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I love big cities, especially when they incorporate welcoming green spaces into their urban cores. Such is the case with Casablanca, whose majestic Parc de la Ligue Arabe is a natural oasis amid the controlled chaos of the city. Casablanca's biggest park dates back to 1918, when the city decided a park open for all residents would provide a place for a hard-working population to rest and appreciate the toils of their labor in lush natural surroundings. It was a huge success, and now, 90 years later, it's still one of the best places in the city to retreat into a verdant world of palm trees, flowers, and fountains. It's easy to spend the better part of an afternoon meandering among the French-style gardens, jogging on nature trails, or taking a spin on carnival rides. But perhaps it's best to do what the locals do and simply have a seat at a charming outdoor cafe, order a cup of tea and a few sweet morsels, and enjoy the calming breezes of this pristine desert paradise by the sea. Starwood has two hotels in Casablanca: the Sheraton Casablanca Hotel & Towers and Le Royal Mansour Méridien.
Recently in Morocco Category
Sipping Tea in Casablanca's Parc de la Ligue Arabe
Friday June 13, 2008
MoreMagical Morocco
Thursday June 7, 2007
There's something about Morocco that conjures up thoughts of intrigue and adventure, history and beauty. An enjoyable article from the Sydney Morning Herald describes some of the more memorable spots in this amazing country. The Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, for example, boasts the world's highest minaret, which, at 210 meters, provides the muezzin call to the faithful five times a day. The mosque itself, which is open to visitors, features an enormous prayer hall, with 77 pillars holding up the majestic ceiling. Elsewhere in Casablanca, commerce has gone on as it has for thousands of years. Travelers buy fine ceramics and jewelry as well as tasty treats from sweet vendors (pictured). Shoppers also love the city of Marrakech, which boasts a grand souk (bazaar) where you can find bargains on exquisite carpets and other textiles if you're not afraid to haggle a bit. As day turns to night, storytellers, musicians, and sword swallowers fill Djemaa el-Fna Square, a perfect way to round out any Moroccan adventure. Starwood has four properties in Morocco: Le Royal Mansour Méridien, the Sheraton Casablanca Hotel & Towers, Le Méridien N'Fis, and the soon-to-open L'Amphitrite Palace, a member of Starwood's Luxury Collection.
[image via the Sydney Morning Herald]
Funky Marrakech
Friday January 26, 2007
One of the safest places to visit in Africa is Morocco. It's an exotic destination; the former stomping grounds of William Burroughs and many a 1960s hippie is also an easy place to get around for any French or Arabic speaker. One of Marrakech's most opulent hotels is the Le Meridien N'Fis, a 277 room hotel with some of the country's finest accomodations. The BBC recently put together a Marrakech day guide that takes in many of the traditional sites and many of the not-so-traditional sites:
Down on the main square, life carries on as it has for centuries though. The square is in the heart of the medina and over the years it's been a place of execution, riots and most famously, the Djemaa el-fna, which means, Assembly of the Dead, a street festival that's held there every day. Locals who come to the souks to shop then spend time in the square, watching the snake charmers or visiting the fortune tellers.
Moroccan Travel
Wednesday October 4, 2006
As travellers become bolder and more adventurous, countries that were once off the beaten path can suddenly become firmly on said path. Morocco is welcoming more and more visitors every year, and now they're not all bohemians. Of course, people become worried that a place like Morocco will lose its native charm, but as this NY Times article points out, locals make sure everything happens at their pace, on their schedule. The travellers' route includes cities like Casablanca and Marrakech - naturally, there are Starwood properties in those places. Casablanca has Le Royal Mansour Meridien and Sheraton Casablanca Hotel & Towers, while Le Meridein N'Fis is in Marrakech. Starwood is adding a fourth property in Morocco later this year with the L'Amphitrite Palace in Skhirat.
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