Moroccan culture can be an exciting experience. Wander the labyrinth of small streets and alleyways, filled with stalls selling everything imaginable, and an aroma of saffron and orange blossom among sacks of almonds piled high as mountains.
The Hassan Il Mosque
COLOURFUL CULTURE
The almost medieval-like hustle and bustle of Morocco is, for most travellers a world away from their own cities and towns. The people are friendly and the place is pulsing with energy. Hospitality is really a part of their culture so you can strike up friendships virtually anywhere if you have the right attitude. Usually this results in further association with these dynamic and interesting people and a real taste of Moroccan life.
MANY TALENTS
There are so many different ways that the people express themselves – in carpets, clothing, jewellery, ceramics, sculpture, painting, carving and calligraphy. If you ever have the opportunity to visit this country, you should consider buying some of the local artwork. Not only will it provide you with a little memento of your trip, but it will help out the local people who are usually quite poor. Don’t forget to get your leather goods from the tanners in Fez.
FLAVOURS AND SPICES
Spices hold pride of place in any Moroccan kitchen and are used skillfully to create a variety of distinctive flavours to tempt any palate. Common spices include cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, paprika, aniseed, pepper, coriander, sesame seeds, saffron and mint. Couscous also plays an important role in Moroccan cuisine and is gaining popularity worldwide.
The Outdoor Market in Djemaa El-Fna square
Probably the most famous market in Marrakesh is the Djemaa El-Fna. It really comes alive in the evening. You can easily spend an entire night here wandering from stall to stall. Don’t eat a whole dinner, just have little tastes: there are grilled meats, steamed snails, lovely desserts… Let’s just say you won’t go hungry.
PEACE AND TRANQUILITY
Away from the hustle and bustle you will find peace and tranquility at The Menara, surrounded by magnificent gardens, tranquil waters and snow-capped mountains in the background. Fascinating and full of history, the culture of Morocco is also home to incredible architectural wonders.
If you would like to head off on your own Moroccan adventure, you can find out more here.
Caroline Thorpe, Leger’s Design Studio Manager joined an 8-day tour of Dubrovnik and the Dalmatian Coast to learn more about the area and see why its popularity has grown in recent years.
Caroline looking over Dubrovnik’s harbour
Following the beautiful coastline of the winding bay of Kotor, known locally as Boka Kotorska, our destination was the beautiful, walled city of Dubrovnik.
This was just one part of an 8-day tour I’d joined, taking in not only Croatia, but also visiting Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
En route to Dubrovnik we passed buildings decorated with vibrant pink bougainvillea and parks thick with palms and oleander – a common sight in this part of the world – before enjoying a short visit to the wonderful, quiet little town of Cavtat. Here, waterfront cafes line the quiet promenade, providing breathtaking views across the clear blue water, along with an excellent selection of mouth-watering cuisine.
Destination Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is described as ‘the most perfectly preserved medieval town in the world’, so, as this was my first visit to the city, I joined the optional city tour to see the main sights of the city – I didn’t want to miss anything! The guide who would show us the sights of Dubrovnik, Tolsten (or Paul, as he told us to call him), was very flamboyant and seemed to know everyone in the town!
It was another hot day, and walking through the Pile Gate, the traditional entrance to the Old Town, we found ourselves in a lovely broad avenue known as Placa with smooth, cream-coloured flagstones stretching its 958- foot length.
We passed Onofrio’s Fountain with its huge, red brick dome sitting above sixteen fountains – ornately carved faces sitting in a stone wall spurting water from their lips – and followed Paul into the cool, Franciscan church. He gathered us round with his catchphrase (“now then my dear friendsâ€) as he lead us up into the backstreets lined with cozy little restaurants, where waiters were busy laying tables and sweeping around in readiness for their lunchtime customers.
Back once again on Placa, Orlando’s Column was right in front of us – and here the magnificent Bell Tower stands high above the buildings and cluster of restaurant umbrellas below.
A Different View
As Paul said a final “goodbye my friends,†I decided to head to the cable car before the sun reached its full, midday strength. I’d bought my ticket before I arrived at the cable car station, which meant I got directed to the front of the queue, and onto the cable car which would take me to the top of the Srd Hill.
The ride itself took just 3 minutes, carrying us high above the terracotta roofs of the town, with excellent views of Dubrovnik and out over the crystal-clear Adriatic Sea to the green island of Lokrum. At the summit, there’s a shop, a modern amphitheatre and an open-air restaurant. It’s a great viewpoint to appreciate the structure of the lovely town unfolding below you. Pile Gate, Dubrovnik
Exploring the Town
I headed, along Placa – the whole length of it lined with intriguing little shops – with wonderful, narrow stone alleyways on either side packed with more shops, restaurants and bars… a great place for people watching and cooling off in Dubrovnik’s summer heat.
I wandered around the streets of the Old Town – a network of charming, cobbled streets where buildings were decorated with colourful scarves, handmade jewellery, delicate lace and leather goods displayed outside the numerous shops.
A Breath of Fresh Air
As I walked round to St. John’s Fort – which I’d seen earlier from the top of Srd Hill – a different glimpse of the city greeted me. The bustling harbour promenade is a hive of activity, where cruise ships bring visitors to the city and boats take day-trippers out to neighbouring islands and resorts to see more of the wonderful sights this area has to offer.
Walking the Walls
As I headed back into the Old Town. I passed people clambering up along the stone ramparts of the town – considered to be one of the great fortifications of the middle ages – draped with pale and bold pink oleander bushes, for the one-and-a-quarter-mile stroll above the carpet of terracotta rooftops. The high wall encompasses the whole city, running an unbroken course of over 6,300 feet, with strong forts as part of its defence system. I would’ve loved longer to walk the city walls for myself, but it was time to leave.
Reflection Beneath the Stars
That evening, back at our hotel I enjoyed a quiet drink on the hotel’s terrace. It had been a great week, with lots of fabulous memories to take home with me. A wonderful, unforgettable Croatian adventure.
Have you been to Croatia recently? Would you like to share your story with our readers? If so, you can get in touch using the comments section below.
‘Booking brain’ leaves our customers asking the funniest questions…
Does the ferry sail straight to Disneyland Paris? How much does the free shuttle bus cost? Apparently, asking a holiday howler is becoming an increasingly common affair amongst Brits arranging their holidays, as the excitement about escaping abroad truly sets in. Our research reveals that, the closer you get to your getaway the more likely you are to trip yourself up with a question you later laugh about. We believe that the ‘booking brain’ may also lead to lost luggage, a packing faux pas and relationship hiccups in the build up to your break.
Speaking about the holiday howler trend, Leger Holidays’ Marketing Director, Huw Williams said:
It’s only natural that our minds start to wander as the prospect of a holiday draws closer. Having spent all year battling the daily grind, we need to be able to drop the pace for our holidays and this is when even the most focussed of minds will begin to wander off to an exotic beach or cosmopolitan cityscape.
A few minor mishaps and a holiday howler can be expected on every break and for some they make the most interesting memories, providing a bit of light-hearted relief and humour to share. However, to stop things turning sour, the trick is to start your preparation early so that you can truly enjoy the build-up without any major complications. Or, for an even easier experience, let us take care of all the details for you.
According to research, here are a few of the top booking bloopers. Recognise any?
In relation to self-drive holiday – Booking agent: “What car are you taking?†– Holidaymaker: “John’sâ€
Holidaymaker: “How much does the free shuttle bus cost?â€
Holidaymaker: “Can you explain what self-drive means?â€
In relation to a journey back from the continent – Holidaymaker: “When you say we would gain an hour on the way back, is that because the wind is behind us on the ferry?â€
Holidaymaker: “Does the ferry sail straight to Disneyland Paris?â€
Holidaymaker: “Is Dover in the UK?â€
Holidaymaker: “At Disneyland Paris, can I have a room with a sea view?â€
Holidaymaker: “What language do they speak in France?â€
Booking agent: “How is your party made up?†– Holidaymaker: “They’re ecstatic!â€
Holidaymaker: “Are the Disney hotels OK for kids?â€
Holidaymaker: “I need to change my Mum’s name to what’s on her passport. Her date of birth is still the same though.â€
Do you recognise any of these holiday howlers? Have you made any yourself? Let us know in the comments below.
It’s amazing how far cameras have come in the last few years, and taking photographs has never been easier. And with digital cameras, you can now snap away as much as your memory cards will allow!
Here are Leger’s Top Ten Tips for better holiday snaps…
1 Set your camera to automatically switch off after so long. That way, you won’t have to worry about leaving it switched on and ending up with a flat battery, and it’ll be ready for action as soon as you see something you want to photograph.
2 When travelling on the coach, be sure to turn your flash OFF if you’re taking photos through the window – otherwise you’ll just end up with a photograph of a big white light!
3 Turn the flash ON in the day if you’re taking photos of people just a few feet away from you to avoid their faces being in shadow.
Follow these simple steps for the perfect holiday snaps!
4 When taking photos of people, try and angle yourself with the sun at the side of you, rather than behind you or behind your subject. (If the sun is behind you, the photo will be brighter but your subject will be squinting… if the sun is behind them, you’ll end up with a silhouette.) Again, use the flash to remove the shadows in your subject’s face.
5 To avoid people blinking in your shots, get them to close their eyes! At least, while you get your camera ready! Just as you’re about to take the shot, tell them to open their eyes!
6 Photograph street signs and restaurant signage to remind you where you were.
7 Take a few memory cards and keep swapping them over. That way, if you do have problems with one of your cards, all won’t be lost.
8 Always carry spare batteries and memory sticks with you and remember to take your battery charger on holiday with you (if your battery is the rechargeable type).
9 When photographing at night, if you’re in an area with lots of light (restaurant, under bright street lights, etc) turn your flash off, but find somewhere to rest your camera (a scarf or soft bag positioned on a table/wall etc will do the trick) and use the self-timer. This means that your camera will be still and by not having to press your shutter button manually, your photographs won’t be blurred.
10 Most people use digital cameras these days and many have access to email. In the event of a ‘camera malfunction’, ask around to see if other passengers would mind emailing you a selection of their holiday snaps. They might not feature you, but at least you’ll have a record of your trip. If that fails, postcards are a great way to remember where you’ve been and what was there – you can even record your memories of the place on the back.
