Euro Eagle

The ostensible reason to which I professionally enjoy my work as a Tour Guide is the simple fact to meet new foreigners! It’s not always the same practicalities even in one circuit, but the method to diversify the essential dos according to the group's own needs and interests. because of the lack of time we were running out of, I have suggested to situationally focus on a shorter circuit but which contains important things not to presently miss while visting Meknes. Shortly, the highlight was consisted of the Southern part of the Imperial City and exploring the old fascinating medina with its different contrasts. During my guiding tour with this Polish group of cyclists, I have elicited many travelling notions on which most of the members believe in. time is very important in spite of the fact it has other explanations when it comes to travelling philosophy. A staff member said "time is not that important for me to the full extent I would like to discover more without being chased by the tick of time". Paulina, who was the group leader, has some very professional travelling methods to provide pivotal necessities available to every member. The thing which attracts my full attention was when Paulina said that she is interested in the Amazigh (Berber) culture in Morocco. I promised to take her to the village where I had my field work applied to my research paper of Anthropology this coming December. I am feeling humbly proud to meet this Polish group who belong to one of the biggest cycling organization of travels in Poland in particular and in Europe in general. Special thanks to Paulina (the group leader) and to Mr. Piotr Kobus the Euro Eagle head Manager who valued my own professional credentials in terms of guidance. I am looking forwards to kindly receiving groups from your Organization for the next excursions in Morocco.

Cosmos Agency

I have guided this tremendous multinational group around Meknes city. The essential component I based on, as a should- practicality, was the religious issue which traditionally form the most venerated Islamic patterns in the Mausoleum of the Moulay Ismail in Meknes. I’ve had the most honorable opportunity to meet some interesting people from this group. We shortly talked about some important subjects concerning the diversity which can be observed in Morocco, and how things differ from one group to another even in one culture. I have focused to describe that in Morocco it’s very possible to do anything you want without overpassing the limits of other’s! I would like to thank Julien, the International Tour Operator, for giving me this honorable opportunity to work with him.

Akchour

camping into the wild is a good outdoor activity, but a little bit tough! certain findings suggest that camping is not all the times a leisure activity practiced whenever you think to get away from the hustle and bustle of your surroundings. the notion of camping, however, is a philosophy in which you can feel the change, practice the change and to experience the change! walking for long distances for instance, carrying a backpack that may bow your back, packing a travelling gear for a strong zeal, taking no showers for many long hours, crossing 12 Kms of cliffs and gorges to find a piece of bread, staying attentive at night with a camp-fire to soothe the fear, listenning to Roger Miller's cowboys travelling songs, sleeping inside tents instead of wollen pads, away from the humdrum of the ordinary life, several chances to meet up with solo travellers and exchange topics for a while, and to live a life into the wild ... why on earth would I do that? I could stay at home, living an easy life with so many facilities and work and earn more money. presently, it's difficult for us to believe there are people living their lives somwhere the way a camper lives for only a short of time and run back home as Forest Gump! maybe this is what makes travelers choose the roughest way to experiece something that is completely different. during my travelling experiences, and in practical way "camping" I have always acquired what cannot be found in books or even around the ordinary life. this kind of attitude teaches mainly how to handle life beyond wilderness! I would like to thank my friend Jahed for his friendly assistance to come with me. we were starting the fire to make breakfast, when this friendly French couple joined us after they had provided some help that we were in such great need of. together, we enjoyed the beauty of nature with the yummy breakfast meal. I wished time had remained longer ... everything was just "outstandingly gorgeous". I am looking forwards to meeting this couple in Meknes soon.

Ame Aventure 3

Travelling is not all the times a hobby that can be practiced once you're feeling excited to try something new. sometimes this is the way travelling is described. by getting inextricable touch to the massive experiences gathered through your travels, I am sure you'll have another point of view intertwined into something called philosophy. my job as a tour guide takes me to so many places, but more importantly, it provides myriad of opportuities to know more about the world around. as I already mentioned in some pages back, "it's not about showing the necessary information, but sometimes to learn new things from tourists I have a period of time with!" I gave this nice group a short pause to discover the local culture themselves, while I was discussing with an English smart lady stuff about how my work goes on and how presently it situationally is linked to the science of anthropology to some extent. she was much attracted to the domain of anthropology and to particularly take Morocco as a field work. as for the Agency which organizes wonderful trips all around Morocco, I kindly would like to thank, AGAIN, Ame d'Aventure and my special respect to the charismatic travel agent Mr. Youssef who likes my working attitude.

Ame Aventure 2

As every Tour Guide believes, there's always something you can experience with a group whose enthusiasm hasn't found a fence yet! I had my unflagging zeal doubled once I saw there's a great volition from this group to know more about what they were visiting! I have noticed some members jotting down every single piece of information to be well noted and later to be discussed! I was quite amazed to observe such things while I was explaining most of Sultan's grandiose achievements. Therefore, I spilled the beans and I revealed some facts about the past of The Forth Imperial City of Meknes under the reign of King Ismail. A late evening visit to the first part of Medina; the public square of Lehdim is crowded with localers. Snake charmers, story tellers, and acrobats ... these are what attracted hundreds of people to get entertained after the burden of the whole day work! Meknes, as the rest of Moroccan cities, in late evenings are becoming just more different from the morning brand to show how lively Moroccans are! I thank you for the picture, and special gratitude for the Ame Aventure Agency to again trust my qualities!

Shalom

There’s nothing to complain of while travelling! The fact not to spend luxury nights, not to take the fresh food, to have frequent cold showers, to start spending the night on tents and sleep on the ground, get your shoes dusty and muddy, and to get heavy backpacks on your back and start walking or roaming around ... this is the travel philosophy! The dictum to leave the ordinary and humdrum daily life behind and go away to experience something very new! This is what millions of travelers want to experience and they select Morocco as a number one must-visit choice on their list. While on my way back to Meknes, I've decided to go a little bit deeper, and it was my spontaneous choice to visit and study about some primitive villages around the mountains then to go to the most gorgeous known Cascades of Ouzoud! Just as unplanned as never it sometimes seems to be, I met a couple of tourists from Israel, who wanted to go to the same destination as I did for ad hoc! We got a ride penetrating The High Atlas from Azilal to the location of Cascades in the West. Once we reached there, we got outstandingly astonished by the very pure view from the top down the 530 meters of the cascade. I suggested having tea right in front of the cascade and sometimes watching the monkeys coming to the table and stealing the bread. It was a very amazing experience I had with this friendly couple from Israel, and I am looking forwards to meeting them again to go to Chefchaouen and show them what a real adventure looks like for real. I hope you enjoyed your backpacking trip in Tafraouet! I am so proud I have a chance to meet backpacking tourists from Israel!

Marrakesh

They say that Marrakesh is not only the centre of Morocco, but sometimes of the whole world! Apart from other cities in Morocco, Marrakesh hosts people from different parts of the world and provides what they never expect before. And it's up to the traveler’s likes and interests to seek certain activities to fully get a wonderful experience around. During my Travelling trip to Marrakesh I have had that very good opportunity to meet with some people coming from different countries. It was too short but quite interesting to some extents. We’ve exchanged topics from different angles, and most importantly about travelling as a major issue that unified us all. I have seen a hard talk between a Scottish surfer and an Indian man who has lived in London for 13 years, the struggle was gradually arisen when the English-Indian man referred to the Scottish surfer as English, and the worst was when he explained that an English is as the same as British. The funny thing was when he later stated to me that the only reason that he came to Morocco for was because of the sun! Another Canadian travelers joined us and it was like an exciting convention through which we were discussing the already struggle. It was a very interesting experience to meet you all, and I wish a good trip to Dakar! Here’s the picture we took after the morning breakfast and I displayed it as I already promised!

Imagine le Voyage

Behind every successful tour visit is a successful tour leader! This is the only concept through which I urge my credentials in tourism and try the best I can to show what others need to know about the city they visit, and most importantly what can be never found on any Guide Books. Providing such kind of authentications on whatever comes to sight needs only certain cogitations and then comparison! These are the major body techniques to reach the cultural and psyche behaviors based on observation. Tellingly, people's psyche in Morocco for instance is typically affected by the way how culture works in its local term. Meknes is one of the Imperial Cities in Morocco, so the only way to know how people in Meknes are culturally distinct from the rest of Imperial Cities, a tourist should try to find these uneasy features in each Imperial city and then to compare them. With this lively group, I found myself spontaneously showing and talking about most of sultan Moulay Ismail’s megalomaniac project building in the so called Versailles of Morocco – Meknes. From the 45 Km of the well defensive fortified ramparts, pierced with twenty immense gates, leading the way to one of the most grandiose Granary which used to accommodate 12 000 horses, then taking slight glimpses of Moulay Ismail’s two palaces within the Imperial City quarter, an exit to the most wonderful gate in Morocco (Bab El Mansour) and finally a real life experience inside the first part of the Medina (The Public Market). I sincerely would like to thank every member of this group because with their vast enthusiasm to know about Meknes it was possible to have a real life experience! My special regards to “Imagine le Voyage Agency” who believed in my own humble qualifications and qualities to guide this intellectually stimulating, active and enthusiastic group.

Ame Aventure

An English group of tourists, who insisted to get a precise look on the Horse Breeding Stallion in Meknes, brought much inspiration to the way how everything should be indicated in terms of the knowledge about horses. Unlike other Imperial cities in Morocco, there’s always something different in Meknes to be visited and to keep an eye on it. So the intention of the group and what every member finds to be more exciting is a number one priority to keep my attention to. The first thing in my suggested itinerary was a bus ride directly from the first Imperial gate of Meknes (the Thursday’s Gate) to the Studs. While being there, the horse groom showed some of the very appealing horses to the group with so many picture snaps taken by photographers. Making an inductive explanation about the three types of horses that Morocco in general boasts for its breeding qualities. A serious and outstanding amazement was sparkled on every one’s face by introducing the Berber type, which is known by its natural strength and good looking shape. My initial and special gratitude to the members of this group, then I will personally thank Ame Aventure Travelling Agency along with its knowledgeable tour guide operator Mr. Youssef.

Chefchaouen

The English Expereience!

A short cultural visit inside the labyrinthine windy streets of Medina with an English small group. The tour involved discovering many aspects of culture and how it has inextricable cohesion to the way local people behave in a very particular welcoming attitude. What made this group harvesting cumulative information about the culture in only short hours was the simple fact of Ramadan. Medina in this Holy Month of Ramadan is an impressive walking tours spot. The dynamic activity is never ending into the tangled narrow streets of Medina, even most of people are overwhelmed in Ramdan you can still grasp how comfortable they are to go shopping, working or passing their times in talking about things related to Ramadan. As I already suggested in many of my cultural tours surrounding Meknes, a number one purpose travelling destination in Morocco's four Imperial Cities is that you have to go for a ramble around the Medina the day after your organized walking tour is already finished. Getting lost in Medina will zoom many other things in that could not be even mentioned before; and getting yourself close to the culture yourself may give another exciting experience which will be finally considered as part of fun!

Meknes

The Portuguese Experience

A small cool friendly group from Portugal that I've guided in the nearby Meknes. later in Fez, Chefchaouen and to the exotic area of the National Park of Tlassemtane!

the French Experience

A friendly picture with a group of French tourists, mixed with some others from different countries, at the end of my guiding tour around the Roman Ruins of Volubilis.

The Japanese experience

It was another great opportunity to meet this Japenese couple whose eager to know about Morocco was endless!

Wallace, a lawyer, who travels all the way along to Morocco with his wife, yunion ( a lawyer too), to discover the vast cultural component in the four Imperial cities ( Fez, Rabat, Marakesch, and Meknes)

In The Kasbah

Sitting with Chantelle and Marko after having a yummy meal in Kasbah.

Chantelle said it was better if we had a Safari trip instead of one-day excursion!

The Dutch Experience

Introducing Documanus Maximus in the Roman Ruins of Volubilis to a small group of young tourist ladies. Julia (the one in the right) said that the Excursion to Volubilis made her thinking about how everlasting the site lasts over 2000 years. I also showed her as the rest of the group what were the reasons behind the damages that can be seen until today.

Rabat - Meknes

At Volubilis

I have guided this group of young tourists 30 Kms away from Meknes. it was another great exursion to visit the Roman Ruins of Volublilis and the Holy City of Moulay Idriss in Zerhoun Mountain.

The Canadian Experience

Honorary Picture that I took with a nice Canadian couple who I guided.

I have to admit this is the first time I guided tourits from Canada; therefore, I call it the Canadian Experience!

At The Youth Hostel

It is not always about working than to have wonderful opportunities to make good freinds as well. it was actually wonderful to come accidentally to contact with a Couchsurfer whilst my working opportunities in Rabat. Great to meet you Andreas!!

The Belgium Experience

I sometimes feel I am not working with tourists to introduce the culture, history and everything about the Imperial monuments, but to make a circle of friendship that fits a sort of unification which leaves a good grace!

The Imperial City of Rabat

A very spontaneous picture taken by Mr. AARAB Zouhair, a working mate at the same Tourism Guiding Organization that I am working with.

welcome to my home

the Slovenian Experience

A friendly group of young tourists from Slovenia whom I had a great time with for three days. luckily, I met an anthropologist amongst this group, so we had many things to discuss about the Moroccan traditions, cultural issues, and particularly relations between music (Rock) and the local culture.

laugh it up!

Having fun is one of my options, leaving the normal world behind, and confront the real life experience thousands away from your homes!

A circle of a friendship!

Grigoro me and Jernej.

Me Behind the Cedar

Ito Vista

Ito Vista: In a very freezing morning, I took a taxi to Boufekrane at 7h25 Am, a small town toward the south of Meknes, to meet my travelling companion so that we could take another taxi immediately to Ito landscape vista. 35 minutes on a taxi ride passing by El Hajeb town to reach the area of this overwhelmingly fascinating natural scenic view over a hillock. We were there by 9h25; luckily we found few families with their cars snapping pictures and enjoying time up there. Words are not as much as needed to explain this panoramic view fully, but simply put, mounds bound the person’s thought with a silence sound from the ground; spiky trees with snowy tears, green harvestable lands as a wallpaper screen reflexed by sun to have much fun, and muddy edges limited by fences. That was the view of Ito as I can manage to explain it.

Cedar Forest

Azrou

Azrou: according to what the map showed me, azrou is not that far if you want to arrive there, just some few minutes walking by the side of road N 13 southern Meknes. The thing that seemed funny and disappointing was when we saw a road panel direction that indicated 13 Km left to reach Azrou, and we were supposed to be there by noon. Therefore we were hitchhiking while walking at the same time. Luckily a country man with a lorry full of “Berbers” picked us up; it was then exciting to have long conversation with country men who normally seem nice, trustworthy, and helpful. We snapped pictures when we were crossed by Ben Smime Town. 27 minutes on a road ride till we finally arrive to Azrou City. Azrou is a very friendly small town, mostly full of Berbers as original inhabitants who spend their evenings sitting in cafes and speaking the local Amazigh dialect. As far as I have noticed, men supposed to be in large numbers than women, as if women are still the passive elements of Berber societies. We overwhelmingly found a youth Hostel after we had got lost. Took some rests and then moved to the Southern of Azrou.

Ain Leuh

The second part of this trip was to move initially from snowy mountains to the wildlife forests where we could meet the primitive and simple way of life in some areas that are mostly inhabited by Berbers settlers. Cultural hints that give a strong impression to non-resident visitors how extensively there is a vast differences even at the same country.

Ain Leuh and surroundings: 5 Km of a long walking journey deeper inside the Middle atlas, we found many natural resources including snowy edges mountains, with deep grottos, cedar forests covered by recent snow, mounds of clear white snow, rivers that are full of campers and catchy cascaded of Morocco’s largest river Oum Rbia sources. It was comparatively demanding to walk down the hills back to Azrou. Hopefully there was a car that kindly responds to my hitchhiking thumping up. In the youth hostel, we found some American friends with whom we shared the night.

Ifrane

Ifrane: by checking the pocket map, I immediately thought it would be interesting enough to give the city of Ifrane a short visit. Getting up a bit earlier to start another adventurous journey, this time we would move Northern the Middle Atlas Mountains. It was quite hard to easily leave the city of Azrou since we’ve met some nice people and friends from America during the visit to this city. We took a taxi ride to the city of Ifrane, during the ride I was reading my favorite travelling book, when I was unexpectedly and strikingly astonished by the glamorous nature outside the window. It took me a while until I neglect reading the book I was reading. Either closed to the borders of Ifran or inside, you can watch many families coming from all over Morocco being hypnotized by the catchy sightseeing that spread the full area. I was amongst these people once I stepped outside the taxi. The only thing that comes in my mind was to take my digital camera and start taking miscellaneous natural pictures. We’ve solely visited the stone lion statue, large snowy public gardens, the famous river of Ifrane that comes through the city that was too icy, and the skiing area.

Immouzzer of Kandar

Immouzer: after I have had a very interesting time with my companion colleague during this trip, we both decided to move deeper into the North. We ordered a taxi to Immouzzer to expect another trekking trip different from the one we previously had. During the road trip, everything seems different from what we used to see: little by little the snowy edged Mountains disappear, no Cedar Forests, lack of lakes and cascades, but importantly the full of mountain caves, mostly known as Grottos. The thing that sounds crazy is when we asked people to show us where we could find rides to Immouzer of Kandar. All of them tell us, there is no place called Immouzzer of Kandar but only this one which is Immouzzer as most of people call it. Unquestionably we start to locate where this small village is on map, and then we walked east towards the mountains in the offchance to find what we are coming for. I can not tell you how extremely rough to climb this mountain up, full of trees, muddy ground due of the recent heavy rain, and dangerous brinks, but such these things were already listed in this trekking trip to expect. After more than 40 minutes of walking up we reached a very vast space on top of the mountain; we rested and took our travelling breakfast meal with the sound of different birds and the windy long trees. Suddenly a country Berber man appears, my colleague talked with him in Amazigh, and he advised us to get back from where we first came from, and take a ride in there to Immouzzer of Kandar. At least there is a man who believes there is a place called Immouzzer of Kandar. We followed him till we find the place where we should have a ride. The Town of Immouzzer to Immouzzer of Kandar: on a pick-up ride over the massive cloudy mountains of the Northern east Atlas, we’ve finally reached Immouzzer of Kandar. Luckily we met a very nice guy who willingly accompanied us to the place where there are grottos along side the mountains. The thing I can simply tell you about this place is the fact that natural resources are very hard to find. Real nature, simple and very few inhabitants, and kind and helpful people make this place like a very peaceful nest. Kids were extremely happy to see us and especially when I start snapping pictures for them.

Day Three

Day 3 Fez: after we’ve been trekking throughout distinctive areas in the Middle Atlas, now we move to an Imperial City called Fez. The latter is bigger than Meknes, especially if you already have a chance to visit them both. Serious travelers may notice that the city of Fez is like a maze, and getting lost is one of the most exciting options during the traveling experiences especially in Moroccan cities. We’ve luckily found a chance to have a free tour by an old friend who is officially a Tourist Guide in Fez. We spent a wonderful and interesting morning by visiting many historical sites where many things were well explained. Before noon, I have decided it would be another experience to visit some famous Bazaar shops to get helpful information. I took some interesting pictures that you can find as a video-picture design. After our tour has finished in the old Medina of Fez, we took a bus in Batha to the city where we visited the Christian Church, the public garden with a big wonderful fountain, then we take the train back to Meknes.

The Trekking Trip

A Trip Rapport in the Middle Atlas

The unique source of Moroccan beauty is mainly attached to its Natural fascinating places around the country. No matter how long your trip might last, your money pocket won’t complain the fact of excessiveness, and therefore your needs must be going hand in hand with necessary resources per a single day. With such transportation means everything seems easily handled especially in getting to the top of mountains which are sporadically covered by snow. In this period of year, the Southern of Meknes is seasonally snowy and makes excursions by foot more fantastic. For me, I did not have a car to make this trip less effort-intensive; I just decided to go trekking with a friend of mine, who is my colleague in Guiding Tourism Program, to draw the tour-line of the next coming trips alike.

The Barbary Apes