Famous for its prominent Kasbahs, Ouarzazate, Morocco is where many scenes of Daenerys Targaryen were filmed, including gathering an army after the fiery trade of her dragon.

International Business Times (August 30, 2013) — Just like the huge success of Lord of the Rings with its picturesque locations and magical backdrops, Game of Thrones is taking its epic series to extreme landscapes and breathtaking cities in the world.

The whole HBO production is based in Northern Ireland where the first two seasons of the series have been filmed. But places like Westeros, the Wall and Essos are filmed around Morocco, Malta, Iceland and Croatia where this epic fantasy came to life.

Magical city of Ouarzazate is where many scenes of Daenerys Targaryen were filmed.  It was also perfect for movies such as Troy, Lawrence of Arabia, Last Temptation of Christ and Gladiator. IBT

Creators of the series are willing to spend more money on locations rather than with FX, the reason why they deploy three units to filmed the different plots of the story.

From historical coastal towns of Morocco to the forest of bizarre rock lava pillars of Iceland, the team of experienced filmmakers captured its magic to bring the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros to life.

Daenerys Targaryen’s travels to Astapor were filmed in historic coastal town of Essaouira, Morocco. Image by Lukas Vermeer Atlas of Wonders

The budget of the series is compared to HBO’s TV series Rome and the GOT’s pilot was reportedly cost between US$5 and 10 million. The estimated budget for the whole first season is US$50-60 million and a 15% increase of the budget for the second season to stage the most important battle, the “Clash of the Kings”.

Now that the series is on its fourth season, the whole crew of is back in Croatia where film set is being built in Novigrad. A small fishing village in the northern region of Istria located in the Adriatic coast, this location features historic walls and medieval urban plan as the perfect backdrop of warring clans.

This magnificent Castle garden is where the court maidens of King’s Landing weave their plots. IBT

Morocco also plays a vital role in Daenerys journey as it provides a dramatic sun-kissed backdrop in the atmospheric port of Essaouira.

While the icy scenes of the “Wall” are set in Iceland, around the serene lake of Myvatn and the crater of Hverfell.

Stunning location in Iceland is a cinematographer’s dream for the iconic “North of the Wall” where “Wildlings” roam.  Mysterious landscapes are scattered with hot springs and lava formations. IBT

These places are so naturally beautiful that they capture the mystery of Westeros and ancient feel of Essos.

Both known and unknown to the public, these locations are the next tourist spots of Game of Thrones aficionados.

So beautiful most people will not believe it is real, this geothermal cave features a burning bath with water at 40-60°C (100-140°F). This is also near where the “Wildlings” crossed to reach the “Wall.” IBT

King urges envoys to advance Morocco’s ‘active, responsible’ role in international community, and its model of reforms, development, openness, & tolerance. MAP

* Underscores Morocco’s ”spiritual bonds & strategic interests” in Africa, “solidarity” with Arab nations, strengthening ties in Europe, elsewhere, and desire to “consolidate our strategic partnership” with the US. *

Maghreb Arab Press (Rabat, Morocco, August 30, 2013) — HM King Mohammed VI addressed, Friday in Rabat, a message to the opening session of the First Conference of the Ambassadors of HM the King.

Below is the full text of the message, read by Foreign Minister Sâad Dine El Othmani:

“Praise be to God

May peace and blessings be upon the Prophet, His Kith and Kin Excellences,

Loyal Ambassadors,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a pleasure for me to send a message to you at the opening of this important gathering of our ambassadors, which is an appropriate setting for a thorough analysis of Moroccan diplomacy, through a close examination of its achievements, capacities and challenges.

It is also an opportunity for you to consult and coordinate with one another in order to identify the steps and initiatives which will define, in accordance with the guidelines I have provided you with, the course of Moroccan diplomatic action for the coming years, so as to enhance national diplomatic performance and thus the status of the Kingdom as an active, responsible player within the international community.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Since my accession to the throne, I have developed a comprehensive, coherent diplomatic vision aimed at consolidating Morocco’s deeply-rooted cultural identity, while taking advantage of the country’s outstanding geo-strategic position. Not only is this vision in line with the nation’s immutable values, but it also adapts efficiently and skilfully to a complicated and ever-changing international environment, in which we have been witnessing a series of rapid events.

International geopolitics is still dealing with the reminiscence of World War II, while an emerging new world order has yet to establish itself.

Over the last few years, global issues affecting all countries and nations, as well as new powers and new actors, namely non-governmental organizations and multinational companies, have emerged. Centers for decision-making and influence, as well as specialized international regulation and coordination groups have multiplied at an unprecedented rate.

In the meantime, challenges have also increased, because of acute, large-scale, recurrent crises, which broke out simultaneously and had an impact on security and politics, economy and finance, as well as on environment and food security, and this has profoundly and negatively affected the situation in the world.

In the context of such huge regional and international changes, deep transformations and major crises, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation has sought, in accordance with my guidelines, to draw the attention of neighbors and partners, on the bilateral, regional and multilateral levels, to the country’s significant achievements and promote opportunities for cooperation with Morocco;

A country which, thanks be to God, enjoys security and stability, along with strong, developed institutions;

A country whose action is consistent with and fully integrates into the international context;

A country open to all partners, ready for cooperation on the basis of mutual respect and interests;

A country committed to the major choices it has made at the very early stages, and which are based on the consolidation of the rule of law and the irreversible principles of political pluralism and active involvement, in harmony with its traditions and values;

A country advocating peace and compliance with international law; a country keeping up with the times, committed to universal principles and ideals, as well as to the virtues of dialogue, consultation and persuasion;

A country that deeply values solidarity with sister and friendly nations, within the context of tangible South-South cooperation, as well as through diplomacy based on human resource development and effective participation in the United Nations’ peace-keeping operations.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Our national diplomacy action is based on a whole set of provisions stipulated in the Kingdom’s Constitution, as well as on guidelines I have provided successive governments with.

They are, first and foremost, based on continuous mobilization to advocate Moroccan territorial integrity, from north to south, building on the positive developments in the Moroccan Sahara issue, particularly as the country now has the upper hand and deals more effectively with this crucial cause, thanks to the bold autonomy plan proposed for our southern provinces, which has gained growing, unfaltering international support.

In this regard, over the last few years and thanks to the justness of its cause and the fairness of its position, Morocco has managed to bring to light the fallacy of the separatist thesis and this has led many countries, one after the other, to withdraw their recognition of the pseudo republic.

As we insist on the importance of staying the course, we also need to face with strong determination all desperate attempts and maneuvers, based on calumny and fabrication, led by adversaries of our national and territorial unity. This is a constant battle, particularly for our ambassadors who have to fight it by maintaining a high level of vigilance and working tirelessly at all levels in the countries where they are accredited.

The Moroccan diplomatic service also has to work in the same spirit to highlight and take advantage of national potential, to put Morocco in a position that is in line with its values and higher interests, as well as with the core trends in international relations.

In this connection, I call on our diplomatic service to do more in order to promote the Moroccan model, which is solid and rich thanks to the thorough reforms undertaken and the major development projects carried out in all fields, be they in the areas of human development, tourism or renewable energy, and also thanks to Morocco’s heritage as a country of openness and tolerance, as well as a land for cultural cohabitation and interaction.

Promoting the Moroccan label is not merely a slogan, but a strategic goal which will open up endless opportunities for cooperation in all fields.

To achieve such a goal, our government has to give priority to proactive economic diplomacy which is able to mobilize all available resources in order to develop partnerships, draw investment, enhance the country’s attractiveness, win new positions and improve foreign exchange.

I also call for consultation and coordination with all economic actors, both public and private, to promote the economic potential of our country, namely in promising productive sectors in order to contribute to their development, and establish institutional cooperation links with ministerial departments involved in economic activity at the international level.

I see our ambassadors as soldiers who should devote all their efforts to serving the economic interests of their country.

Cultural diplomacy should also be encouraged and backed, particularly through the creation of “Houses of Morocco” and cultural centers abroad, as well as the organization of more artistic activities and exhibitions to promote the genuine Moroccan cultural heritage at the international level, along with its authentic, rich, plural and unified identity.

Admittedly, resources are limited. I therefore call for all forms of cooperation and partnership with the parties concerned to be adopted, in order to achieve the desired results.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

If the world today is witnessing more and more political, economic and cultural solidarity grouping, the construction of the Maghreb has regrettably stalled, in spite of all the conditions being in place and despite the strategic trend of our times and the legitimate aspirations of the peoples of the region.

Convinced that all five countries of our region inevitably share the same destiny, I have always urged our diplomatic service to spare no effort to uphold Morocco’s commitment to building the Maghreb Union, which is considered a strategic choice and mentioned in the Constitution. I will continue working sincerely and in good faith for the emergence of a “new Maghreb order” that will rise above all sources of conflict.

While waiting for all the objective obstacles to be removed so that this sought-after regional integration becomes a reality, I urge our diplomatic service to strengthen our country’s ties with the other sister nations of the Maghreb region.

In loyal recognition of our belonging to the African continent and motivated by spiritual bonds and strategic interests, the visits I have paid to a several of African countries since 2000 have been devoted to strengthening our relations with sub-Saharan nations and putting them at the heart of the Moroccan diplomatic agenda, the ultimate objective being to uphold the values of solidarity, fraternity and African self-reliance.

Given the position and influence enjoyed by Morocco, I urge our diplomatic service to follow suit by developing bilateral relations with sub-Saharan countries and being an active player within the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD), particularly in defining the bloc’s new mission, as well as by consolidating relations with African sub-regional organizations, especially in West and Central Africa.

I also call on the government to restart activities of the Conference of African States Bordering the Atlantic Ocean as a regional organization, based in Rabat at our request, and give it the means to carry out its mission as a tool which serves our relations with African sister nations. I ask our diplomatic service to take advantage of every available mechanism in this regard, such as the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation, which should pursue effectively and tirelessly its mission to back up efforts directed towards strengthening our relations with the African continent.

At the Arab level, I am following with deep concern the difficult situation in which some sister nations find themselves today -at different degrees depending on their specific features and various stakes-, while political and institutional changes are taking place. I am however confident that these countries will manage to overcome the current difficult times through constructive dialogue and national reconciliation, within the framework of their national unity and the legitimate aspirations of their peoples.

Morocco will continue playing the role it has always assumed in laying the foundations for an Arab order based on solidarity and integration and will remain committed to supporting Arab and Islamic causes, mainly the Palestinian people’s struggle to establish its independent state, with al-Quds as its capital.

I also consider it to be of the utmost importance to develop distinguished relations with the Gulf Cooperation States, given my brotherly ties, based on mutual respect and understanding, with their leaders. Together, we are committed to consolidating the model strategic partnership we launched in 2011.

More efforts should also be made to strengthen and diversify our relations with the European Union and with all its member states, with whom we are proud to have ties based on fruitful cooperation and solid friendship, and thus actually implement the advanced status granted to the Kingdom in 2008.

Furthermore, the Moroccan diplomatic service will have to do its utmost to strengthen the Kingdom’s relations with sister nations and friendly countries in other continents and geographic areas, within the framework of a proactive policy aimed at diversifying and enlarging the scope of our international cooperation.

Those include countries with high economic potential and political influence with which we have signed strategic partnerships. In this regard, we greatly appreciate the historical friendship and beneficial cooperation between Morocco and the United States of America, but we are also keen to consolidate our strategic partnership to serve our mutual interests and bring support to just causes around the globe.

They also include other developing countries with which we have managed to open a new chapter, such as the Caribbean and Oceania states.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Morocco, as a nation steeped in history, has long-standing diplomatic traditions abiding by clearly defined rules. Much has no doubt been achieved, thanks to the competence, devotion and untiring efforts of our diplomatic staff, men and women alike, but, as I have often said, we need to develop a dynamic parliamentary, civil and local diplomacy, especially as now, parliament, civil society and local communities all have a constitutional status.

In a world that has transformed parliaments, political parties, non-governmental organizations, the media, along with cultural and academic actors into centers of power and influence, institutional efforts are no longer sufficient. I urge our ambassadors to communicate more with those new actors in the international arena and encourage contacts between them and their peers in Morocco.

I also ask the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, in its search for the necessary analysis and conceptual tools that will enable it to understand the rapid changes occurring in the world, anticipate them better and serve national interests, to take advantage of the expertise and competences available at the Royal Institute for Strategic Studies.

Similarly, I call on the Institute to collaborate with the Ministry and devote more effort to diplomacy and issues related to Morocco’s international relations in all fields — political, economic, social, cultural and environmental.

As part of our unwavering interest in the Moroccan community abroad, I urge you to keep up your efforts to safeguard the rights of its members, as well as their social and legal benefits and improve the services offered to them so that they match those provided by host countries, both in terms of competence and transparency.

To achieve all these goals and carry out the various national diplomatic duties in the best way possible, it is nonetheless necessary to provide human resources with adequate training, optimize available assets management and adopt precise procedures and working methods.

In this regard, I commend the positive results achieved over the last decade, namely the amendment of the human resources regulations for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the development of a new organization chart, the implementation of an in-service training scheme, the creation of the Moroccan Diplomatic Studies Academy in 2011, along with initiatives aimed at promoting the role of female diplomats, extending the network of diplomatic and consular missions abroad, and the general use of information technology and multimedia systems. However, I call for more sustained efforts, more motivation for our diplomatic staff, in order to give them more confidence and make them more aware of their duties, as well as for an innovative approach to build more efficiently on current achievements and to consolidate them.

Loyal Ambassadors,

The experience and expertise gained by our diplomatic service constantly open up prospects for further capacity-building and innovation, in line with Morocco’s position and authenticity, in order to transform it into an active and anticipatory service, with clear targets and an accurate understanding of the world around us, using an avant-garde approach.

I wish you every success in your conference, in which I take special interest –just as I do in diplomacy and in diplomats- and which has been placed accordingly under my patronage, and urge all of you to keep up your efforts, pool your ideas and initiatives, both as individuals and as a group, to enhance the level of Moroccan diplomacy, in order to reach not only the highest degree of professionalism, but also to attain global distinction. Your strong will, your love for your country and your permanent mobilization will be your arms for achieving these objectives.

Rise to the challenge of the responsibility incumbent upon you and the noble mission with which you are entrusted, with the required efficiency and celerity. Be as close as you can to the decision-making circles, as well to the active and driving forces in the countries where you are accredited. Set the networks of friendship and solidarity that I have been striving to establish in motion.

May God assist you and grant you success.

Wassalamu alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh.

Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco.  Photo Attribution Alexis.

* “Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco is one of the most fantastic princesses around the world. She combines style and intelligence.
Read about her life and achievements.” *

Yareah Magazine (August 31, 2013) — Some days ago, we published an article about prettiest princesses in the world. Some readers have said to us why didn’t include Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco. Of course, she is one of the prettiest princesses, but we would like to write something special for her. Because she is fantastic!

Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco

Yes, in fact, she is a great personality. Remember that she is the first wife of a Moroccan king to have been publicly recognized, as for centuries the Morocco dynasty of monarchs had kept their weddings secrets.

The wife of King Mohammed VI, Princess Lalla Salma (born Salma Bennani) was born on 10 May 1978 in Fes, Morocco. Her father was a school teacher al-Haj Abdel Hamid Bennani and she studied computer engineering in Rabat. Even more, she worked for several years as an information services engineer at Morocco largest private holding company “ONA Group”.

Then, she was not only a beautiful girl but an ordinary active woman. However, in 1999 she met former prince Mohammed and they married in 2002, providing her the royal title.Currently, she stands for the support of cancer associations and also represents the King and Morocco in different meetings and gatherings held throughout the world.

A beautiful lady, beloved in Morocco and admired in the rest of the world.

Have a nice day, Yareah Friends. Art is everywhere!

Now, an interesting video where you can appreciate Princess Lalla Salma’s great style.

British director Christopher Nolan shot parts of “Inception” in Morocco. Warner Bros. Pictures

* The pact will give filmmakers from the two countries access to tax incentives in both territories. *

The Hollywood Reporter, by Stuart Kemp (London, England, September 2, 2013) — The UK and Moroccan governments have signed a co-production treaty to allow the two countries to “strengthen ties within the film industry, encourage the sharing of knowledge and ideas, and drive economic growth through film production.”

It is expected that the treaty will be extended “in the near future” to include TV production as well, the parties said.

Negotiated by the British Film Institute and Centre Cinematographique Marocain (CCM), the national cinema agency of Morocco, the treaty also provides tax incentives for productions.

PHOTOS: 11 British Actors Invading Hollywood’s ‘It List’

Productions qualifying under the terms of the treaty will be able to access the benefits of national status in each country.

In Morocco that means tax incentives, while in the UK qualifying productions will be able to acquire the British movie tax relief and apply to the BFI’s film fund — the UK’s largest public film fund with a current allocation of $34 million (£22 million) annually to invest in the development, production and completion of feature films.

UK government culture minister Ed Vaizey said the treaty recognizes “the wonderful collaborative relationship that already exists between the creative industries of the UK and Morocco, as well as putting in place strong financial incentives to boost film production in both nations.”

Director general of the Centre Cinematographique Marocain Nour-Eddine Sail said: “This treaty will help us create sustainable cultural partnerships between our two film industries and give filmmakers in both our countries access to new markets, new creative opportunities and financial advantages. Our intention is to expand this ambition into the area of TV production too so that content producers for high end television also gain the cultural exchange and financial benefits.”

BFI chief executive Amanda Nevill noted that British filmmakers, “from David Lean through to Christopher Nolan,” have long looked to Morocco for its landscapes and substantial production infrastructure.

Nolan shot footage for Inception there and other Hollywood backed productions include The Bourne Ultimatum and Sex and The City.

“This treaty will be a catalyst to grow opportunities to pool creative and financial resources and foster a deeper sense of collaboration,” Nevill said.

The UK currently has nine bilateral co-production treaties in place with countries including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, France, Israel and India.

Storks nest atop 2,000-year-old columns in the partially excavated Roman town of Volubilis, Morocco. Photo by Renee Valois

St. Paul Pioneer Press, by Renee Valois (Fez, Morocco, August 31, 2013) — If you’ve ever wished you could step into the pages of “The Arabian Nights,” there’s one place you must experience.

Fez, Morocco, is the largest, most-well-preserved medieval city in the world. A labyrinth of more than 9,500 winding, narrow streets are lined with colorful shops of craftsmen who hand-weave bolts of shining cloth and pound out metal kettles in the same way their forefathers did. Ali Baba would feel at home in the medina (“the old city”).

No wonder this city, which dates to the 9th century, was the first Islamic and Arab city designated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1980.

Surrounded by colorful mounds & wares, spice merchant satisfies cravings from Moroccan coffee beans to fresh saffron. Photo by Renee Valois

Within the walls of the medieval medina of Fes el Bali (Old Fez), you’ll find hand-tooled leather purses and wallets, woolen hand-woven rugs, knives with intricately carved bone handles and silver open-work pendants of Fatima’s hand to protect you from the evil eye created by the Berbers who originally ruled this land before the Arabs arrived.

One thing you won’t find is cars. The stone streets are too narrow for anything but donkeys and the occasional motorcycle and lots of people, walking hundreds of miles of ancient pavement.

You’ll also see cats wandering or dozing everywhere. They’ve been described as the “squirrels of Morocco,” but they’re far tamer than Minnesota’s squirrels. Mangy-looking felines will come up to you in outdoor restaurants, begging for food or swiping it off your plate if they can.

Some streets are packed with rows of shops, others are more residential and hide their secrets — like the historic mosques that are not open to non-Muslims, although you can glance through open doors surreptitiously as you wander by.

Blank, windowless stucco walls conceal ornate and beautiful architecture within. Many of these three-story buildings were built with a central courtyard, which let in plenty of light for the rooms arranged around it but prevented prying eyes from catching a glimpse of the harem inside.

Today, some of the most beautiful of these historic riads (mansions) have been turned into small hotels that pamper guests with wonderful breakfasts and amazingly attentive service. We stayed at Riad Ahlam and were delighted by everything: the stunning view of the medina from the rooftop terrace, the bountiful and delicious breakfasts, the eagerness of the owner to help us in any way possible.

When we arrived, he seemed concerned that my daughter and I were sharing a small double room in the corner. When a lovely suite opened up with an amazing view of the light-filled courtyard and its fountain, trees and ornate mosaics, the owner insisted we move there and refused to charge us more than the price of the smaller room.

This was not the first time we experienced the surprising generosity of the Moroccan people. It began in Rabat.

Begin in Rabat

Start your journey by taking a plane to Rabat, the capital of Morocco. This strategy is hundreds of dollars cheaper than flying directly from Minnesota to Fez, and it will give you a chance to see more of the country.

In a single day in Rabat, you can visit many marvelous sites — and if you run into Samuel L. Kaplan, the Minnesotan who has been U.S. ambassador to the country since 2009, make sure to introduce yourself.

Take a taxi from the tiny airport to your hotel or the street nearest your riad in the medina. We chose Riad Kalaa in Rabat’s medina. It has a charming rooftop terrace with a lovely little pool and plenty of places to lounge. But don’t spend too much time doing that because there’s lots to see.

Powdered-sugar-sprinkled pasty packed with chicken, nuts, vegetables & golden spices was surprisingly delicious. Photo by Renee Valois

Make sure to visit the Chellah Necropolis, which has a garden, remains of the Roman town of Sala Colonia and a burial complex dating back to the 1200s. There are picturesque towers, walls built in the 14th century and large storks nesting atop some of the highest ruins. The birds are considered good luck.

You’ll also want to see the iconic Hassan Tower, the unfinished minaret of the Hassan Mosque built about 1196. Opposite the tower, make a respectful visit to the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, the king who helped the country regain its independence from France in 1956. Guards in colorful regalia stand watch at each entrance and the inside corners of the building, which is beautifully decorated with ornate mosaics.

The walled Andalusian Garden is worth a visit, too, with its traditional Arabic waterwheel and Moorish layout. Pass through it to Cafe Maure for a view of the ocean harbor, plus a variety of delicious local pastries and Moroccan mint tea, a sweet brew of green tea with sprigs of mint and sugar that’s very addictive.

To get around within the confines of any Moroccan town, you can usually flag down an inexpensive “petit taxi,” but when we left our riad in the morning, we had trouble getting one to the train station.

A Moroccan man asked us if he could help. He generously offered us a lift to the station in his car, refused to accept any payment, and when we stopped at a red light and two old woman came up to the car begging, he handed them fistfuls of money.

The train ride from Rabat to Fez takes about three hours and provides a good view of the countryside. Take first class and you’ll get a guaranteed seat, room for luggage and maybe even toilet paper in the bathroom — all for 240 dirhams, about $28 for two people.

While in Fez

Have fun wandering the streets and haggling with merchants in the medina of Fez.

I decided I wanted an antique metal Moroccan teapot with an elaborate design, and I scoped out teapots in numerous stalls before picking one.

The merchant wanted 600 dirhams, but I told him I had seen similar pots for 200 dirhams. He countered with 400 dirhams, at which point I started to walk away. He instantly dropped the price to 200 dirhams and started wrapping the pot.

But when we visited an old man we had heard about who is known to scour the Berber lands and far-off mountains for antiques he sells at a fair price, I did not haggle. I wanted three items from him — but he wouldn’t charge me anything for the third piece. He said it was a gift because “friends are more important than money.”

Roof-top view of Fez, Morocco. Photo by Renee Valois

If you like gardens or want a break from the narrow streets, visit the Jnan Sbil garden near the Royal Palace. (The king has palaces in every major city.) You’ll see all kinds of flowers, trees and water features. It’s in the section of the city called Fes el-Jedid, which means “New Fes” because it was built later, in 1276.

For a modern experience, take a taxi to the Ville Nouvelle (“New Town”), a Western-style urban area created under the French. The first modern shopping mall opened while we were there, and it was drawing crowds of excited Fez residents.

From Riad Ahlam, it’s a short walk to the Merinid Tombs, 16th century ruins of a Merinid palace and necropolis. The view of the city spread below is spectacular, and on the way there you’ll see some of the oldest sections of the medina defensive wall, dating from the 12th century.

When you get hungry, turn down a dark, narrow alley to Cafe Clock, where you can try one of its famous camel burgers on the rooftop terrace. Or even better, go to Tabaraka Allah for delicious Pastilla de Fassi — a large pasty with a golden-orange filling of shredded chicken, nuts and vegetables sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Given that Fez is a Muslim city, you won’t find much alcohol, but wonderful fresh-squeezed orange juice, coffee and Moroccan mint tea are plentiful. Head to Le Scorpion du Desert Cafe (Scorpion of the Desert Cafe) if you crave a club atmosphere. A percussion band put everyone in the mood to dance the night we were there.

In Fez, you can find all kinds of marvelous things in shops of the medina. Come prepared to bargain. Photo by Renee Valois

Beyond the City

Take a side trip to the ancient Roman city of Volubilis (Latin for “morning glory”). It covers nearly 100 acres, but only about half have been excavated. There are many beautiful mosaic floors, still in situ in the ruins; a nice triumphal arch; part of the forum with restored Corinthian columns; and an amusingly graphic sign for the brothel, which our guide had hesitated to show us.

There are also beautiful wildflowers everywhere — and more storks with babies nesting on top of the 2000-year-old Roman columns.

It’s a short jaunt from there to Meknes, where you might want to people-watch as you sip Moroccan mint tea in the large square, Place el Hedim, adjacent to the small medina. Also take a look at Bab Mansour, one of the grander Moroccan gateways, by the square.

Moulay Ismail, the powerful king who ruled in the late 1600s and early 1700s, built the walls of the city and a gigantic granary to withstand a siege, which never came. You can visit that and his huge dungeon/prison. Enslaved captives and criminals were forced to work all day and at night were shackled to cold stone walls in the cavernous halls deep underground. I was the last to leave, photographing the rest of our small group escaping the tomblike place. It has an eerie ambiance.

Unfortunately, you can’t visit the historic palace, because it belongs to the current king, who uses it whenever he’s in town.

A word on Casablanca: Because of the Humphrey Bogart movie, which was shot in Burbank, Calif., Casablanca may be the most famous Moroccan city. But few tourists go there, and for good reason. Remade by French colonialists, Casablanca lacks Moroccan authenticity and picturesque sights. Like most people, we gave it a wide berth.

Trip Tips: Morocco

More info: Visit the Moroccan National Tourist Office at visitmorocco.com

Language: Although the riad proprietors we met spoke English, Moroccans are more apt to speak French since Morocco was once under French rule. It’s amazing how much you can communicate with a simple French phrase book and dictionary.

Moroccans love it if you attempt a little Arabic. Try “Thank you” which sounds like “shook-RON” in Arabic or “Thank you very much,” which sounds like “shook-RON biz-eff.” You’ll have lots of opportunities to use those phrases.

Moroccan-themed books:

– “In Arabian Nights: A Caravan of Moroccan Dreams” by Tahir Shah

– “Dream of Trespass: Tales of a Harem Girlhood” by Fatima Mernissi

Moroccan-themed movies:

– “Casablanca,” considered one of the best movies of all time

– “Road to Morocco,” considered the best of the Bob Hope and Bing Crosby “Road” movies

Rabbi Haim Pinto. Photo credit: public domain

 *“Annual four-day event attracts nearly 1,500 pilgrims”*

The Times of Israel, by JTA (September 2, 2013) — Hundreds of Jewish pilgrims visited Morocco to pray on the grave of Rabbi Haim Pinto on the anniversary of his death.

The annual, four-day celebration, or Hiloula, of Pinto’s legacy, which ended Sunday, attracted nearly 1,500 pilgrims to the coastal city of Essaouira in Western Morocco, the Moroccan news agency MAP reported.

The tomb of Pinto, a venerated rabbinical judge who died in 1845, has for decades attracted many Jewish pilgrims on and around the 26th of Elul, the date of his death on the Jewish calendar.

This year’s event was attended by Andre Azoulay, one of the advisors to Moroccan King Mohammed VI, and the governor for the Province of Essaouira, Abdelouahab El Jabri, MAP reported.

Rabbi David Pinto from Paris, a descendant of Rabbi Haim Pinto with many followers in Israel and France, thanked local authorities in his speech for facilitating the celebration.

El Jabri was quoted as pledging his country’s support for promoting a dialogue between Jews and Muslims in the Middle East and beyond.

In April, the Jewish Museum of Casablanca reopened following a major renovation funded by the Moroccan government. The renovation was part of a broad effort led by Morocco’s king to restore Jewish heritage sites in the country, including an ancient synagogue in Fez and dozens of former Jewish schools.

Brooke Lake, editorial columnist

Rocky Mountain Collegian, by Brooke Lake, editorial columnist (September 3, 2013) — While studying abroad in Meknes, Morocco this past summer my favorite Arabic word came to be ‘iftar.’ I can remember whispering this word to myself over and over again while squished in the backseat of a taxi in the sweltering African heat between three oversized Moroccan women.

After the thirteenth hour of absolutely no food and water, after taking a three hour advanced Arabic exam, after walking home in the intense summer heat and after having an entire table ridden with delicious Moroccan food stare me down as I walked in my front door, I inhaled slowly and exhaled the word, iftar.

As days turned into weeks in Morocco the word took on a multitude of meanings for me. Iftar is the traditional meal which breaks the daily fast for those participating in Islam’s most holy month of Ramadan. I started to associate all things wonderful and life-giving with iftar. As a non-Muslim American living in an Islamic country for the first time during the month of Ramadan, my entire sense of comfort, will-power and understanding dissolved into a brand new empathy for a group of people I love deeply (Muslims). Even more, I experienced a revolutionary emotional, spiritual and physical transformation during my fast.

Ramadan, celebrated by approximately 2 billion Muslims worldwide, is a month-long fast dedicated to spiritual and physical purification in hopes that Allah will forgive all previous sins. From before the dawn breaks until the sun sets, those following the fast will abstain from not only food and water but also sex, gossip and ill behavior towards others.

You may wonder why a non-Muslim would willingly participate in Ramadan. I can best answer that with a story or two.

I went into my fast with an unknowing of what to expect. I had fasted before but never in a foreign country and culture, and never to this extent. I thought it would consist mostly of quiet meaningful reflection and meditation alone.

On the contrary, when I conjure up memories of Ramadan I hear my Moroccan “mother” screaming, “kooli” (Arabic for ‘you eat’) at me with a wink and the warmest of smiles as I sipped on homemade juice. I can see the faces of friends laughing together as we exchanged stories and jokes in three, sometimes four different languages. When I recall my first Ramadan, I feel my mouth succumb to the utter delectation that is harira, a famous Moroccan soup that takes about two hours to prepare, during iftar.

While Ramadan was similar to hiking a Colorado fourteener in a physically demanding aspect, it was just as spiritually and emotionally challenging, yet rewarding. Regardless of my spiritual beliefs or nationality, an iftar never passed where a Muslim-Moroccan family or friend did not welcome me into their home with astonishing hospitality. I was always given more than I could eat at iftar and even more love than I could comprehend from even people I had only just met.

It did not matter if I was eating on the floor of a poor Berber family’s home in the Atlas mountains, at a fancy table decorated with delicate china and elaborate foods in the city of Meknes, or cramped around a table bursting with someone from every generation in the family home of my Arabic professor in Tangier; every iftar was spent with people who encouraged me to call them uncle, grandmother, sister and father.

Ramadan was a blur of emotions, food, heat, Arabic and thankfulness for me. In a country where I could so easily be isolated because of language, religion, race, beliefs and culture I was adopted into so many families who never questioned my worth or validity at their sacred breaking-of-fast meal.

I believe one of my journal entries during the third week of Ramadan sums up my experience most comprehensively:

When your past sorrow and anxiety about the future dissolve into a peaceful acceptance of what was, what is and what is to come. When all fear evades your mind and abounding joy mixed with absolute gratitude becomes your daily song. Where language is a matter of the heart and not of the tongue, and all homes and hearts have only but open doors. Where delectation comes from kindness and not matters of wealth or filling your belly. This is truly living. Brothers and sisters, I am truly living.

Brooke Lake is an International and Arabic studies major. She studied abroad in Meknes, Morocco and currently studies abroad in Jordan. She can be reached at letters@collegian.com.

In Morocco – 2013.  Click photo to watch video.

* Watch Video: “In Morocco – 2013” *

Tumblr, by Vincent Urban (September 3, 2013) — ”Early 2013, we had a little ride with our Land Rover once again. A shorter trip this time, we tried to discover most of Morocco‘s versatile landscapes in just 3 weeks, from the Coast to the forest regions of the Middle Atlas, from the hectic Medinas of Fés and Marrakech to the high mountain ranges of the High Atlas, and finally to the dunes of the Sahara Desert.

“Big thanks go out to Sigma Technologies, a local production company that invited us and provided great assistance and all our equipment. Enjoy! (4k version available soon, maybe)”

Brought to you by Vincent Urban

Afrik News, Commentary by Nabil Ouchagour (September 4, 2013) — As Mubarak was going back home, the world is watching for an intervention in Syria, and Libya is living a chaos. One cannot stop asking himself “was (what we call) Arab Spring worth all human lives that we’ve lost? Was it worth this violence? Was it worth this division among nations?” The answer is no.

For the first time in history, journalists, observers and above all, young Arabs are asking this question “would it have been better if ‘nothing’ happened?” The answer is again negative.

However, between the status quo some Arab societies were living and the huge violence that we are living now, there is an alternative route. This is the one that I want to talk to you about today.

My journey with politics started in the beginning of this century, in the early of my twenties, as my interest started to become broader than my micro-environment. That was when I started to realize that the situation of the world, of my continent, of my region and country are linked to my own situation. This is the moment when a man realizes that he has the ability to influence through his own actions, engagement or words. That’s the moment when we ask ourselves basic questions: What is freedom? What common values do we share as human beings? What is democracy? Is there one and only one model of democracy, which suits for every country, no matter its history and culture?

For the last thirteen years, I have been engaged in community projects, NGOs, bloggers initiatives and conferences, I still didn’t find a final answer for these questions but there is certainly progress that I want to share with you. First, a good balance between freedom and respect for differences is, in my opinion, the key to a healthy society. Second, what is not acceptable is a society that does not do anything for the poor and most vulnerable ones. Third, the terms “democracy”, “human rights” and “religion” are not always used in the mouth of the good ones. The most dangerous minds, the worst dictators had used them before showing their real objectives.

Concerning Morocco’s young generation, most of us discovered politics through the era of King Mohammed VI. This young king has started his reign with many positive signs. From the “Ajdir Speech” in which he had recognized the Amazigh identity of Moroccan people, to the launch of the “Equity and Reconciliation Commission” led by the human right activist figure Driss Benzekri, to the new Moroccan Family Code Mudawana which strengthened women rights, Mohammed VI has shown from the beginning his progressive and open attitude to leading Morocco to being a more developed country.

When the so-called “Arab Spring” started, Mohammed VI had the fastest and appropriate reaction through a constitutional reform. Lately, the monarch had put Education, which for me is a priority as much as rural development, in the center of debate through an amazing speech. Through social media, I could see the parts that had affected Moroccans the most, which were shared right after the speech: “I belong to no political party and take part in no election. The only party I proudly belong to, thank God, is Morocco.” and “Therefore, we need a broad-based, constructive debate on all the major issues of concern to the nation.”

However, with all these positive aspects we are living in Morocco, one cannot feel any satisfaction, since violence in Tunisia, Syria, Egypt or any other Arab country cannot be ignored by any citizen of the world. That’s why, I want to draw attention of the world about the situation in the MENA region and call leaders of the region about the necessity of forgetting about religious and political differences.

What we need is no more people who underline the differences between Shiites and Sunnis or Muslims and Copts or religious and secular.  What we need are leaders who can talk for everyone as human beings deserving the same rights for a common project that serves the interests of the community.

As Martin Luther King Jr. said, 50 years earlier, in his legendary speech, “Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy,” before adding, “Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning.” I also hope that two thousand thirteen is not the end of a dream of Arabs living peacefully with dignity, but the end of violence and extremism.

Our time needs great, inspiring, and especially unifying leaders!

(Article in French)

CRI online (September 5, 2013) — The Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT) announced Wednesday in Casablanca the new strategy to boost the Moroccan tourism sector as part of Vision 2020, reported the news agency MAP.

The Agency announced a profound change in its mode of operation to adapt to the new requirements of the tourism industry and make Morocco one of the world’s twenty largest destinations, said the Director General of ONMT Abderrafie Zouiten at a meeting for the presentation of the new strategy.

[Continue reading in French…]

American film directing legend Martin Scorsese to preside over this year’s Marrakech International Film Festival, Nov. 29 – Dec. 7. Variety

* American Directing Legend To Preside Over Marrakech Jury *

Variety, by Elsa Keslassy (September 6, 2013) — Martin Scorsese has been tapped Jury president for the 13th edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival, Nov. 29 – Dec. 7.

Succeeding John Boorman, Scorsese will serve as jury prexy of the feature film competition, whose lineup will soon be unveiled.

Over the years, Scorsese has built a relationship with Marrakech and has helped raise its international profile. In 2005, he was feted with a career homage. Two years later, he was back to present “The Aviator” and host a masterclass.

Scorsese is also particularly attached to Morocco, having lensed two films there: “The Last Temptation of Christ” and “Kundun.”

“I have made two films in Morocco, during which time I came to admire the spirit of the Moroccan people and the beauty of their culture. I am eager to discover the movies coming from all around the world to this unique festival,” commented Scorsese, whose latest film, “The Wolf of Wall Street” will roll out on Nov. 14.

Watch the First Trailer for Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’

Fest is set to run Nov. 29-Dec. 7.

@elsakeslassy

Moroccan youths walk by electoral ads in Rabat. AFP/Abdelhak Senna

Magharebia, by Siham Ali (Rabat, Morocco, September 6, 2013) – More needs to be done for young people in Morocco, a new government report release this week confirmed.

The country also needs to pay particular attention to the competitiveness of the national economy to face current constraints and international challenges and to improve investment opportunities on a world scale, Morocco’s Economic Social and Environmental Council (CESE) said in a report released on Monday (September 2nd).

Nizar Baraka, head of Morocco’s CESE

The reforms being introduced in Morocco, particularly in taxation, benefits and pensions must be sped up if sustainable and responsible development is to be achieved, CESE Chairman Nizar Baraka told the press.

It is essential to increase the contribution made by SMEs to boost growth and employment, he added.

“The CESE’s recommendations are extremely convincing, particularly where the need to preserve the macro-economic balance and to promote competitiveness is concerned,” economist Mehdi Chtibi said. “Growth cannot be stimulated without improvements to the business climate and encouragement for SMEs.”

“The government needs to be courageous in launching its reforms, starting with the funding of benefits and pensions,” economist Bahia Ramili added. “But we also need to improve the business climate.”

In its report, the CESE also highlighted the public’s hope to see poverty and social exclusion eliminated, to improve health services and to increase the performance of the state education system.

Education remains the main factor holding back human development in Morocco, the council noted, due to its knock-on effects for efforts to reduce inequality and increase social cohesion.

“The beneficial effects of economic growth and social development in reducing social and geographic inequality still fall short of aspirations, particularly where women and young people are concerned, and especially those living in rural areas,” the document stated.

“A change of culture is needed to involve young people and women in the main challenges of economic and social progress and to increase their contribution.”

Young people’s contribution to public policy will continue to be shaped by their levels of qualification and their awareness of the key role they can play in the country’s future, the council noted, adding, “getting young people actively involved will involve a change of attitude towards young people among the various players, meaning they should see them as an asset, not a burden.”

“This depends upon efforts to spread the values of work and responsibility among young people, alongside the principle of rewarding effort, innovation and enterprise,” it added.

If these aims are to be achieved, then a major effort lies ahead not only for the government but also for families, teachers and civil society, sociologist Amine Nadir said.

“If we are to get off the ground, we need to understand that young people are the country’s greatest resource,” he added. “For cultural reasons, young people have been prevented from taking their rightful place. As the Economic and Social Council points out, we need to change attitudes in this area.”

During her trip to Morocco, Princess Mary of Denmark focused on the issue of gender equality, visiting LDDF Girls’ Centre in Rabat which supports victims of gender-based violence. View from Fez

The View From Fez (September 6, 2013) — The Crown Princess of Denmark  is on a three day visit to Rabat in Morocco. Mary (née Donaldson) was born on the 5th of February 1972 in Hobart, Australia. She is the wife of Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark. Frederik is the heir apparent to the throne of Denmark, which means that at the time Frederik inherits the throne, Mary will automatically become Queen consort of Denmark and the first Australian to ascend to the Danish throne!

Princess Mary of Denmark

The couple met at the Slip Inn, a pub in Sydney, when the prince was visiting Australia during the 2000 Summer Olympics. Their official engagement in 2003 and their marriage the following year were the subject of extensive attention from Australian and European news media, which portrayed the marriage as a modern “fairytale” romance between a prince and a commoner.

A major part for her visit was to look into issues of gender equality and the fight against violence against women. Princess Mary visited the premises of the LDDF in Rabat, which provides support for abused women and girls. Ms Fouzia Assouli, president of the Federation of the Democratic League for women’s Rights (FLDDF), said HRH Crown Princess Mary met with abused women who received assistance from the League.

Princess Mary of Denmark in Rabat

She was also brought up to date on the challenges of gender equality and the fight against violence against women. Earlier in the day Princess Mary visited the Court of first instance in Temara, where she inspected the special unit in charge of victims of domestic violence.

Princess Mary visited the LDDF Girls’ Centre in Rabat which supports victims of gender-based violence and then on to a women’s cooperative where the women were delighted to demonstrate traditional embroidery techniques.

Princess Mary at the King Hassan II Mausoleum

Historian Andrew Hussey discusses Malikism as a binding force in modern Morocco’s moderate practice of Islam — on BBC World Service’s Heart & Soul radio program.

*Click here to listen to 29 minute BBC radio program*

BBC World Service, Andrew Hussey for Heart and Soul (Tetouan, Morocco, September 7, 2013) — Historian Andrew Hussey has been travelling to North Africa for 30 years and has learnt to love the rich cultural and religious diversity of countries such as Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco. And for Heart and Soul he travels to Morocco to find out about one face of Islam that particularly fascinates him — Malikism. It is a school of faith that is interwoven with mysticism and music and Andrew visits the northern parts of the country to explore its rich history and its role in modern Morocco.

He finds a faith that sits happily within a country made up of different races, languages and other faiths. And he discovers that Malikism is a binding force in the country, as the ripples of the Arab Spring continue to spread through the region.

He also finds that the followers of the Maliki rite are proud to be Moroccan and that it has a role to play in balancing the more conservative elements of Islam that have crept into Tunisia.

Master Jury called Morocco’s Rabat-Salé urban infrastructure project “a sophisticated and cohesive model for future infrastructure projects, especially in places of rapid urbanization.” Green Prophet

Aga Khan Award for Architecture and Green Prophet, by Tafline Laylin (September 8, 2013) — President of Portugal Aníbal Cavaco Silva and the Aga Khan presented this year’s Aga Khan Awards for Architecture at the Castle of São Jorge in Lisbon on Friday.

The agencies of the awards are private, international, non-denominational development organizations. They work to improve the welfare and prospects of people in the developing world, particularly in Asia and Africa, without regard to faith, origin or gender. They put a large focus on architecture in the Middle East, and we are always happy to report on good projects up for awards, and also to report on those that win.

The projects were selected for this year’s awards based not only on their fine architecture, but also their overall benefit to humanity. Three of the five winning projects are based in the Middle East, while the other two – a hospital in Sudan and a cemetery in Austria – have connections to the Muslim World.

Here are the winners – in no particular order:

1. Rabat-Salé Urban Infrastructure Project, Morocco

More than just a new link between Rabat and Salé, the Hassan II Bridge in Morocco is part of a grander urban regeneration plan that prioritizes mobility and public transportation but also includes infrastructure developments and urban planning for the future. The Master Jury called the project “a sophisticated and cohesive model for future infrastructure projects, especially in places of rapid urbanization.”

Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) added that “the Hassan II Bridge and its associated access works relieve both cities’ historic sites and populations of atmospheric and sound pollution. The design respects the overwhelming horizontality of the built and natural environments, allowing Rabat’s 12th-century Hassan Tower to retain its vertical dominance of the skyline.

The concrete supports, in subtly varying arced forms, are deliberately delicate and lace-like in appearance. Besides providing transport connections, the structure also offers an urban roof over the alluvial plain of the Bouregreg River, creating a protected public space for markets and leisure activities.”

2. Salam Center for Cardiac Surgery, Khartoum, Sudan

A 63 bed hospital in Khartoum originally constructed in 1994 has wooed this year’s Aga Khan Award for Architecture jury. In addition to serving 5.4 million patients in its lifetime, this facility makes an enormous environmental contribution by using natural light and ventilation and incorporating solar panels in order to generate clean energy. The project also recycled 90 20 foot shipping containers that had been used to transport construction materials.

3. Revitalization of the Birzeit Historic Center, Birzeit, Palestine

A five year plan launched by the Riwaq Center for Architectural Conservation aims to rehabilitation as many as 50 Palestinian villages. Already Birzeit, which had suffered from years of neglect, has been transformed into a thriving community again. The Master Jury noted that this project healed not only economic and physical wounds, but also social and political. This project is “focusing on towns and villages in the area under Palestinian civil authority – where an estimated 50 percent of the surviving historic structures are located and where most Palestinians live.” Riwaq noted that it realized it could best preserve local heritage in this region with the “greatest significant socio-economic impact.”

4. Rehabilitation of Tabriz Bazaar, Tabriz, Iran 

First constructed during the 10th century, the historic Tabriz Bazaar that spans 27 hectares and contains nearly six kilometers of bazaars is absolutely pivotal to the city’s identity. However, time had taken its toll and the complex was badly in need of work. But instead of just receiving donations from aid organizations or outsiders, the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organisation (ICHTO) worked with bazaar owners and the municipality to map out a restoration program. After the pilot project was completed, the bazaar community came to understand the project’s importance so well that their contribution increased from just 15 percent to a full 90 percent of the overall costs. The government funded 85 percent of the pilot. The Master Jury found that the project was “a remarkable example of stakeholder coordination and cooperation to restore and revitalize a unique structure.”

5. Islamic Cemetery, Altach, Austria

Instead of sending their kin back home to be buried, Muslims in this Austrian community got together to build a beautiful cemetery in accordance with their religious and spiritual values. The 8,400 square foot facility designed by Bernardo Bader blends simplicity and reverence for nature, although the materials used are not necessarily the most environmentally-friendly. Comprised of roseate concrete walls, five staggered, rectangular gravesite enclosures, and a structure housing assembly and prayer rooms, the project was commended for “the wish of an immigrant community seeking to create a space that fulfils their spiritual aspirations and, at the same time, responds to the context of their adopted country.”

All images courtesy of Aga Khan Award for Architecture

Common ground: 300 million years ago, Morocco shared an Atlantic coastline with the US & Canada.  Pangea Political Map/Courtesy of Massimo Pietrobon

*“Think about this: You wake up in New York City, decide to go for a stroll, head east after breakfast, & a short time later, still on foot, you find yourself in Morocco. 300 M years ago, you could have done that!”*

National Public Radio/NPR, by Robert Krulwich, Krulwich Wonders (Washington, DC, September 13, 2013) — Think about this: You wake up in New York City, decide to go for a stroll, head east after breakfast, and a short time later, still on foot, you find yourself in Morocco. Three hundred million years ago, you could have done that! There was no civilization back then, no cities, no countries, no people, but the land was there, so take a look at this map.

Pangea Political Map.  Courtesy of Massimo Pietrobon

It pictures the Earth during the late Paleozoic, when all land was clumped into one contiguous mass called the supercontinent Pangea — but in this version they’ve plopped a modern political details on top, so click the “enlarge” button, and fantasize with me. Start by finding the United States. Then locate New York and you’ll see, back then, smooshed up against Long Island was … Morocco!

I love this map. I found myself taking imaginary walks that made me giggle.

Who wouldn’t want to wait for a traffic light in Perth, Australia, cross the street, and suddenly be in Bangladesh? (Yes, you’d have to imagine the traffic light, the street, the people and the wild change in clothes, but the goof is, there’d literally be a spot where the two places met and you could step across it.)

Courtesy of Massimo Pietrobon

Or: I’m seeing myself on the edge of Mozambique with a beach towel, (today I guess it would be a beach), and I get up, walk a few paces and instead of being in the Indian Ocean — I’m in Antarctica! I know, I know, I wouldn’t meet a penguin, not back then, but I’d know that one day there’d be penguins there, so every hike would be a weird cosmic joke. That’s my kind of hike.

Courtesy of Massimo Pietrobon

Another fantasy: I’m sitting in Cape Town, South Africa, staring at Argentina just up the block, and watching a trickle of water suddenly appear at the corner. Over the years it widens and widens and widens until it becomes the Atlantic Ocean, and I’m thinking “There goes the neighborhood.”

Courtesy of Massimo Pietrobon

Iran - Courtesy of Massimo Pietrobon

This map has sad and happy surprises. Saddest is Iran.

Poor Iran.

Back in the day, that country was in three different places, thousands of miles apart.

Sort of like Humpty Dumpty.

One slice sat along the Persian Gulf.

But the capital Tehran, was nowhere near.

You’ll find it in the upper right, way, way, north, next to an ancient and no-longer-existing ocean.

Iran took millions of years to pull itself together.

But the happy surprise is Florida. Today it’s an isolated peninsula, sticking out of the ocean, just above sea level. But back in the Paleozoic, it was the place to be, if you liked company. You’ll find it right in the center of this next little map, in green, right next to Conakry, Guinea, where Cuba and Puerto Rico are clumping close, Brazil is a stone’s throw south and Sierra Leone a few miles east, so if you run in a big circle, you can play tag with three future continents and a bunch of Caribbean islands on the same day. This is what a good map can do — it can entertain. Who needs Disney World when you can do this?

Courtesy of Massimo Pietrobon

The Marrakech Museum for Photography and Visual Art (MMPVA) wll be the world’s largest free-standing museum dedicated to photography. DeZeen Magazine

DeZeen Magazine (September 13, 2013) — The world’s largest free-standing museum dedicated to photography is set to be built in Morocco by British firm David Chipperfield Architects.

The Marrakech Museum for Photography and Visual Art (MMPVA) by David Chipperfield Architects will showcase a permanent collection of lens-based art and photography from the nineteenth century to the present and host a program of contemporary art exhibitions.

The museum will cover an area of approximately 6,000 square metres in the west part of Marrakech, adjacent to the twelfth century Menara Gardens.

When completed the space will feature galleries, a theatre, cafe, bookshop, public spaces and educational facilities.

A large atrium will form a centerpiece to the building with a rectangular pool of water on the ground floor. Varieties of desert plants in a garden will surround the atrium on the third floor.

“With a rich program of exhibitions, education and cultural exchange the museum will be the first such institution on the African continent,” said the firm. “It will broaden the artistic experience across cultural boundaries to form greater understanding and tolerance.” In the meantime, the Marrakech Museum for Photography and Visual Art (MMPVA) is temporarily located at El Badi Palace and its first photography exhibition opens later this month.

Other projects by David Chipperfield Architects include a gallery building at the Saint Louis Art Museum in Missouri, the Musée des Beaux-arts in Reims, France and the seafront Turner Contemporary Gallery in Margate, East Kent.

The Marrakech Museum for Photography and Visual Arts

The Marrakech Museum for Photography and Visual Arts will be built at the edge of the historic 12th Century Menara Gardens in Marrakech. The Gardens – historically the link between the Atlas Mountains, life-giving water and the old walled city is a fitting place to build a museum which will surely become the 21st century link between the culturally diverse people of Morocco, her visitors and the international world of art and culture.

Marrakech, located in the heart of Morocco, hosts a vast and diverse pool of some 9 million international visitors annually and is the home of both the Marrakech International Film Festival and the Marrakech Biennale. The Marrakech Museum for Photography and Visual Arts will be a cultural epicenter in the region; its location will serve as the heart of a multi-point star drawing scholars, students, and visitors from around the world.

With a rich program of exhibitions, education and cultural exchange the Museum will be the first such institution on the African Continent and will broaden the artistic experience across cultural boundaries to form greater understanding and tolerance.

 [For more information from the architects on the project…]

Morocco has achieved impressive progress in primary school enrollment but still falls short on quality and faces gender/regional disparities in secondary and beyond. In lower secondary, net enrollment is 79% for boys in urban but only 26% for girls in rural areas. Photo: Arne Hoel l World Bank 2012

* A series of government programs have been launched to boost school attendance, improve the quality of teaching, and reform the way in which the education sector is governed; the World Bank has provided financial and technical support for the ongoing reform program *

The World Bank (Washington, DC, September 11, 2013) — The education system in Morocco has achieved important progress in terms of increasing access to education but has still a long way to go on quality.

As the country grew economically in recent years, it became increasingly clear that the education system had a role to play as a true catalyst for social and economic development.  Reaching out to the most marginalized populations in pursuit of this goal has led to significant increases in access to education.

Progress has been achieved on a number of other fronts through multiple and sustained efforts. While results are closely tied to means and resources, they also depend heavily on the continuity and consistency of education strategies backed by successive governments, with civil society and parents monitoring and evaluating public policies in the education sector.

A decade of effort

Morocco’s education system has faced a number of acute problems. They were mainly linked to insufficient coverage, gender disparity at all levels, and high dropout and repetition rates. The cumulative effect was poor, learning outcomes and a weak integration of graduates in the labor market; all leading to a lack of confidence in the public education system.

To overcome these challenges, the Government embarked on a comprehensive reform program, with the adoption of the National Education and Training Charter in 1999. The Charter declared the 2000 to2009 decade, the “decade for education” and established education and training as a national priority. However, as the reform program encountered delays, an Education Emergency Plan was drawn up in 2009 to boost the reform process.

Establishing equity in education, by ensuring the entire population has access, is the first step in enhancing the performance of the education system. Investments made over the past decade in school infrastructure along with support to the poorest students contributed to increases in national enrollment rates from 52.4 percent to 98.2 percent in primary education, from 17.5 percent to 56.7 percent in lower secondary education and from 6.1 percent to 32.4 percent in upper secondary education. There has also been clear progress toward equity, with the gap between urban boys and rural girls at the primary education level narrowing to just 3.5 percentage points by the 2012 school year.

However, significant gaps remain between rural and urban students and between female and male students beyond the primary level.  In lower secondary education, for instance, the net enrollment rate is 79 percent for boys in urban areas but only 26 percent for girls in rural areas. This gender gap is indicative of the social and cultural norms that continue to place rural girls in particular at a disadvantage.

More work to be done on quality

Beyond access, the cross-cutting foundation of a school system is the quality of teaching and learning. Morocco has made considerable efforts to enhance education quality over the years, particularly by upgrading teaching curriculums and implementing regional training centers for teachers.

However, the level of education quality remains low despite these reforms. The 2011 editions of the international Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) showed low learning achievement scores for Moroccan Grade 4 and Grade 8 students compared to those from other participating countries. In Grade 4 mathematics, for example, 74 percent of Moroccan students did not reach even the lowest of four benchmark levels, while none at all reached the highest benchmark level.

Education is a long term investment that requires sustained efforts and consistent policies.

Kamel Braham
Human Development Sector Coordinator

The reform momentum should therefore be maintained to build on the achievements of the past decades. More efforts are needed to modernize syllabuses and harmonize teaching languages throughout the curriculum. This will improve teaching practices and, avoid inconsistency and waste of resources. Equally important is the relevance of syllabuses and vocational training to the demands of the labor market. A growing number of trained and qualified youth struggle to find openings in a demanding job market and find little support or guidance from the education system in acquiring the skills for the most sought after professional profiles.

In well run schools governance, human resources management critical

Governance is another critical factor in the performance of educational systems. The ministry of National education engaged in a decentralization process to improve the management of the substantial resources allocated to the sector. Administering budgets locally was part of a program to increase efficiency, improve local-level school governance and ensure that education programs were responsive to regional needs.

In an important speech on education addressed to the nation on August 20^th, 2013, King Mohamed VI presented a candid assessment of the sector’s performance.

Managing human resources is a key component of effective management with significant influence on the overall performance of schools. The ministry has engaged in an impressive effort to promote career development and to facilitate the movement of teachers to where their skills are most needed.

In an important speech on education addressed to the nation on August 20^th, 2013, King Mohamed VI presented a candid assessment of the sector’s performance. The King emphasized the role of education as a leverage for social and economic inclusion and outlined the goals still to be done and the resources to be mobilized to achieve them.

King Mohamed VI announced the re-activation of the Higher Council for Education (CSE). The CSE has around 100 members drawn from the government, the parliament, specialized state entities, universities, teacher unions, parent associations, student organizations, industry, and non-governmental organizations. The CSE represents the diversity of Moroccan society, and provides a permanent and independent source of the monitoring and evaluation that are essential for public policies toward education.

Key Support for Educational Reforms

Over the past few years, the World Bank Group, together with key development partners such as the European Union and the African Development Bank, has played a role in assisting the government in identifying and prioritizing the measures needed to upgrade the sector, most notably in terms of improving universal access, the quality of education, and sector governance. The donor community has offered active and sustained support to the Moroccan government throughout the preparation and implementation of the education reform programs. This engagement has been most effective in mobilizing coordinated financial and technical support.

In 2010, the World Bank mobilized a US$ 100 million dollar loan in support of the policy measures put in place during the first two years of the Education Emergency Plan. The World Bank Board of Executive Directors recently approved a new US$ 100 million dollar loan to further support the consolidation of reforms throughout the second half of the Education Emergency Plan.

The Second Education Development Policy Loan focused on  strengthening  the education sector’s institutional arrangements in ways that will  increase access to schools , especially for rural girls and boys at the lower secondary level, improve the quality of teaching and learning in primary and lower secondary education, and  enhance the efficiency of the governance of the education sector through decentralization.

“Education is a long term investment that requires sustained efforts and consistent policies. Morocco has made impressive achievements in improving access to education but additional efforts are needed to ensure equal opportunities, particularly for girls and rural communities, and to improve the quality of learning” said Kamel Braham, World Bank Human Development Sector Coordinator and leader of the team that will implement the Second Education Development Policy Loan.

Ashlee Nuss, 1st-grade teacher at Wasmer Elementary, Grand Island, reads to her students. She says kids haven’t grasped how far away she was when she taught in Casablanca, Morocco. Matt Dixon/World-Herald News Service

* Nebraskan Ashlee Nuss taught fourth-grade students for two years in Casablanca, Morocco, where she found the culture “very welcoming.” *

Omaha World-Herald, by Amy Schweitzer (Grand Island, Nebraska, September 15, 2013) — Ashlee Nuss has an idea of what immigrant students may be experiencing.  The Wasmer Elementary first-grade teacher spent two years in Africa teaching fourth grade.

“It was interesting being the minority. I’d never been that before,” Nuss said.  Nuss said there are a lot of stereotypes about Arabic culture, but she found the culture very welcoming overall.

Grade-school teacher Ashlee Nuss

A native of Sutton, Nuss graduated from Doane College in 2008. She first was exposed to international travel through Campus Crusades for Christ. But she put off additional travel, graduating from college and getting her first teaching job as a third-grade teacher at Wasmer.

“I loved it, and I loved this school,” she said. Then she decided if she was ever going to travel or teach overseas, the time to do it was when she was young and single.

“I felt it was the right time in my life,” Nuss said, adding that she found her program by simply perusing options online.

She left in August 2010 and taught fourth grade for two years at a private American school in Casablanca, Morocco.

“I admit I was a little freaked out. I’d never lived outside Nebraska before,” Nuss said. Initially, she was told she would be teaching in Europe, but the country changed at the last minute.

“It was a great experience,” she said. “It may have been a little extreme to go to Africa, but I wanted to be immersed in other cultures.”

Trying to get around the country when she didn’t speak the language was a “real eye-opener,” she said. She had to get by in the market with a lot of pointing and gesturing.

Nuss said she can understand the difficulties immigrants must go through in America.

“People say, ‘Just learn the language.’ I tried. I took some classes, but it’s hard when you have a full-time job,” she said. Sometimes she spoke a combined language she called “Frarabic.”

Most of the students spoke perfect English, as well as French and Arabic.

Nuss said most of the students were from wealthy families and their parents wanted them to learn English and someday go to an American or European university.

“We had an American curriculum,” she said. They had French and Arabic teachers for language and writing classes, “but we taught math in English, social studies, science — everything else was in English.”

Nuss said the experience did teach her a lot culturally about how different things are in America and about breaking stereotypes, especially about the Arabic culture. “I made many great friends who are Moroccans,” she said, adding that she learned a lot about being “different.”

“I did feel a little bit lost at times and wasn’t really able to fit in because I looked so different,” Nuss admitted.

She said her time teaching in Morocco also helped refine her behavior-management skills as she disciplined children whose parents took a more permissive approach to discipline.

She said the hardest part as a 24-year-old living in another country was being away from family. Although she could Skype and keep in touch through Facebook, she still felt like she missed out when her first niece was born while she was gone.

Nuss returned to Wasmer, this time as a first-grade teacher. She admits the concept of where she lived is a little beyond the grasp of many of her first-grade students.

“We are still working on, ‘I live in the city of Grand Island and the state of Nebraska,’ ” she said with a laugh. “I just tell them it is way across the ocean, and that is enough for now.”

Islamic swimsuit known as “Burqini” by Muslim fashion designer at Islamic swimwear shop in Australia. Anoek De Groot/AFP/Getty

*Parents of girl, who went to school in Morocco until she was eight, sought to exempt her from co-ed swimming class at university-track high school in Frankfurt, Germany*

ABC News, Spiegel Online (September 15, 2013) — Germany’s top federal administrative court has ruled that schools can require Muslim girls to participate in co-ed swimming classes. The judges argue they can wear a burqini to address any concerns about religious dress codes.

Germany’s highly anticipated “burqini ruling” is out. The federal administrative court in Leipzig, the highest in the country for such issues, ruled on Wednesday that schools can demand that Muslim school girls participate in co-ed swimming classes. The court stated that in order to respect their religious dress codes, girls are allowed to wear a full-body bathing suit known as a “burqini.”

The ruling sparks the end of a legal challenge by Aisha, a 13-year-old girl from a high school in Frankfurt. The parents of the girl, who is of Moroccan origin, had sought to have their daughter exempted from a co-ed swimming class at the school. They argued that mixing girls and boys in swimming courses could not be reconciled with Muslim dress codes. Two years ago, however, the high school refused to exempt the girl.

In a first ruling in the case, an administrative court in Kassel in the state of Hesse affirmed the school’s refusal to exempt her from the swimming class and rejected the case, arguing that it was okay to order the girl to participate in the class wearing a burqini. At issue in the current appeal was a fundamental decision between the individual’s constitutional right to freedom of religion and the state’s constitutional obligation to educate all children.

No Right To Avoid Seeing Boys in Swim Trunks

The girl at the center of the case had attended school in Morocco until she turned eight. Later, she earned good grades at school in Germany and was accepted into one of the country’s university-track high schools. After the school rejected her exemption from the swimming class, she simply stopped attending it. This caused her to flunk physical education on her half-year report card. But she managed to get the lowest possible passing grade on her final report card by attending normal gym classes, nearly completely covered from head to toe in a pair of long pants, a shirt with long sleeves and a headscarf.

The federal administrative court in Leipzig also rejected arguments that a girl should not be exposed to male students in swimming suits during gym class for religious reasons. The judges said she had no other choice but to be in the same place with them because, “The constitutional right to freedom of religion does not convey any fundamental right in the context of school to not be confronted by the behavioral patterns of third parties, including those relating to the area of clothing, items that are part of everyday life outside of school and in many places, particularly during certain times of the year.”

In Germany, a country that is home to around 4 million Muslims, it is becoming an increasingly more common sight to see Muslim girls wearing burqinis at school and public swimming pools. With the exception of the face, hands and feet, the bathing suit covers the entire body and also includes an integrated headscarf. Although burqinis resemble diving suits, they are actually comprised of several pieces with generously cut cloth, guaranteeing that, even when wet, the material doesn’t stick to the skin to reveal a girl or woman’s curves.