Morocco, ca 1950

[Music] [Music] after a swift and delightful flight by Air France a unique sight stretches before your eyes you're landing in Casablanca here less than 50 years ago to the small white town called dar al Bayda today Casablanca which in Spanish means fight house is one of Africa's major ports on the South Atlantic it's Doc's like outstretched fingers stand out against tents and skyscrapers today's traveler will enjoy the ultra-modern style of Casablanca sumptuous Palace hotels but now you will leave the elements or hotel and journey southward you'll explore Mogador and stroll along the massive ramparts built by the Portuguese against the onslaught of the ocean you'll drive - on a wide and well-constructed road to the little village of emaze god this is where you will see your first moroccan market so characteristic of life in this part of the world the atmosphere are the suits the warm set of spices oil and ripe fruits this is why the villages and Shepherds come to see the sights exchange local news and perhaps do a little business on the side but counts most vanina's goddess to listen to observe to gather useful information to discuss selling or buying is hardly considered a matter of life or death here [Music] before you journey further to the south you'll visit the anti atlas mountains broken by strange picturesque valleys nestling among them is tough out a small village banded with greenery now on to coolly mean good II mean on the edge of the desert is something of a caravanserai for the Blue Men a strange tribe of nomads who wear fantastic costumes [Music] you'll have the privilege of watching their extraordinary dance the Kid Rock [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] that was a shot farted itself you'll stay in one of the comfortable hotels which the Moroccan tourist office has built on the edge of the Sahara Desert trekking these days has lost its discomforts your room will have its own bath and you'll find the fair is fit for a king see they're running towards the horizon the green ribbon of palm groves on either bank of the woody and beyond them the first houses of the Kasbah [Music] inside the Kasbah a lacy pattern of narrow alleys a labyrinth of twisting paths the Sun beats down on the winding streets where life has remained unchanged since the days of the Arabian Nights the grain from the previous harvest is being flayed [Music] what's the women walking down to the wadi to fetch water their gestures seem like the traditional movements of a dance this little stream is the dish that flows between the wild hills escorted by rolls of palms on either side a green Impressionists carpet enameled by the red stains of the Kasbah this is boomin and this is teen area with a population of nearly 2000 inhabitants [Music] generator is a strategic place [Music] it controls the entrance to the todra gorgeous [Music] [Music] wild and impressive like deep saber cut slashing through the plateau these gorges are so narrow that despite the blinding Sun the temperature and their depth never rises above 50 degrees Fahrenheit the sorcery of Morocco's deep south with only a mist of water plants burst from the parched soil the romantic oasis of chef Tila [Music] exotic Marrakech is the capital of southern Morocco protected by high ramparts witnesses of its ancient splendor this is the koutoubia whose foundations were laid by abdel men and here are the tombs of the saudi and sheriffs they spangled this city with splendid buildings with facade with the finest Carrara marble as legend has it the Arabs paid for this marble pound-for-pound in sugar [Music] all around us lie the tangled ways of the medina visit the extraordinary souk of the dyers the schemes of wool are drying in the Sun trimming the low-slung houses with bright fringes [Music] at nightfall you'll stroll over to the square of Gemma L na now that your tour of Marrakesh is over dual journey comfortably to the other end of Morocco by Royal Air Maroc Oh an interior airline which also serves international routes you've certainly deserved a few hours of relaxation our rendezvous is at fidella for holidays beneath the brilliant blue sky [Music] after a few games in the casino off to the Golf Links this is a difficult course rich in unexpected surprises we'll make it in record time and reward ourselves with a lazy afternoon on the beach it's three miles long and the sand is soft and lovely for loading but perhaps you prefer a more exciting form of watersports you can practice your skill with a sail there's a brisk wind you'll be informed for the regatta [Music] you've had a full day why not give it a grand finish in a luxurious new swimming pool such as this one magnificently situated at the mouth of the Buddha grab in the enchanted garden of the wadiya's at rubba look at the massive gateway breaking the line of the crenelated wall with watchtowers it enclosed the old 12th century Kasbah founded by the Almohad a peaceful and charming with its tinkling Balki's it alleys and its terraced flowerbeds this garden is a garland of many colored blossoms [Music] [Music] from February to July it is the home of thousands of storks who were flown there from Europe [Music] nearby is the hassan tower unfinished twin of the koutoubia marrakech and a here a large Seville here is the cella with a mosque and minaret once the site of a Roman city plan your holidays that you can spend Friday in Rabat to attend the traditional ceremonial of the holy prayer at the end of the morning the soldiers of the Royal Guard leave their barracks for the palace [Music] the crowd has been waiting patiently assembled in the square for hours the weather is warm very warm the humble water cellar is everybody's best friend naah Morocco's sovereign king mohammed v leaves the palace on his way to the mosque escorted by his guards [Music] the Magnificent carrot reminds us of the one used by the royal family of England this colorful spectacle adds the last such a pleasure to make your visit to Rabat a memorable one [Music] [Music] you'll stop for just a few minutes in meknes but stop you will to see the Magnificent bauble Monsour gateway built by Emperor boule smile 18th century contemporary of louis xiv fez is now the sign assure of all our eyes fez made famous by poets and travelers home of the ancient Arab arts of mathematics and science the monumental arch of the midair sahteen opens onto a setting worthy of the Arabian Nights an exotic and extraordinary world which shows us the richness and poetry of Iranian life in the Middle Ages [Music] down these alleys covered with trellises to protect us from the Sun are the Suk's one after another sometimes narrow sometimes large the passages are crowded with counters of pottery Eastern spices rolls of silk [Music] all roads lead to Rome in this case nurturing square where the carpenters congregate look at the mosaic fountain with its charming sculptures and at cedar roof with green tiles it will give you a preliminary idea the beauties of the Batak palace the marble fountains with trickling water the paved walks across the garden the lacy arches of its gateway give the palace extraordinary elegance some of the stone motifs are reproduced in Moroccan leather and in copper [Music] these fearsome daggers will remind you of the dashing 19th century paintings of delaqua [Music] most celebrations in Morocco begin with the traditional mish week an entire lamb is roasted on a spit hung vertically in an oven made of Earth these ovens are carefully sealed for several hours the heat will remain even and the meat rubbed with aromatic herbs will slowly roast in the meantime you can attend another extraordinary Moroccan ceremony at Fantasia this is a cavalry show Winston Churchill recently saw one was moved to tears at a signal from their chief the writers - forward they galloped past frantically they curl their cries of victory punctuated by gunshot [Music] [Music] now armed issue is ready the guests will take appreciative bites under the cool shade of palm trees this particular mesh we is held during a deep bow which brings together the chief notables of the locality a few miles away is moulay idriss stretching on the slopes of a mountain have hidden in the foliage this is the shrine of Morocco's most venerated saint close by is volley Billy's a happy combination of Arabian arabesques and the geometric planning of Western architecture a few columns a few tiles the majestic arch of triumph built by Caracalla remind you of the glory and the power of ancient rule further to the north in the heart of the Rif mountains fans chicha win houses with colored tile roofs like Andalusia minarets charming squares narrow streets with staircases running up and down the hills all go to give chicha when its unique and attractive personality Tangiers fascinating city on the African shore of the Straits of Gibraltar a palm-fringed Avenue runs along the beach it's soft sand at the sunlight the limpid water are all highly appreciated [Music] or lunch you'll go to one of the luxurious hotel or perhaps you'll do little gambling in the casino if you enjoy tea the exquisite mint tea will be at the hotel el meanza it will be prepared on a table before you according to the strict rules of the ancient art [Music] but it's time to think of returning home one last glance at the picturesque markets of the Great Circle one last glimpse of the town from the heights of the casbah and it's goodbye Morocco goodbye Tangier the Air France plane is flying you away during the supremely comfortable and restful flight you can recount the minute of your in China