WAY OF LIFE: TRAVEL AND ENJOY MOROCCO

A respect of local customs is a fundamental act of courtesy in a welcoming country.

To avoid embarrassing situations and misunderstandings, comply with common practise. Here are a few essential rules to follow:

• In Morocco, access to mosques and holy places is forbidden to non Muslims. A few exceptions are the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, the Mohammed V Mausoleum in Rabat, the Moulay Ismail mausoleum at Meknes and the Moulay Ali Cherif Mausoleum at Rissani.
• Avoid provocative clothing.
• Accept mint tea when offered, a sign of hospitality.
• If you are invited to share in a family meal, you should symbolically use the ewer to wash your hands. The meal begins after the master of the house has said the “bismillah” in praise of God. Use your right hand to eat, taste everything, but don’t think you have to finish everything in your plate, which is usually impossible!
• Avoid drinking, eating and smoking in public in daytime during the period of Ramadan.
• If you want to photograph somebody, don’t forget to ask for permission.

RELIGION IN MOROCCO

Islam is the official religion of Morocco, but it exists in perfect coexistence with the other religions (freedom to practise other religions of revelation is guaranteed by the constitution). The day is marked by five calls to prayer. The muezzin announces them from the top of his minaret. During the month of Ramadan, the Moroccans fast, refraining from eating and smoking from sunrise to sunset.

Obviously this disturbs daily life. Most Civil Service and public offices, monuments and shops alter their opening hours. However, non Muslims will always find something to eat in certain restaurants, particularly in hotels. The days may seem long, but the nights are wonderful!

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN MOROCCO

Civil life is regulated by the Gregorian calendar. As opposed to other Muslim countries, the weekend consists of Saturday and Sunday. Friday is not a public holiday, but Civil and Public Service offices extend their lunch break to allow the faithful to attend prayers. The religious life follows the Muslim calendar. It began on July 16, 622, the day Mohammed left Mecca to live in Medina where he had many more followers.

The Hegiran year, is made up of 12 months, but is shorter than the solar year. The month of Ramadan and the major religious festivals vary according to the Gregorian calendar.

NATIONAL HOLIDAYS IN MOROCCO

• January 1: New Year’s Day
• January 11: Independence manifesto
• May 1: Labour Day
• July 30: Thorne Day
• August 14: Allegiance of Wadi-Eddahab
• August 20: Anniversary of the King’s and People’s Revolution
• August 21: Young People’s Day
• November 6: Anniversary of the Green March
• November 18: Independence Day

RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS IN MOROCCO

These are public holidays throughout Morocco.

• The Aid El-Fitre (or Aid Es-Segir) marks the end of the month of Ramandan.
• The Aid el-Khebir (or Aid el-Adha) commemorates Abraham’s sacrifice. The feast of the sheep.
• First of Moharem, the first day of the Hegira, the Muslim year.
• The Mouloud celebrates the birth of the Prophet.

CURRENCY OF MOROCCO

The Moroccan currency is the Dirham (DH) divided into 100 centimes. There are 50, 100 and 200 DH notes, 1, 5 and 10 DH coins and 5, 10, 20 and 50 centime coins. You can only obtain Dirhams in Morocco.

Do not change money in the streets, it is illegal. The best place to change is at a bank or approved change office (indicated by a golden sign). No commission is charged and you will be given a slip which will be required at the end of your stay to change any remaining Dirhams back into the original currency.

You can withdraw money in banks with a credit card and a cheque book, or directly from a cash dispenser in some large towns. Credit cards are generally accepted in major hotels, shops and restaurants, and sometimes even in the souks!

CUSTOMS IN MOROCCO

You can temporarily import most of your personal effects into Morocco without any formalities in quantities corresponding to normal tourist activity. For example: Two tennis racquets, two pairs of skis, one tent and camping equipment, a camcorder, a camera, a Walkman, a pair of binoculars.

Restrictions apply to:

• Alcohol (1 bottle of wine and 1 bottle of spirits or 3 bottles of wine per adult) and tobacco (200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco per adult).
• Arms and ammunition for hunting (shotguns are prohibited).
• Professional photographic equipment. But no problem for your souvenir photographs
• We remind you that it is forbidden to import or export Dirhams.

INOCULATIONS IN MOROCCO

No vaccination certificate is required for visitors from Europe or America. An anti-cholera vaccination certificate may be required of visitors from areas where this disease is prevalent.

Anti-malarial treatment is not necessary.

HEALTH RESCTRICTIONS

Morocco is a healthy country, however a certain number of minimal precautions should be taken, particularly in the south.

Avoid water from wadis and itinerant water sellers. Refresh yourself with the excellent bottled spring water: Sidi Harazem, Imouzzer and Sidi Ali are still waters, while Oulmes is sparking. If you are prone to intestinal problems, take an appropriate medicine with you. Make enquiries before swimming in a wadi or a lake.

Take precautions against insect bites and sunburn. If necessary, tourist offices and major hotels can put you in touch with doctors who speak English, French or other languages.

ELECTRICITY IN MOROCCO

220 volts in a new building, 110 in older ones, sometimes both – make enquiries. Power points are of the French type.

SHOPPING IN MOROCCO

Strolling the souks is a wonderful feast for the senses. And the pleasure is all the greater when you decide you are looking for a ring, a sword stick, a carpet, a pair of slippers, a wicker basket or rare and fragrant spices.

REGION SPECIALTIES IN MOROCCO:

• Rabat:For embroidery and carpets
• Sale:For pottery
• Casablanca:Its leather work and its Mediouna carpets
• Meknes:For carved wood, animals in metal inlaid with silver thread and mosaics
• Fez:The craftwork capital, is famous for its pottery in Fez blue, copper trays and leather work
• Marrakesh:The leatherwork is also very fine. You can see shoemakers sewing the slippers in the Ancient tradition. The region is also famous for its incredible range of spices and the quality of its Berber carpets
• Safi:Has its subtly coloured pottery with their amazing impression of relief
• Taza:For carpets woven by the Ait-Benhaddou Berber tribe
• Essaouira:Jewellery and marquetry as well as weaving, brassware and embroidery

In each town, you will find craftwork centers where you can buy genuine articles offering good value for money. Not to be missed, even if only to get an idea of prices, a wise precaution before launching into the refined art of bargaining.

For any complaints concerning the purchase of a piece of craftwork, contact the local delegation of the Craftwork Ministry.

BARGAINING AND SHOPPING SCAMS

An art that is practiced with a smile on the lips around a mint tea. Discussing a price often ends in a cordial, even amicable conversation.

Furthermore, a long period of bargaining can only give you more to remember your purchase by.

GUIDES IN MOROCCO

You are strongly recommended to choose official Moroccan Tourist Ministry guides. They know the history of their country and its monuments in great detail and can speak several foreign languages. They can be identified by their traditional costume and their badge.

They are to be found in front of the main hotels, at the Tourist Information Bureaus and at the Regional head offices of the National Ministry of Tourism.

POST OFFICES IN MOROCCO

Open from Monday to Friday form 8h30 to 11h45 and from 14h30 to 18h30.

TELEPHONE

To Call Morocco from Abroad, Dial the international code for Morocco (212), then the area code (a figure from 2 to 5), then the seven figures of the number you want.

For example: To reach Casablanca, dial 212 – 2 then the number you are calling.

INTERNATIONAL CALLS FROM MOROCCO

Dial 00, then dial the international code followed by the number you want. Warning: Before making an international call from your hotel room, check the rates. Some hotels impose a “minimum charge” which can make even a short call very expensive. Canada Direct offers easy, convenient long distance calling from Morocco.

TO TELEPHONE INSIDE MOROCCO

Within the same area, simply dial the nine figure number you want.

From one area to another, dial the area code preceded by 0 (from 02 to 05) then, without waiting for another tone, the seven figures of the number you want.

To call a mobile phone (car), the code is always 06, whatever area it may be in.

USEFUL NUMBERS IN MOROCCO

• Police: 19
• Fire Service: 15
• Highway Emergency Service: 177
• Information: 160
• International Information: 120
• Telegrams and telephone: 140
• Intercity: 100