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Pop sensations Black Lace with a new version of their 1980s hit Agadoo, specially rewritten to celebrate the launch of easyJet’s new service to Agadir in Morocco from London Gatwick.
Video Rating: 5 / 5
INNA @ Concert du tolerance Agadir (Morocco)
July 10, 2011 By 8 Comments
Agadir Beachfront renovations completed
June 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment
When I was last in Agadir, they were doing an amazing amount of work on the sea front, most had been complete especially the restaurant areas, but the shop fronts were still needing some work.
On arrival this week, they certainly have been very busy and all the roads were. Now completed, the pavement were finished and most of the shops had been renovated. Some have closed, but are being replaced with a large sea view gym, new shops, a couple of restaurants and a new nightclub.
The beach is still just beautiful, with plenty of space and activities always going on, and it is very clean and safe for the kids etc. I personally do not like this sort of beach, and in Aourir we do have some very quite and secluded beaches – away from crowds and people where we can swim and body board in peace – hence our decision not to buy in Agadir but in a smaller village 10 km up the road. Close enough to be in the thick of it, but far enough away as not to have the crowds – the best of both worlds for guests at Villa Ramalah.
I am always shocked at just how quickly things happen, the amount of new buildings going up around the town is incredible, most are offices and shops, but as you move more away from the city, lots of flats and houses are springing up everywhere.
Also, they have completely re-laid a 10km stretch of the N1 from Agadir to Aourir, put in central reservations, planted 100′s of palm trees and bushes and put in two new roundabouts… All in under 6 months! Now here is crazy tip for UK road constructors – why not work with all the service providers to get ducts and pipes in BEFORE you lay a new service – this is exactly what has been done on this stretch of road so it will not have to be dug up again..simples!
Argan Oil – Where does it come from?
June 19, 2011 By 1 Comment
Argan Fruit on the tree
You may have heard of Argan Oil but do you know anything about it, where it comes from and what it even looks like? I guess, probably not, unless you are into beauty therapies or have been to Agadir in Morocco.
The Argan tree is very specific to the south of Morocco, and abounds in Agadir and the surrounding local area. It is very selective in its choice of soil and many projects have been undertaken to introduce these trees elsewhere and failed due to this very fussy tree.
It is totally wild and cannot be cultivated, some things in this world should just remain wild really, and this is one of them. The bushes are very unassuming, and unless you knew what it was, you would think it was probably another olive tree or similar type bush.
What makes this tree so special is the fruit it produces, or rather the seeds and oil that is produced from them. Getting the oil out is no easy matter and it has to be ground out using a series of grinding stones, oh and by hand as well just to make it harder.
As you drive through the region, you will see these bushes; most are loaded with bright yellow fruit pods. These are totally inedible to humans; however goat seems to love them. You will often see goats in the trees, perching on the thinnest branches to get at the small leaves and the fruit.
Argan Trees along the coast road near Agadir
Harvesting takes place when the fruits change colour from yellow to brown, where various methods are used from picking up the fallen to actually knocking the seeds down and gathering the seeds from the goat faeces, which apparently make the best oil!
Goat in an Argan tree
The husks are cracked and the small seeds inside are extracted. These seeds are then ground by small hand powered specially shaped grinding stones to produce the oil. This process takes ages and is done in phases until the finest pulp is ground, producing the oil.
The oil can be used in cooking, added to salads or mixed with ground almonds and honey for a delicious Moroccan breakfast or snack. It is also heated up and cooked then used in the finest skin care treatments and cosmetics. The oil is said to possess good medical properties and the cosmetics are very good for the skin.
All the work is done by women and as you drive towards Marrakesh on the old road you will see the woman’s cooperative which sells authentically produced Argan oil and Argan products, so this is the place to buy from if you want Argan products.
Whilst very expensive, the products are wonderful and last a very long time, so well worth buying. The edible oils are perfect on salads and added to cous cous for that authentic taste of Morocco. So why not buy some and help support the local economy of the Agadir region.
For you Moroccan beach front holiday, contact Holidays Morocco now for prices and availablilty.
Places to visit in Morocco – Imsouane
June 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Deserted beach at Tamri
The north road, the N1 from Agadir towards Essaouira, offers some of the most stunning scenery in Morocco. The road closely follows the Atlantic coast for approximately 60km before going up a spectacular mountain pass, offering unsurpassed views from a few vantage points along the way. You are now in true Morocco, away from everything.
This Coastal road snakes it’s way along the coastline, going though villages like Taghazout, famous for it’s surfing community, Paradise Beach with the Altantique Restaurant, always serving the best and freshest seafood and fish available and some great little spots to stop off and watch the sea, fish or swim.
As you pass the lighthouse, the road and terrain changes to more desert like, then you go slightly inland to the small village of Tamri, a fertile valley which grows massive amounts of fruit and vegetables to supply the local population. This also has a fabulous hidden beach entrance which takes you down to a cove where the surf is excellent and you will be pretty much on your own. Just be careful to stick to the hard roads because you will get stuck in the sand and it’s a long walk back to get help.
I have also been told about a bird sanctuary near the village but could not find it, so another reason to come back again!
One place to visit along this road is Imsouane, a small self contained fishing village perched right on the edge of the Atlantic. Literally, this village is the first turning on the left from Agadir but it’s about 90km until you get to it!
The road to the village is basically a single track road, so you must be especially careful along here. As you drive along it, there is one spot you must stop and take in the view. It offers a panoramic view both up and down the coast from a height of about 400mt so don’t go too close to the edge!
As you approach the village, you will see this has been built up towards the rear of he village as this is a popular place for holiday homes, however the closer you get to the village centre, you will see the true village. On the day I visited, one of the famous winds was playing havoc with everything, so unfortunately most of the restaurants were closed, but I am told the seafood is excellent and the locals are very friendly.
Right on the harbor entrance, some houses have been built into the sea wall … This all looks a little too scary to me and I would not want to stay in one of these houses!
It’s well worth the drive to see this place, despite extremely strong winds which often happen in this village, there are some great looking places to eat and spend some time in.
Why not book your beach front villa holiday now – contact Holidays Morocco to check availability of our spacious and comfortable villa which sleeps up to 8 people.
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- Deserted beach at Tamri
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- Spectacular view of the bay
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- Alternative shot
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- Tamri Beach
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- Hilltop view of the Atlantic
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- Hillside view of Imsouane
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- Houses in the harbour at Imsouane
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- Coastal View from Imsouane
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- Tamri Valley with banana trees
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- Empty beach at Tamri
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- Empty beach looking north
Houses on the beach, well actually in a cave!
June 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Morocco never fails to surprise. When we were in Tifnit, Marek of Hollycow Surf Camps said that he wanted to show me something I would be amazed at, so we left the road and followed dirt track along the coast, about 10km south of Tifnit. I really had no idea where we were going; all I could see was a beautiful sea view from the cliff top road.
We pulled up and stopped at the edge of a pathway leading down to the beach. I thought I was going to be shown a secret fishing place, but as I followed him down the stairs (which had been cut into the rocks), a small village appeared – but one with a major difference!
This village had been built out of the cliff face! Apparently years ago, fishermen used to live in these caves, pretty much all their lives, being passed from father to son. The King had declared that the caves were the property of the fishermen and not the state, so could be sold. There are some rules which do apply to what can be built, but everybody who has bought a cave wants to keep the natural beauty of the area untouched.
We were invited in to see the bedrooms, living area and kitchen of one of the houses and I have today whilst basic, it was very adequate and comfortable. There is a spring so fresh water is available in or near each cave and the view is spectacular. If you want a new room, you just have to dig it out…how cool is that!
Here are a few pictures of this amazing place, which incidentally does not have a name..so you can just vanish if you want to! I just have to go back and spend some time here – its amazing.
You must explore when in Morocco
June 17, 2011 By 1 Comment
One thing you must do when you come to morocco, that’s explore.
It’s all too easy to stay in the villa, hotel, on the beach or just go to the same places all the time, but you are missing out on a whole load of experiences and sights of true morocco.
On my trip this time, I met up with Marek and Michal of Hollycow surf camps. I have been emailing Marek for about a year now and he rents the villa as a base for his tours and surfing safaris as he prefers Aourir as a base rather than Taghazout which has become too much for the surf tourist.
Marek was due to arrive from Marrakech in the early evening, but some mechanical problems meant he did not arrive until about 3am, hence we did not chat much! However the next day we caught up on loads of things, but one thing we had chatted about before was favorite places to suggest to our clients staying at the villa. Without hesitation, Marek said that we must go to Tifnit, a small un-spoilt fishing village only 50km south of Agadir.
So after a hearty breakfast, off we went. Now it turns out I have driven past this turning many times, but always on the way to somewhere else. Anyway, on this occasion, we drove the 10km from the main N1 to Tan Tan down to Tifnit. As we drove over the crest of the mountain, I was met with an amazing view of this small fishing village. Whilst there was some tourist activity (more like locals really), the rest of the village was very un-spoilt, particularly on the other side of the village away from any car park.
Marek seemed to know everybody as we made our way through the village to a small restaurant right on the beach. It was truly un-spoilt and the welcome was very warm indeed. The owner known as Bob spoke good English which surprised me for such a small village, normally it is just French or Arabic.
We soon attracted quite a crowd, the village Mayor arrived, then a really nice guy, who turned out to be a language lecturer and had spent many years in New York University teaching Arabic and English. Nothing can happen in the village without the Major’s consent so he is a really good guy to keep on your side.
A party soon broke out, as did a bottle of whiskey, and lunch was prepared for us to enjoy, octopus tagine, followed by spider crab … We never managed the small shark which wagoing to be prepared for us – a local delicacy – as lunch was massive.
All too soon it was time for us to go, but we spent quite a few hours in pleasant conversation, in the midst of some amazing scenery and met some new people and contacts which we would never have discovered.
Incidentally, Ridley Scott is a regular visitor to this area and has made several films in this part of morocco. He always stays in the village when he comes.
Enjoy a few photos and go and visit. They are very welcoming and need the trade so go. Go with Marek at Hollycom or go on your own with Holidays Morocco – either way just go!
Fruit trees flourish at Villa Ramalah
June 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment
When we renovated villa Ramalah, one of the most important things we wanted to achieve is to preserve the existing trees and bushes in the garden. During the building work some of the plants were damaged, but luckily after a few years they are now back to full health. One sign of this is that for the first time, we have bananas on the banana trees. Whilst they are fairly hardy, all conditions must be just right for them to produce fruit, so I was delighted when I saw a huge bunch of immature bananas hanging off the tree.
This region is famous for it’s banana production and they are the lovely small, sweet bananas that everybody loves. Behind the villa, the fields are full of banana trees. The beach out the front of the villa is called banana beach as well, apparently named by Jimmie Hendrix. This was one of his favorite areas and he had a house at the top of the village at some point.
Also, our pomegranate or grenadine tree is in full fruit too. This gorgeous fruit is very popular in morocco. It is full of succulent gel covered seeds which taste amazing. This hushed produced a few fruits last year but has really flourished this year producing many flowers and fruits, which hopefully will be fully formed on our return in October, providing Hassan has not eaten all of them!
One thing there is no shortage of in Aourir is the fantastically fresh fish from this rugged coastline. If, like me, you prefer to catch your own, then fishing is a very popular way of life in Aourir and there is plenty of local advice on how to catch them. I have enjoyed many a great meal after an evenings fishing, all thanks to Hassan and his uncle’s help and encouragement! We had these two for lunch – amazing flavour and a fresh as you can get – perfect!
If fishing is not for you, walk up the village to the daily fish Market and buy whatever you like…don’t forget to haggle though or you will pay over the odds!
For a beach front holiday with a difference, contact us now for a holiday of a lifetime in morocco.
Things happen quickly in Morocco
May 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment
I am always amazed at how quickly thinks happen in Morocco. Last time I was here in October, some work was just starting on the main road from Agadir to Aourir – a 10pm stretch of almost dual carriage way, but the main road north to Essaourira, so pretty busy.
Now, the whole 10Km has been re-surfaced, a new central reservation has been put in and planted with flowers, and each side on the road now has palm trees planted at every 10mt, which will be amazing in a few years.
Also, driving into Agadir this morning, a new roundabout has appeared in one of the more challenging junctions, appearing as thought it has always been there.
The main beach front has also been completely transformed, with the promenade now completed and new restaurants have been opened up along the sea front.
I took a detour around an area I have not been for while and there are new shops, apartments and a health complex just being completed.
Ryanair does it again!
May 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment
As you know, I have a love hate relationship with Ryanair….I love the cheap direct flights to Morocco and Agadir in particular, but hate the way they do it.
Yesterday, I ran the gauntlet to fly over for a few days to sort a few things out and take a bit of a break. So all was going really well, arrived at Standsted on time, parked easy, didn’t need to check in as I was just carrying hand luggage, all peachy. Then I dared to ask at the help desk what gate the flight would be going from……
Firstly, I was asked to weigh my bag, not a problem, then asked to put it in the measuring device … Again no problem. I guess this must have annoyed the assistant as they then sent me to the wrong gate…right across the other side of the terminal….great!
Anyway, good job I checked the info boards too…I was feeling pretty smug with myself at this point.
Anyway, the flight was delayed slightly at take off, but they made up time and we arrived spot on time..another thing I love about
Ryanair.
Then as we were about to disembark, 3 police officers appeared at the stairs. After a load of arm waving and discussion, they then proceeded to bring everybody off one at a time to search them and their bags…..
Apparently, one of the stewardesses had her purse stolen, so the Moroccan police decided that the only course of action was to search everybody….after 1 hour, I managed to get off the plane. Luckily I was in row seven…god knows how long this took but people were getting a bit stressed to say the least.
One funny thin was that people kept pushing the call button, which sent the head stewardess into a rage over the airwaves…. Shouting that it’s not a toy and to leave it alone….which obviously made it worse!
What the outcome was I have no idea, but the policeman who searched me was totally fed up about it all.
Like I say, you fly with Ryanair at your peril, but they do the best deals so pay your money and take the choice.
Vacation Travel to Morocco, a Country of Delightful Experiences
May 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Morocco is one of the most visited countries in North Africa where a lot of travellers journey every year.. This beautiful destination is home to so numerous places of interest and attracts most of the artwork lovers because of her all-natural and scenic attractiveness. Thus morocco flights can lead you to those destinations and famous hotspots and can be a supply of delight and comfort during your air journey to this shining destination. The tourism industry includes a major function within the economic system of the state plus the government on the other hand also facilitates and promotes the travel and tourism in the country.
The climate plus the climatic conditions in this state are regarded as to become very aiding and helpful for your travellers and customers. The attractive surroundings, lovely and charming beaches and some rather and relaxed paces make this country a hotspot for foreign vacationers and traders and so tons of overseas house buyers who want to invest their finance in the genuine state. There are so many flights to Morocco flying from several major destinations of the planet carrying travellers and vacationers and the business professionals as well. The statistics and the previous data reveals this fact the country’s pace of progress in growing as it is turning into far more and a lot more created and properly acknowledged destination in North Africa.
Traveling to Morocco brings you to avail so numerous opportunities to travel so tons of famous and worldly preferred destinations like Casablanca, Fes, Ait-Ben-Haddou, Asilah, Marrakech Metropolis, Meknes, Sahara Desert, Tangiers, Tetouan, and Gorge exactly where it is possible to really feel quite comfy and relaxed. There are tons of enterprise opportunities in these glorious destinations where you may make investments your finance to expect some respectable returns. However mainly the business professionals choose to purchase business class tickets for their flights to Morocco and expertise a safe and secure journey.
If you’re traveling to Rabat the funds city of Morocco you can find this city fairly nicely created exactly where a big flock of passengers travel to. You will discover 3 major airports in this nation where you are able to journey by means of soon after acquiring your cheap flights to Morocco as these 3 airports are located in Tangier, Agadi, and Casablanca. These flights coming from lengthy air routes arrive at Casablanca airport as Casablanca is one of probably the most glorious and dazzling city of Morocco.
Edward Muwonge is a reputable writer in Africa Travel & Tourism related topics. He has authored many travel and destination articles on tour guide for Morocco holidays and Morocco vacations. For more information on Morocco travel and destination guide, visit his site at http://www.guideforafrica.com/
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