Reason #10 Hassan II

The Hassan II Mosaue is located in Casablanca. The facts: 2nd largest in the world, holds 25,000 with another 80,000 in the courtyard, and has the worlds largest minaret.

Photo taken by Nate St. Amand

Reason #9 The Sahara

Southeast Morocco is the doorway to the world’s largest desert, the formidable Sahara. The desert town of Merzouga and its surrounding landscape (pictured here) are some of the country’s only sand dunes. I’m planning on taking a trip down there with some friends next month.

(Photos courtesy of Vincent)

Reason #8 Marrakech

Ahh..Marrakech. A city that for me is best in small doses. Some tourists go and say, "now, this is what I think about when I think of Morocco." They romanticize the country, and Marrakech represents those perceived images better than any other place in the country. It is a nice place though and probably a must stop when making the loop.

Reason #7 Cape de Touches

Visited the edge of this penisula on the Mediterranean called Cape de Touches twice, where one has to check in and give their passport to military guards at a lighthouse, then is free to camp on the beach or in the grass. We go spearfishing here. This photo is looking at a small settlement of houses on the waters edge.

Reason #6 Agadir

Reason #5 Sibe Chekar

Sibe Chekar in Jerada, 1 of the 2 national reserves that I work in. Maybe it would only be of interest to people that visit me, but the pollution released from the power plant in nearby Jerada makes for beautiful sunsets.

I'm still currently in Agadir at training, right next to a beach on the Atlantic Ocean. It's turned out to be a nice vacation wrapped into a finals week nestled into a class reunion- so its a little chaotic and tiring. Sessions from 8-6 and then a nightly football game on the beach till 9 PM. We'll be done on Sunday. Maybe we'll have to time to go surfing again. We surfed last Sunday for four hours; my first experience on a surf board. Lots of fun, very difficult. I'll have photos later.

Reason #4 Taza National Park

The 3rd largest cave in Africa, largest in North Africa is located outside of Taza.

Reason #3 The King's Parades

Parades for the visiting King Mohammed VI are like a Macy's Parade, minus the inflatable commercialism. Crowds lineup for miles in each city he visits; the governement even buses people in sometimes. I've seen the setup twice in Oujda. They started cleaning up the streets, fixing potholes, planting new palm trees, and laying guardrails a week before he came. And the Moroccan national flag was draped everywhere. This is a photo taken by PCV Lindsey Ludwig from a Fes hotel room.

Reason #2 Rabat

Downtown in the capital city of Rabat.

Reason #1 Toubkal National Park

I'll give you 10 reasons over the next couple weeks as to why you should visit me. And it's not because the weather is becoming bleak and I'm beginning to suffer from sensory deprivation. That's not the case; the weathers chilly, but nice and my site is green.

This is Toubkal Nat'l Park, located in the Atlas Mountains, which is in the South between Marrakech and Ouarazate. Thousands of Berbers live within its boundaries.

Photo courtesy of Nate St. Amand.