a lack of infrastructure and hotels stands in the way of growth.

The resort is located in the High Atlas Mountains, a mere 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the popular tourist destination of Marrakesh with its luxury hotels and pools.

Oukaimeden in southern Morocco is perched at an altitude of 3,600 meters (about 11,800 feet).

Joumayna, a visitor from Britain who took the only chairlift to climb 1,000 meters to the summit, said: “We are at the top, so close to the clouds. It’s magnificent.”..[Full Story]

The post Inside Morocco’s unexpected ski resort, where you can see the Sahara from the slopes | Business Insider appeared first on Morocco On The Move.

A new analysis places the likely location of the lost city of Atlantis in Morocco:

As the story goes, the glorious ancient city of Atlantis sank under the sea. There are different accounts offering bits and pieces of the lost city’s location, but the general consensus has always been that water is involved. The water in German programmer Michael Hübner’s hypothesis, however, is a little different.

For him, it was more like a massive wave of water that hit Atlantis and dealt colossal destruction on the ancient city before draining away, like a tsunami leveling an area before receding back into the sea after an earthquake. This idea led Hübner to believe that Atlantis is not underwater. In fact, it is nowhere near water and instead is sitting in plain sight in a desert in Morocco.

Data analysis prompted Hübner to conclude where Atlantis is. He used geographical data taken from two of Plato’s writings describing the ancient city. From “Critias” and “Timaeus,” he was able to derive 51 attributes that he then used in a mapping program. The clues Plato left regarding Atlantis’ location involved closeness to the sea, a spot beyond the “Pillars of Heracles,” which many believe as Gibraltar, mountains to the north, an elephant population, a ring-like city structure and a 3,100-mile distance from Athens…[Full Story]

The post Legendary Lost City Of Atlantis Was Located Off Moroccan Coast, Claims German Programmer | Tech Times appeared first on Morocco On The Move.

Marrakech chosen by TripAdvisor users as the #1 place to visit in 2015:

TripAdvisor users love Marrakech. They chose the Moroccan city as the No. 1 place to visit in 2015.

The former imperial city is inland, south of the more famous coastal Casablanca and capital Rabat. It was selected in TripAdvisor‘s Top 10 Travelers’ Choice Destinations 2015 report released Monday.

In a random look at TripAdvisor, I found a reviewer named Davieclan who posted this on Sunday:

“Quite something during the day, incredible at night as it changes atmosphere considerably — food stalls at night are worth wandering around (calamari, chips and aubergine [eggplant] one evening was lovely and very cheap). Could wander round here for hours, people and animal watching. From spices to snakes, monkeys to musicians — so much to see and hear.”..[Full Story]

The post TripAdvisor users choose Marrakech, Morocco, as top 2015 destination | L.A. Times appeared first on Morocco On The Move.

A tour of the ancient city of Fes tries to find the best riads and restaurants in the medina:

The oud player had been strumming for almost an hour in the cool, modernist dining room of the Riad Fès before I noticed what he was doing. My slowness might have been due to the barley soup, quail pastry, lamb shank and other delicious dishes that had emerged from the kitchen. I might have blamed it on the deceptive character of gris, a wine as pale as water but packing a punch. It might even have been exhaustion after a long day in the souk and the hammam. Whatever the reason, I was only half listening as the man in the cream djellaba plucked his lute. I thought he was simply strumming the same strings, caught in his groove. Then I realized that with every riff, he changed the tune, his music winding its way hypnotically through the evening.

The medina of Fez, like the music of the oud, is all about repetitions, with progress achieved through a gentle shifting of pattern, a fresh combination, a new note. Fez is still the most intact, least modernized medina in the Arab world and one of the largest car-free urban spaces on the planet, but it’s changing. Sixty years ago, the writer Paul Bowles met people here who had never seen a car. That’s not to say there were no cars in Fez, but they were in the Ville Nouvelle, the new town that sits above the ancient city, and those people had made it a point of honor not to walk out of the gates to see the newfangled contraptions. Such determination has shaped Fez, making it one of the last bastions of the medieval world. In many of Europe’s best-preserved cities, such as Bruges, the past has become a commodity to be kept alive and sold to tourists. In Fez, it has survived because that is just the way the locals want it; foreigners are still a tiny minority. But in spite of all this, changes are happening – slowly – and these are making it a more fun place to visit.

Don’t let the ‘imperial city’ label put you off; Fez may be all about history and tradition, but you needn’t feel obliged to see the sights, for the simple reason that there aren’t many to see. Its oldest and most impressive building, the Kairaouine Mosque, which sits at the bottom of the valley, is grand, impressive and both architecturally and culturally significant. It dates back to the city’s founding in the ninth century, is the second largest mosque in Morocco and forms part of what is said to be one of the world’s oldest surviving universities. But it is open only to Muslims; the rest of us must content ourselves with gazing through its great doors. Freed from obligation, I prepared to do what people have been doing in Fez for hundreds of years: stroll down the hill into the center and engage with the living past…[Full Story]

The post An insider’s guide to Fez | Conde Nast Traveller appeared first on Morocco On The Move.

Morocco is expanding their comprehensive effort to counter violent extremism through religious training and regional leadership:

The Mohammed VI Institute for the Training of Imams, Morchidines and Morchidates. Photo: MAP

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI inaugurated last Friday a huge education center for foreign Imams in the capital city, Rabat. This $20 million facility is primarily intended to Muslim scholars and imams from all over the world, including Mali, France , the UK, and China.

However, for some, its aim goes way beyond religious objectives. It also has geostrategic goals. Indeed, one can only wonder why a middle-income country like Morocco – with approximately $110 billion of annual GDP- is ready to spend that much money on such a center?

In fairness, the initiative taken by Morocco to train foreign imams is not new. Since the early 60’s, the Kingdom has been providing training to foreign scholars and imams in order to disseminate its “Islam of the middle path doctrine,” a vision of religion based on tolerance, intercultural dialogue and respect of other faiths…[Full Story]

The post Why Morocco Wants To Become A Major Islamic Training Hub | Forbes appeared first on Morocco On The Move.

On April 9, the United States and Morocco issued the following joint statement at the close of the third US-Morocco Strategic Dialogue held in Washington, DC:

The post Joint Statement of the Third Session of the US-Morocco Strategic Dialogue appeared first on Morocco On The Move.

Moroccan Minister to Secretary Kerry: “We are Members of the Bloc of Freedom, the Camp of Peace”

Washington, DC, April 10, 2015 (MACP) — On Thursday, April 9, Secretary of State John Kerry and Moroccan Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar led the third round of the US-Morocco Strategic Dialogue in Washington, DC, during which leading Moroccan officials met with their US counterparts to discuss enhanced cooperation in four areas: political affairs, economic cooperation, security, and educational and cultural affairs.

In remarks welcoming Foreign Minister Mezouar and the Moroccan delegation, Secretary Kerry stated that Morocco “is doing more than its fair share of contributing to the global dialogue on the issues of the day.” He noted that Morocco is working “to reform its justice sector, to professionalize its police force, to promote the rule of law, and strengthen its border security and its counterterrorist capabilities. The United States strongly backs all of these initiatives, and we will do everything that we can to be helpful as Morocco pursues success in each of those sectors.”

In his opening remarks, Foreign Minister Mezouar said, “I salute the excellent relationship that we share… We are members of the same bloc, the bloc of freedom, the camp of peace, that of democracy – the bloc of universal values, the bloc that defends the most disenfranchised, and also the bloc of solidarity. I think that these are the values that we share, and they allow us to always work with great peace of mind, to work together on the fundamental topics.”

Among these topics was Morocco’s progress on democratic reforms. In the Joint Statement issued following the meeting, “The Secretary reiterated the United States’ appreciation for the action and leadership of His Majesty the King in continuing efforts to strengthen further Morocco’s democratic institutions and promote economic prosperity and human development.” Secretary Kerry noted “the important role of civil society as a voice for the public in the policy process,” and “congratulated the Minister on Morocco’s immigration reforms and its legalization of more than 18,000 illegal migrants and asylum seekers over the course of 2014.”

On economic cooperation, “The Minister and the Secretary reviewed the successful Global Entrepreneurship Summit held in Marrakech in November 2014 and discussed the next steps to jointly promote a culture of entrepreneurship in support of socioeconomic development and shared prosperity across the region.” Secretary Kerry “congratulated Morocco on its eligibility for a second Millennium Challenge Corporation compact,” and both leaders “applauded the Memorandum of Understanding signed… between the Government of Morocco and the Millennium Challenge Corporation designed to share expertise and lessons learned with other select countries in Africa.”

On Africa, Secretary Kerry “highlighted the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI in promoting human development and economic prosperity within Africa,” and both leaders “reaffirmed the two countries’ will to work jointly to ensure security and stability and economic growth in Africa.”

On the longstanding issue of the Western Sahara, the statement emphasized that US policy toward Western Sahara supporting autonomy of the region under Moroccan sovereignty “has remained consistent for many years.” The statement reaffirmed that “Morocco’s autonomy plan is serious, realistic, and credible, and that it represents a potential approach that could satisfy the aspirations of the people in the Western Sahara to run their own affairs in peace and dignity.” Secretary Kerry and Foreign Minister Mezouar also reaffirmed their “shared commitment to the improvement of the lives of the people in the Western Sahara and discussed appropriate ways to meet that goal.”

And on security, in addition to recognizing the high-level cooperation between the two countries and specific initiatives like the Global Counterterrorism Forum, “The Secretary noted the United States’ appreciation for Morocco’s leadership in countering violent extremism and welcomed the creation of Mohammed VI Institute of Training of Imams, Morchidines and Morchidates from Morocco and other African, Arab and European countries.”

Launched in September 2012, the US-Morocco Strategic Dialogue – the first in North Africa – builds on the longstanding strategic relationship between the two countries, based on common interests and values, and a shared commitment to promoting stability and economic development in North Africa and the Middle East. It follows on the roadmap agreed to when King Mohammed VI met President Obama at the White House in November 2013, as well as on progress over the past decade, including the Morocco-US Free Trade Agreement, Millennium Challenge Compact, and Morocco’s designation as a major non-NATO ally.

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 Contact: Jordana Merran, 202.470.2049

The Moroccan American Center for Policy (MACP) is a non-profit organization whose principal mission is to inform opinion makers, government officials, and interested publics in the United States about political and social developments in Morocco and the role being played by the Kingdom of Morocco in broader strategic developments in North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East.

This material is distributed by the Moroccan American Center for Policy on behalf of the Government of Morocco. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice in Washington, DC.

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American Chef and Restauranteur Erik Hustad experiences authentic Moroccan dishes as part of US-Morocco Food Week, presented by the US Embassy in Rabat:

The post VIDEO: Moroccan recipes with Chef Erik Hustad appeared first on Morocco On The Move.

The Arab Women’s Entrepreneurship Project (AWEP) provides basic business knowledge, coaching, mentoring, and encouragement – here is one Moroccan success story:

Moroccan Ihsane Himmi started Freya, an online women’s apparel business, with AWEP’s help. Photo: AMIDEAST

Ihsane Himmi was working in international finance in the United States, but couldn’t shake the lure of returning to Morocco to pursue her dream of starting a business in women’s fashion that would appeal to modern Moroccan women.  Initially she opened a store to sell imported goods from China, but it didn’t do well because of its poor location. A year ago, AWEP helped her chart a new direction.

By giving her practical business skills that had been missing from her experience to date, the program enabled Ihsane to develop a new business unit to market a line of women’s fashions called Freya online (www.freya.ma) and to work on improving her product line.

Ihsane also benefited by networking with other AWEP participants, past and present (a total of 80 in Morocco alone), particularly those in communications and media, to spread the word about her business and advertise via traditional and social media. With the support of her mentor, she’s prospecting new markets. Ever thinking ahead, she has developed a business plan and hired a coordinator and assistant to explore the possibility of opening a design school…[Full Story]

The post Women Succeeding as Entrepreneurs | AMIDEAST appeared first on Morocco On The Move.

Colorado educators to visit Morocco as part of a Fulbright grant:

Two Front Range Community College professors, including one from Longmont, will be part of a group traveling to Morocco this summer, thanks to a Fulbright grant.

Catlyn Keenan from the Boulder County campus and Anthony Heideman, who teaches in Westminster, will be part of a 15 person, month-long trip around Morocco to learn and integrate new information into their curricula.

The trip, titled “Traditions and Transitions in the Formation of Modern Morocco,” is made possible by a Fulbright-Hayes GPA (group projects abroad) grant which helps professors and students travel and collaborate together to gather information for their own research and teachings.

“Each of us are designing curriculum for the subjects we teach,” Keenan said. “All based around Morocco.”..[Full Story]

The post Longmont professor headed to Morocco | Longmont Times-Call appeared first on Morocco On The Move.

Morocco’s booming film industry–you may have seen more of the country than you previously thought:

“QUIET!” The cry rings out in English, French and Arabic across the cobblestoned streets of Jerusalem, as filming begins for a scene in the series “A.D. The Bible Continues.”

But while the arched doorways, balconies and furnishings all say Roman-era Israel, the real-life setting is southern Morocco.

Viewers in America and elsewhere in the world may not know it but they have seen a lot of Morocco in the past year. It has served as the Baghdad of “American Sniper,” the Tehran seen in TV series “Homeland,” the Mali of “American Odyssey” and the Egypt that will appear in the miniseries “King Tut.” Morocco has also been Somalia numerous times, including in the 2001 film “Blackhawk Down,” and more recently in the 2013 “Captain Philips.” And it will be Saudi Arabia in this year’s “Hologram for a King” starring Tom Hanks.

All in all, it has been a banner year for Morocco’s status as a gigantic film-set — with $120 million spent by foreign film productions in the country last year, more than in the past five years put together…[Full Story]

The post Bible stories and thrillers make Morocco filming choice | U-T San Diego appeared first on Morocco On The Move.

Morocco frequently features on top-10 travel lists, and now it’s even better with the strong US Dollar:

Having to change dollars into foreign currencies may well be the most tedious part of international travel, but it also that means that budget-­wary travelers can save a lot just by keeping an eye on how the American dollar fares against other currencies.

To make that process easier, Hopper’s number­-crunching team have come up with a list of the 10 countries where the US dollar has appreciated most over the last year. Check out these diverse destinations and keep them in mind before planning your next vacation. That way, you’ll be sure to get the most bang for your American buck.

3. Morocco

Influenced by French, Arabic and Berber culture, Morocco is packed with enigmatic charm, mazes of ruins and souks, and impressive medieval­-era structures. Whether you choose to visit Tangier, Casablanca, Rabat or Marrakesh, you’ll find a fascinating mix of old and new attractions alongside landscapes like sand dunes and snow­-covered peaks. You’ll get good value for your dollar due to the dirham’s 13% depreciation, and round trips from New York are as low as $702 when flying to Marrakesh and $786 when flying to Tangiers…[Full Story]

The post 10 Amazing Places You Should Go While The Dollar Is Strong | Huffington Post appeared first on Morocco On The Move.

A hub for entrepreneurs begins to form in a small, seaside town of Morocco:

Surf tourism has grown in popularity over the years, and Morocco’s little village of Taghazout, north of Agadir, has not escaped this trend. With its beautiful coast and picturesque setting, it is understandable that it has become temporary home to traveling surfers and yoga practitioners alike. But there’s another segment of this tourist business that is worth a more in-depth look – the entrepreneurs.

Speaking to our core values

Entrepreneurs are increasingly finding value in a change in setting. If it could be a coffee shop, a coworking space, a friend’s couch – so why not a whole different continent?

Entrepreneurship comes come in many forms and initiatives, and for Wamda’s French editor, Aline Mayard, it came as the Blue House project, which she launched in Taghazout over the last couple of months. We hold entrepreneurship at the very core of Wamda’s mission – a number of our team members are founders themselves – and working closely with entrepreneurs in this ecosystem can get really, really inspiring. So when Aline shared what she had been working on with us, we were all psyched.

Fishing for the right spot

Aline first heard about Taghazout while talking to the founders of UK-based Maptia, and Moroccan-American collaboration Chui, who had visited the town to enjoy its sandy shores, surf, and focus on work. When she heard that they had all ended up extending their stay, she became curious…[Full Story]

The post More work, less stress: inside the Blue House, Morocco’s residence for startups | Wamda appeared first on Morocco On The Move.

Morocco is bringing the souq to Alexandria, Virginia, with an exposition of handicraft goods:

The City of Alexandria will host the Moroccan Days cultural festival Sunday through Wednesday at Market Square, 301 King Street. Admission is free.

The Festival will showcase the rich cultural and artistic traditions of Morocco. An opening ceremony on Monday, April 27, at noon will feature remarks by Mayor William D. Euille, and Fatima Marouan, Morocco’s Minister of Handicrafts & Social and Solidarity-based Economy.

Morocco’s handicraft marketplaces–a mix of Amazigh, Sephardic, European, Arab-Islamic and African cultures—have become melting pots of diverse artistic influences, the City points out in a news release…[Full Story]

The post Alexandria to Host Moroccan Days Cultural Festival | Patch appeared first on Morocco On The Move.

One of several American teams racing at the Ralleye des Aicha Gazelles in Morocco:

It’s called the toughest all-women’s sporting event in the world. The Ralleye des Aicha Gazelles has become legendary over the past 25 years for its off-road challenge in southern Morocco. I know off road. I know tough. And, having just completed the 9-day-long run across the Sahara, I can tell you it is tough. The average course is close to 1,500 miles over varied and challenging landscape using only a compass, plotter and ruler, and black and white maps that date from the 1940s to 1960s to find a series of checkpoints each day – days that ranged from 14 to 21 hours of non-stop driving and navigating.

I was honored to be asked by Mercedes-Benz to drive their all-new 4WD Sprinter van, along with my co-driver and navigator Shennen Marschner, a Sprinter sales rep for M-B. We took on the challenge as a two-person team along with 158 teams representing 33 countries. The goal: to achieve the shortest distance between check points, which are designated as either latitude/longitude or distance and heading, rather than speed. The contest measures precise navigation and driving skills, as well as vehicle competence, with no outside assistance or support teams during the competition…[Full Story]

The post All-women’s rally draws the greatest number of teams | Houston Chronicle appeared first on Morocco On The Move.

On Sunday, April 19, Sephardic Heritage in DC (SHINDC) hosted a traditional Moroccan mimouna celebration to mark the end of Passover. Check out the video for an inside look at the event!

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