Moroccan Lifestyle
An enviable lifestyle
Morocco is an exciting country with its exotic fusion of cultures, sandy beaches, deserts, minarets, souks, and mosques and many visitors and investors fall under its spell.
It's the perfect choice for those seeking a holiday home with investment potential and many sun lovers are being lured over from Spain and the Mediterranean to take advantage of the thousands of new properties decreed under Mohammed VI's development plan for six coastal resorts.
Cultural life is heavily influenced by Spain and France along the Mediterranean coast, where several Spanish enclaves still exist today.
Moroccan traditions and customs to be enjoyed today are born from the longest Monarchy in the world, Andalusian heritage, religious and ethnic tolerance, and a huge diversity of folklore, music and dance. For instance, the Arabs call belly dancing 'Oriental Dancing' and it actually originates from pre-Biblical religious rites of celebrating motherhood.
The people of Morocco are warm and hospitable although it is advisable to respect Moroccan traditions - mosques are considered holy places solely for Muslims to access, ask Moroccan people for permission before photographing them so as not to offend.
Robert Carrier, the famous cook and food writer once described Moroccan cuisine as amongst the most exciting in the world. Eating out is a major (and inexpensive) attraction with fresh ingredients, nuts and aromatic spices always on the menu in a cuisine that clearly holds Spanish influences. From a-la-carte and fine dining to brochettes stalls in the souks and medinas, the food is delicious.
Mint tea is integral to Moroccan life. The locals take their coffee strong and black, and local lager and wines are excellent.
The official languages spoken are Arabic and French, with the latter being taught in school.
The unit of currency is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD) which is divided into 100 centimes.
