Morocco Fall 2007 Daily Itinerary
Please note: this itinerary is planned months in advance and may change due to group interest, health and safety concerns, or other factors beyond the control of Global LAB.
In United States:
Sept. 14-16: Group orientation at Hudson River Valley retreat center
In Morocco:
Sept. 16-17: Flight--JFK to Casablanca (“Casa”)
Sept. 17-18: In country orientation, visits to key cultural and religious sites in Casa
Sept. 19-20: Arrival in Fes via train, 2 nights’ stay in hotel prior to home-stay placements, tour of medina
Sept. 21-27: Begin Fes home-stays after American Language Center (ALC) courtyard lunch orientation; commence “Introduction to Moroccan Arabic” (“darija”) instruction, and “Moroccan Culture & Society” lectures; declare independent study projects (ISPs) and begin research; participate in initial medina restoration service project; attend first cultural encounter group meeting.
Sept. 28-29: Excursion to Asilah on the Atlantic coast via train.
Sept. 30-Oct. 3: Return to Fes via train. Continue home-stays and “darija” instruction; participate in “Introduction to Islam” lectures; continue ISPs and medina restoration service project; attend second cultural encounter group meeting; and have second ALC courtyard lunch.
Oct. 4-5: Excursion by minibus to the adjacent Imperial City of Meknes; en route, tour the Roman ruins of Volubilis and the holy village of Moulay Idriss.
Oct. 5-7: Return to Fes by train to complete this “Phase 1” of the semester; continue home-stays, “darija” instruction, ISPs, and have third ALC courtyard group lunch. As a prelude to our High Atlas Mountain circuit, attend “Introduction to Berber culture” lectures.
Oct. 8-14: High Atlas Mountain Trek. Early a.m. train from Fes to Marrakesh then transfer to Imlil via Grand Taxis. Experience Berber hospitality and their rugged way of life by hiking through numerous valleys and summiting Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa at 13,665 feet. Accommodations will be a mix of camping and overnights at “gites”, or simple Berber guest homes.
Oct. 14-17: High Atlas community service activities, Imlil – Rural environmental awareness.
Oct. 17-22: Travel to Marrakesh, The Rose City, by Grand Taxi. Tour the Marrakesh medina and the Djemaa el Fna. Begin an “Introduction to Modern Standard Arabic” and learn the Arabic script; participate in an “Introduction to Sufism” lecture; continue ISPs or take up new topics specific to Marrakesh; and experience a day-trip to the 11th century ruins of the Tinmal mosque.
Oct. 23-25: Excursion to the laid-back Atlantic coast village of Essaouira by minibus. Continue ISPs.
Oct. 26: Return to Marrakesh by minibus. Attend lecture on “Berber-Sahara culture/relations” and conclude ISPs for this segment.
Oct. 27 – Nov. 2: Kasbah/Oasis country. Traverse this fabled stretch of southern Morocco by minibus and experience yet another geographic layer to Morocco; visit the well-preserved Kasbah of Ait Benhaddou; pass through the oases of Skoura and Tinerhir; experience the stark geological tableaux of the Dades Valley; and tour the impressive Todra Gorge. Possible three-day community service activity in Skoura with Coeur de Palmier village association.
Nov. 3-5: The Sahara. Proceed to Merzouga and the fantastic dunes of Erg Chebbi—a portal to The Sahara Desert. Two nights in the dunes via camel caravan.
Nov. 6: Return to Fes by minibus via the Middle Atlas Mountains. Overnight in Midelt.
Nov. 7-13: Re-integrate into Fes. First night at a hotel then recommence home-stays, ISPs, “darija” language instruction, and medina restoration service activities. One cultural encounter group meeting and one ALC courtyard luncheon programmed for this period.
Nov. 14-16: Excursion to Ifrane & Azrou by minibus. Tour of Al-Akhawayn University (AUI) campus, an elite all-English university for Moroccans. Attend lectures on “Moroccan Anthropology” and “Moroccan Geography”. Participate in a guided tour of the Cedar Forest, the habitat of indigenous Barbary Apes. Engage in a community service activity—either with AUI’s affiliated Azrou Center for Community Development or Center for Environmental Issues and Regional Development.
Nov. 17-22: Return to Fes for home-stays, ISPs, medina restoration, “darija” instruction, and a lecture on “Moroccan Music”. One cultural encounter group meeting and one ALC courtyard luncheon programmed for this period.
Nov. 23-24: Rabat: Excursion to this Imperial City and seaside capital by rail. Tour the medina and other cultural-historic sites.
Nov. 25-29: Fes. Home-stays, ISPs, medina restoration, “darija” instruction, and a lecture on “Moroccan Literature”. One final ALC Courtyard luncheon.
Nov. 30: Taza. Overnight excursion by minibus to tour Friouato Cave and Djebel Tazzeka National Park.
Dec. 1-4: Fes finale. Final “darija” class, conclude home-stay experiences, participate in a Moroccan cooking class, and formally present ISP findings.
Dec. 4-6: Minibus to Chefchaouen in The Rif Mountains. Tour, trek, reflect.
Dec. 7-9: Minibus to Tangier. Tour medina and coastal environs. Attend two lectures: one on Rif culture, one on Tangier’s unique role in the 20th century. Also visit a “restaurant rehabilitator” for women.
In Spain:
Dec. 10-12: Andalusia. Ferry to Algeciras, Spain via the Strait of Gibraltar. Train to Cordoba. Tour La Mezquita, Juderia, Cordoba Synagogue, Casa Andalussi and Torre Calahorra museum.
Dec. 13-15: Granada by train. Tour Alhambra and Albaycin. Live Flamenco performance.
Dec. 16: Return to US. Granada flight to Madrid then to JFK.