The Kingdom of Morocco is located in North Africa. The Atlas Mountains divide the country into two halves with different terrains and climates. One side is home to the majestic gorges of Todra and Dades, the palaces of Tinerhir. Tourists can enjoy skiing in the beautiful Berber city of Berarzazate. The other side is Mer Merououga, famous for camel riding and bird watching, and Toubkal, the highest mountain in North Africa.
Tangier - where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic Ocean.
The streets in Morocco are narrow and difficult to navigate.
The ancient well in Chefchaouen.
In Morocco, Piero spent time taking photos and experiencing the local culture in Medina, a noun referring to the old markets in this country. The medinas are the largest trading centers of the cities in Morocco. Since the 8th century, the ancient Kingdom of Morocco and Andalusia, now a region of Spain, have traded and exchanged cultures. Therefore, Moroccans are able to communicate in 3 languages: Arabic, Spanish and French.
"The coffee culture here is as famous as the tea culture," said Piero. The photographer commented that coffee culture is an essential part of life here. Men in this country consider coffee shops a must-visit place every day not only because of the deliciousness of the drinks but also because it is a habit ingrained in their daily lives.
It is known that to capture the moments of Moroccans enjoying coffee, Piero had to go back and forth 5 times to take a single photo. In the Titawin coffee shop in Tetouan, space and time seemed to freeze. Piero described the men sitting close together talking animatedly, between them were tiny tables with tiny glass cups of coffee. Outside, it was drizzling, the humid and cold weather reminded him of Cafe Lam (Hanoi) in the cold winter days.
Snail stall on the street in Morocco.
The man is drinking snail water on the street.
Tetouan's famous Titawin cafe.
Two women talking on the streets of Fez.
A man playing a traditional musical instrument in Rabbash.
In particular, throughout the streets of Morocco, boiled snails are a traditional rustic dish that has existed for decades. Just like in Vietnam, people often enjoy boiled snails with a bowl of snail broth. However, compared to Vietnamese snails, the snails here are bland and not as fatty.
"You can see many snail carts on any street in Morocco and almost all of them are very crowded," Piero shared.
When asked about his experience taking photos of Moroccans in street life style, Piero shook his head and said that it was extremely difficult. Moroccans consider taking photos of themselves as if we were capturing a part of their soul and stuffing it into the camera equipment. Therefore, Piero believes that in addition to some necessary photography skills, shamelessness and recklessness are also characteristics that one needs to equip when coming here.
For Piero, walking through the medina in Fez was also an unforgettable experience. In Fez, the cobblestone streets were deep in darkness, narrow and branching constantly, confusing visitors about which direction to go. The dead-end streets were both dangerous and attractive.
“You never know which way to go and there is no map, that is the fun of an expedition,” said Piero.
Night market in Tetouan.
The narrow streets of Fez.
People doing business in Tangier
Man riding a donkey in Fez.
Hassan II Mosque is located near the seaport of Casablanca.
Street puppet show in Fez.
Photographer Piero shared that when stopping in Rabat, visitors should take the time to admire the place called Oudaias Kasbah. This is an ancient fortress built in the 11th century. The monument is recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage. Inside the stone walls are small, quiet neighborhoods with white and blue walls built in the Andalusian style. Visitors can see many cats and Arab women in traditional costumes along the way.
Due to its geographical location, the climate in Morocco is very rich and diverse, visitors have many options when deciding to come here. In March-May, Morocco in spring should have the most harmonious and cool climate. However, visitors who want to experience the intense heat of the desert should come in the summer, the hottest season starts from June to August.
