MOROCCO TRAVEL

Morocco is a fascinating and mysterious country with Imperial Cities, ancient ruins, endless desert, and hospitable people.

Morocco is located in Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara. With total land area about 446,300 square kilometers, Morocco is slightly larger than California of the United States.

Morocco has about 32,209,101 (2004 estimate) population, including Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, and Jewish 0.2%. Arabic is the official language, but French is often the language of business, government, and diplomacy.

Morocco faces the problems typical of developing countries - restraining government spending, reducing constraints on private activity and foreign trade, and achieving sustainable economic growth. Morocco has a good telephone system which is composed of open-wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links. According to the 2003 estimate, Morocco has about 800,000 Internet users. Morocco uses Moroccan dirham (MAD) as its currency. Based on 2003 data, Moroccan dirhams per US dollar exchange rate is about 9.5744.

Rabat is the capital city of Kingdom of Morocco. The Royal Palace, 12th-century Hassan Tower, the magnificent Mausoleum of the late king Mohammed V are some tourist attractions in this Imperial City.

Fez is another Imperial City and a heritage site with several cultural, educational, and religious organizations. Tourist attractions include the Royal Palace and the fascinating Medina. Traveling inland you will have a breaktaking drive through the foothill of the Altas Mountains and reach the city of Marrakech.

Marrakech is Africa's most popular sun resort. You will experience the past and present as you tour the magnificent El Bahia Palace, the Koutoubia Mosque, and Djemma el F'na square, the heart of the city crowded with entertainers, camels, palm readers, and markets.

Casablanca is Morocco's largest city, major seaport and travel destination with many luxury hotels. Humphrey Bogart's Academy Awards best movie "Casablanca" was produced here. Casablanca has some of North Africa's best beaches along its coastline.