So you’ve done your fair share of research on the culture of Morocco, packed your bags, and booked your ticket, accommodations, and other arrangements through our travel agency in Herndon, Virginia, and now all that’s left is boarding the plane.
We’ve been offering travel and tour in Virginia at our Morocco Travel and Tour agency for years, but we think nothing can really prepare you for this destination marvel. And while we love some spontaneous excursions ourselves, we say it’s always a good thing to have an idea of what to expect, especially since we’re talking about Morocco—the truest melting pot of cultures, if there ever was.
- Cumin is everywhere
If there’s ever such a thing as a national spice, cumin would be it in Morocco. Cumin or ‘kamoun’ in the local language is a staple in just about every dish in the Moroccan cuisine. From tagines, stews, roasted meats, grilled foods, couscous, curries, salads, and even in seasoning eggs—it’s more uncommon to find any dish without it. Aside from being a culinary wonder, it’s also hailed for its therapeutic and medicinal properties. In fact, a teaspoon of cumin is all you need to settle an upset stomach.
- You need flip flops
You’d think that for a country famous for its sand dunes and rocky mountain slopes, sneakers and closed-toe shoes will probably be all you need for your trip to Morocco, right? While having these will most likely be enough, bringing flip flops can make your hammam (public steam bath) visits complete. It’ll also come in handy for running around the riads and the campgrounds.
- You will be eating a lot of tagine and couscous
Couscous is Morocco’s national dish, so expect it to be present in all places that serve food. As a national dish, it occupies a big part of the cultural and religious tradition. In fact, the hours-long, labor-intensive process is the highlight following Friday midday prayers at the mosque, much like the Western tradition of eating together after hearing the Sunday mass.
Sharing the name with the earthenware it’s cooked in for hours, tagine is considered the one dish that signifies the heart of Moroccan cuisine. It’s not an exaggeration to say that when you’ve cooked a good tagine, you’re set off for life.
- You may get lost
Talk to any tourist who has visited Morocco, and they’ll probably say they’ve been lost while walking around the beautiful medinas of the country. And who can blame them? The narrow, winding streets and the colorful alleys selling everything from Arabic lamps, Berber rugs, and fragrant spices can be almost magical, especially in the sundown.
More reviews will be posted here soon. Please check back next time.