Spain & Morocco
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- dbloc
I'm headed to Spain & Morocco tomorrow. Anything I should see and do while there?
Staying in :
Estapona / Southern Spain
Marrakech, Morocco
Madrid, Spain
- set0
Worth a day trip to Chefchaouen, the blue city in Morocco...
- wow, cool!dbloc
- Photographers dream :)set
- Kind of a white balance nightmare, though. ;)Continuity
- Hah, can you tell I'm not a photographer?
=Dset
- Jimbo820
I'm in Estepona right now, cheeky weeks holiday, on the last couple of days, spent it drinking cold beers lounging round the villa. Bliss.
Estepona is nice, good bars and restaurants, not much to do other than that really. Ventured into Marbella (Puerto Banus to be precise) and fuck me, that place is full of TOWIE sorts, avoid at all costs.
Was in Seville last year, beautiful architecture, highly reccomend if you get the chance. Strong Morrocan vibe there.
- detritus0
If you're going to Morocco from Algeciras and have extra time, drive half an hour further south around the tip of Tarifa, which has that part of the world's best beaches. Tarifa itself is a lovely and labyinthine old town in the centre.
I'd drive past, but not bother going into, Gibraltar, unless you want duty free stuff, or fancy a trip up the rock to get some amazing views of Africa and Spain, and want to have your car aerial ripped off by an ape.
It's a bit down there at this time of year, so the value of going inland a bit and seeing some of the older villages like Cacares and such isn't worth it, unless you love feeling hot, stifled and frusrated.
Although Ronda might be worth it as it's a bit higher up so stays breezy and cooler. Good food up there and beautiful architecture, although it's a full day out with the drive either side included.
I was supposed to be going back home there in a month or so, but I think I might have to knock it on the head 'til Spring :(
- "It's a bit *hot* down there at this time of year", sorry.detritus
- lowimpakt0
i like southern spain. granada, cordoba, rhonda and places like that.
much different vibe to madrid.
the alhambra in Granada and mezquita in cordoba are worth visiting.
- +1 Granada, although it's a quite a schlepp up from Estepona. Would recommend staying the night there, if possible.detritus
- colin_s0
oh dope - i did the same trip last year, madrid to tangier to chefchaouen to fez to essaouria to marrakech
in madrid there's a few dope art museums - the contemporary one had a great pop art exhibit while i was there, and the photography a free cartier-bresson retrospective, so who knows what is going on now.
morocco, watch out for the medina scams but that's to be said. smoke some hash but don't buy some skeevy street shit (go to chefchaouen if you can). hang out on rooftops of hostels, and always negotiate down to probably 10% of the asking price for whatever you're getting (unless it's nice, then maybe 30%)
watch out for the street food, a chicken sandwich in essaouria put me as close to death as i've ever felt for a day and a half
marrakech is cool, but probably the least cool of morocco - the old medina is popular and so it's saturated and honestly has a tad of a western vibe at times. it was like 110 degrees while i was in marrakech so i didn't do a ton there other than get high and re-read the stranger. there's some interesting things outside of the medina though, i walked around and got a haircut and watched the world cup, and people are relatively nice even if you aren't up on your french / arabic.
have fun
- the main art museum in madrid has a fucking huge permanent collection, like 5 floors. there's a whole center by the train station of museums.colin_s
- just get absolutely smashed and drink in various catcomb bars in Madrid hahah.
Eat all the tapas style foods on offer. So much fun can be had. Also - Paella.rabbit
- rabbit0
In Morocco, get a guide. A good one. Recommended to you from a 5 star hotel.
Otherwise you will be haggled ALL DAY long.
Trust me. A good guide will be worth his weight in gold. They keep away all the hagglers and street hustlers and thugs.
Do not trust anyone. It is sad that i say that but it has to be said.
Other than that when i was in Tangier i saw the Casbah, Camel ride along the beach at sunset smoking hash, trip into the mountains, drinking green teas and some belly dancing.
Is Marrakesh where they have the leather tannery? If so that is a must see.
These are my memories of Tangier and surrounding areas. I was very young though.
Madrid - Prado museum? Is that there? I think so...
Tapas!! Bars in the catacombs.
Do NOT carry much cash on you. Do NOT interact with ANYBODY who instigates it in the main squares of Madrid no matter how old or young, they are trying to pickpocket you. Trust me.
If you follow these rules you will have mad bread to break up if not twenty years on the wake up.
- i would much rather go to barcelona than go the second leg of the trip to morocco. just too sketchy down there to not spend a fortune staying safe with a familygilgamush
- Oh and yes Prado is in Madrid - must see:
https://www.museodel…rabbit - Just be safe man. Madrid and Morocco are havens for common thiefs. Remember this. You are a walking wallet/dollar sign in their eyes. It is well worth the trip.rabbit
- Not trying to put you off, just be prepared!rabbit
- barcelona is also great thoughgilgamush
- My fave city in Spain. Go to Barcelona instead of Madrid if you can.rabbit
- i second that. have quite a bit of family in barca, wasn't sure if my opinion was jaded by that but yea, great citygilgamush
- just be careful with pickpocketsernexbcn
- rabbit0
The trick the st thieves in Madrid use (when i was there 10 years ago) is to come up to you on the st hey brother hey brother and they start dancing with you. PICKPOCKET.
Just say no thank you. In Spanish/French.
Do not look rich. All the common sense shit. Go to an atm often, as opposed to lots of cash.
Fuck. I sound so negative. I am not. These places are fantastic!
Just want to help you via my hard lessons.
- Keep your eyes and wits about you open at all times. If in Morocco with a female make sure she covers up!rabbit
- rabbit0
True story.
When I was in Morocco with my family as a youngster, we had a guide - his name was Mustapha, he was very well spoken, good looking Moroccan man. Well dressed, spoke 7 languages.
My sister fell in love with him, she stayed in Morocco and we went back through Europe.
She ALMOST married him. Morocco is a fantastic place. Full of sights, smells and sounds the Western ear is not used to.
Enjoy your trip, I look forward to hearing about your adventures!
- He asked my dad if he could marry my sister the first day lollllrabbit
- rabbit0
- etc etc. Prado. Must see.rabbit
- High res
https://upload.wikim…rabbit