Morocco: the country of sand dunes, camels, and marijuana?

A road trip across assumptions about Morocco

"Listen students, Giffen goods are goods bought by poor people in Africa"
-An economics professor at USC

“Oh, I know Morocco, it’s a desert in the south of Spain, right?”
- USC student

“Dude, I know Casablanca, I have seen the movie”
- USC student

Casablanca is a classic, yet like most classics, it’s old and doesn’t tell us much about today. People hear stories, watch movies, and naturally build assumptions. They might have been true a few years ago, and still are, let’s be honest, for many countries in Africa that suffer from political instability, corruption, hunger, and deadly diseases. People have stagnating views about this place that has always been considered as the armpit of the world, but this land’s true potential has been uncovered and Africa is taking off, fueled by leading countries, including Morocco. Through its financial institutions, cultural richness, and ongoing projects, Morocco is turning Africa into a place where people can innovate, progress, and live a good life.

The word Morocco comes from “Marrakech”, “The land of god”, while the Arabic version “Al-Maghrib” stands for “the setting sun”. Marrakech was the ancient capital, the current one is Rabat, but the most influential city is Casablanca, which stands for “the white house”. In the kingdom of Morocco, the official languages are Arabic and Amazigh (but some people use a Moroccan dialect in general), and there are as many people as in Canada (around 35 million). Morocco’s geostrategic location is convenient when it comes to business and finance. What you might not know... Casablanca is the biggest financial center in Africa and 28^th most competitive financial hub, five places behind Paris (23^rd) and better ranked than Seoul (33^rd), Washington DC (36^th), Munich (39^th) and Milan (56^th). Really? you might be thinking… that’s surprising, isn’t it? Who would think for a second that a city in Africa could have its word to say in a world where only big mouths can speak. You’re an investor? this might be the place to be.

 

         http://www.freeworldmaps.net/fr/maroc/

Doing business is good, yet Morocco’s true richness is its culture. Shaped by a strong colonial past, it has successfully managed to keep strong ties to its roots, while enjoying the Spanish influence in the north and the French inspiration in modern cities. This gives birth to a blend of landscapes, allowing you to experience Morocco in unique ways, by enjoying the sun of Marrakech, the modernity of Casablanca, the beaches of Tangier, and the colors of Chefchaouen. Hang on tight, I am taking you on a road trip!

The land of god… and nightclubs

Marrakech. Monday. 7:00AM. In the red city, you can appreciate the best of two worlds. Your arrival is propitious as only a few minutes before the crack of dawn. You obviously start off the day with a camel ride along sand dunes, watch the sunrise and walk by the palms (there are over 100,000!) before heading to the iconic “Jemaa el-Fnaa”. Here you can watch impressive snake charmers and take pictures with their non-poisonous snakes, before getting your hair pulled by monkeys. Don’t forget to buy souvenirs, and to bargain too, it’s the officious national sport. By the end of the day, you can spend your last moments going to the “Theatro”, a fancy nightclub where international celebrities often have a good time.

http://www.infinitemorocco.ma/tours/morocco/
marrakech/Marrakech-Dunes-Erg-Chebbi-5-Jours

http://www.jetsetreport.com/?play=nightlife
-Theatro%20Marrakech-Marrakech-Morocco

Gucci, Starbucks, and Netflix

Tuesday, it’s 11:00AM, and after two hours by car north you’re in Casablanca, the most prominent city of Morocco. It is best known for Michael Curtiz’s Casablanca, except that there’s more to it than a great movie. This city is home to one of the biggest shopping malls in Africa, featuring brands like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dior and Fendi. Casablanca is also popular for its restaurants, such as “Le relais de Paris” or the “Cabestan”, which offer unique dining experiences. But what really shows that a place is evolving is how established international companies are: Netflix, Starbucks and obviously McDonald’s (15 only in Casablanca!), we’ve got them all.

https://www.h24info.ma/economie/casablanca

-startups-innovent-villes-de-demain/

https://www.pinterest.fr/pin/600949143997106580/

The city of trades and traffics

It’s Wednesday, 10:00AM, and it took you three hours to get to Tangier (you’re only two hours far from Spain!). You could have gotten there using the brand new high-speed rail “Boraq” but driving lets you enjoy the agricultural landscapes. Here has been built the biggest African port, ranked 45^thworldwide and boosting Morocco’s international outlook. However, behind the large container ships exporting all sorts of goods, there’s a more discreet business, illicit but accepted because profitable, and contributing to 70% of the European consumption of… Marijuana. The productivity of Tangier’s fields pushed Morocco over the top, leading it to become the first hashish supplier in the world. There’s enough for everyone and its cheap, but please, consume it moderately.

http://arabiczeal.com/tag/tangier-kasbah/

https://industries.ma/tanger-tient-sa-
premiere-bourse-regionale-du-tourisme/

A blue city on a blue planet It’s Thursday, 10AM, you’re in the car, and you start observing what looks like the village of Smurfs. That’s Chefchaouen. Not only do its blue walls make the city beautiful, but they also reflect the sun rays, keep the atmosphere warm, and repulse mosquitoes and insects. Make sure you don’t get lost in the long labyrinths of the blue city while taking your best Instagram pictures.

https://www.heartmybackpack.com/morocco/blue-city-chefchaouen/

The originality of these regions is balanced with consistent food and friendly people wherever you go. Strangers will call you “khoya” (brother) or “khti” (sister) when engaging in a conversation. People shake hands, kiss on the cheeks (unusual in the USA), and love to have good food around the table. The national dish is Couscous, made out of crushed wheat semolina, topped with vegetables, meat, and few spices. It is the third most preferred plate by the French! Certainly, Morocco’s rising attractiveness resulted in it being ranked first African touristic destination, with an average of 11 million tourists a year. That’s better than Argentina (6.7m), Brazil (6.6m), but still far behind France (86.9m) or Mexico (40m). Being a cheap place to visit, and one that has so much to show, it is the perfect destination for curious travelers seeking new experiences. All in all, if you live in the EU, Argentina, Australia, Brazil… Or the United States, what are you waiting for? you don’t need a visa!

https://lepetitguidemarocain.com/

 http://madeincooking.canalblog.com/archives/2015/03/28/.html 

No one can deny that “our assumptions make us feel right”, but one must think twice before supposing something because assumptions affect people. Yes, we do have lots of beautiful sand dunes, yes, we do have plenty of camels, and yes, Morocco is the first producer of hashish. Is that all? Is that what people should have in their minds when hearing this word? No. Caricatures can be useful, and we often use them to grasp concepts more easily, but simplifying everything distorts reality, which can sometimes become dangerous (populism). In hindsight, it might actually be a good thing that some people underestimate this country, because having low expectations often leads to big surprises.

Ghali Berrada

Citations (MLA):

Tremlett, Giles. “Ketama Gold Puts Morocco Top of Europe's Cannabis League.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 27 May 2003, www.theguardian.com/world/2003/may/27/gilestremlett.

“Morocco Remains World's Largest Cannabis Producer.” Middle East Monitor, Middle East Monitor, 3 July 2017, www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170703-morocco-remains-worlds-largest-cannabis-producer/.

“Restaurants Nouvelle Génération.” Mcdonald's Maroc, www.mcdonalds.ma/nos-restaurants/restaurants-nouvelle-génération.

“Morocco (n.).” Index, www.etymonline.com/word/morocco.

“à propos de casablanca finance city.” CFC Casablanca Finance City Authority, www.casablancafinancecity.com/.

“The Global Financial Centres Index 24” SEPTEMBER 2018

https://www.longfinance.net/media/documents/GFCI_24_final_Report.pdf

“International Tourism, Number of Arrivals.” Literacy Rate, Adult Female (% of Females Ages 15 and above) | Data, data.worldbank.org/indicator/ST.INT.ARVL

“Morocco Travel Visa and Passport Requirements.” Sufi Music & Sufi Traditions, www.travel-exploration.com/page.cfm/Visa_Requirements.

Laura, et al. “Le Classement Des Plats Dont Les Français Raffolent.” Food Powa, 3 Apr. 2018, www.foodpowa.com/plats-preferes-francais/.

“classement des ports a conteneurs mondiaux tanger med classe 45eme port a conteneurs mondial et 1er en afrique.” tanger med group - tmsa, 7 Aug. 2018, www.tangermed.ma/تصنيف-الموانئ-العالمية-للحاويات-طنجة/.

85broads. “Questioning Our Assumptions.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 14 Mar. 2012, www.forbes.com/sites/85broads/2012/01/18/questioning-our-assumptions/#76b3165e3782.