Get Lost in the Souks of Marrakech

If you are anywhere near the fourth largest city in Morocco, Marrakech you should take the opportunity to visit the bustling souk markets.  The Souks of Marrakech are the largest in the country are famous globally as being one of the most exotic places to shop around.   Lying in the old part of the city which situated at the foothills of Atlas Mountains, the souks are divided and named on the basis of the commodity sold – a tradition that continues even today.   Wandering through the maze of stalls it feels that time has stopped still as they continue to sell the products that were sold thousands of years ago though the same are made to adhere to the modern tastes.

As you enter the Souks of Marrakech you become overwhelmed by the web of lanes and by-lanes in which it is very easy to get lost.   The quality of the products are traditionally the most expensive products and are located in the centre of the souk with lesser products being located on the periphery.   Some shops are as small as that of the wardrobe of an elf though you should not judge the shop on the basis of its entrance as there are several shops which have a small entrance but once you enter you would be awestruck by its grandeur and you would feel that you have entered Alladin’s cave.

Souk Semmarine is the largest souk and is located on a broad covered alley.  As you enter you are firstly confronted by  pottery items and as you move further down you find textile shops from where you can buy pashminas and kaftans before reaching shops selling carpets, jewellery and antiques.   If you are looking for brass lanterns, silver teapots, candlesticks and mirrors you should go to Souk el Attarine while if you are looking to buy footwear especially babouches which are brightly coloured, sequinned Moroccan slippers you should head to Souk Smata. To buy traditional craft items you should visit Souk Chouarie and Souk Haddadine while if wish to spoil yourself by buying gold jewellery you should pay a visit to Souk des Bijoutiers.

You should keep in mind that the shopkeepers do a lot of bargaining and so you should bring out all your bartering skills to leave the souks with a fantastic deal!

Souks of Marrakech – Photo by alextorrenegra (on Flickr)

How to earn your points

If you have visited the  Souks of Marrakech then Login (below on the left) and leave a comment answering one of the below:

• Did you get lost?
• Did you barter?
• Do you have any tips for anyone visiting the Souks?

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Drink A Tequila in Mexico

The blue volcanic soil near the city of Tequila in Mexico is suitable for the growth of blue agave from which the distilled beverage Tequilla is made from.  The right of using the word Tequilla is bestowed with Mexico and according to the Mexican laws Tequila can only be produced in Jalisco Province and some limited area of four other provinces.   Tequila gained its popularity during the Mexican Revolution when it became a fad to use Mexican products instead of French products to display national pride.   Its popularity can be gauged from the fact that the drink which was once regarded as the drink to be consumed by bandidos and rancheros is the most preferred drink amongst the youth in the country.

The history of Tequila can be traced back to the Pre-Hispanic times when the Aztecs used to ferment a beverage which used to be called Octli or Pulque and with the advent of the Spanish in 1521 saw the distillation of agave, which after being called by various names gained its present name.  It was around 1600 that Tequila started to be produced in mass and the granting of right of commercially producing Tequila by the Spanish king to the Cuevro family who continue to be the largest producer even today was the turning point in Tequila’s history.

If you are drinking Tequila in Mexico you should have it the way the locals love to drink their favorite drink, by having it straight without salt and lime as is done in most other parts of the world.  In certain regions of Mexico you can drink Tequila with spicy, sweet and sour drink Sangrita which is made from tomato juice, orange juice and hot chillies with equal shots of Tequila and Sangrita. You can also try Bandera, in which there are three shot glasses which represent the Mexican flag with green being represented by lime juice, white by Tequila and red by Sangrita.

Tequila is often confused with another drink Mezcal as both have similar alcoholic content of about 38 to 40%, although Mezcal tends to be a bit more stronger. There are a large number of myths associated with Tequila with one such myth being that if a worm is found in the bottle you would have to eat the little fellow,  but there is no truth in this as a Mexican tradition.  The myth was made popular as a marketing gimmick by some American distillers who added worms in bottles to boost sales. Tequila made history in 2006 by having the honor of being the most expensive spirit sold when a limited edition on premium Tequila fetched an astonishing price of $225,000 for a bottle.

Tequila – Photo by benfff85 (on Flickr)

How to earn your points

If you have you drank Tequila in Mexico then Login (below on the left) and leave a comment answering one of the below:

• Where did you drink Tequila?
• Do you like the taste?
• How many did you have?

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A Date in Your Diary at the Anne Frank House, Amsterdam

Along the Princengratch Canal in the Dutch Capital of Amsterdam lies the historic Anne Frank House which was the place where the famous diarist Anne Frank along with her family and four more people hid to save themselves from the tyrannies of the Nazis.   The house which was built during the 17th century was occupied by Anne Frank’s father Otto Frank as a warehouse for spices in 1940 and was used as a hiding place by the family since 1942 and it was the place where Anne wrote her diary which later on became an all-time classic.   After the family was arrested in 1944 the house was sold and the new owners wanted to demolish the structure, but had to bow to public pressure and the building was bought by the Anne Frank Foundation from money raised from public contributions.

Anne Frank was born in Frankfurt on 12th June 1929 in a Jewish family and moved to Amsterdam along with her family comprising of her parents and her sister Maggot when she was four years old.   The occupation of Amsterdam in 1940 led to persecution of the Jews settled there forcing the Frank family two years later to go in hiding.  Anne wrote a diary in an autograph book which also had a lock which was presented to her by her father days before they were forced go into hiding.   The diary which was written in Dutch describes the relationships that she shared with her family members, her romance with another occupant Peter Van Pels, her dreams, the moving regret for having treated her mother harshly as well as the restrictions and difficulties that they had to face.   Anne was arrested by Nazis in August 1944 and died in March 1945, but her diary which was saved was published in 1947 and has since been translated into more than 60 languages with its English translation being Anne Frank : The Diary of a Young Girl.

A visit to the Anne Frank House gives you a glimpse of the moving bookshelf which was especially made to hide the entrance to the secret house or the Achterhuis in Dutch and the opaque glassine paper covered windows which hid the house from being seen.   You would be surprised to find that most of the rooms are empty as most of the personal belongings were taken away by the Germans and later Otto Frank decided to keep them empty as a symbol of the millions of people who were deported never to return back.   As you move further through the house and into the bedroom of her parents and sister which was also the sitting room, you can see markings showing that Anne’s height increased by 13 inches during the period as well as the radio which the family used to tune into BBC to keep a track of the developments.   When you enter Anne’s bedroom which she had to share with Fritz Pfeffer you get a glimpse of her changing interests as she replaced the photos of film stars with that of art and history.  Many people that have visited the house have found the whole experience very moving.

Anne Frank House, Prinsengracht 263-267, 1016 GV Amsterdam  – www.annefrank.org

Anne Frank House – Photo by MargiL (on Flickr)

How to earn your points

If you have visited the Anne Frank House then Login (below on the left) and leave a comment answering one of the below:

• Did you find the visit a moving experience?
• What is your biggest memory from your visit?
• Any tips for someone wanting to visit the Anne Frank House?

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Take an Overnight Sleeper Train Journey

Of all the modes of public transport the train is probably the most romantic as it allows you to see the beauty and serenity of the countryside that could be missed flying 30,000 feet over the ground.   Train travel also gives you a better insight into a country’s culture and the opportunity to come in contact with diverse people.   With a bit of planning making overnight sleeper train journeys can be lighter on your pocket and thus not only saving the cost of staying in a hotel but also saving on time by utilising the night to reach your next destination allowing you to explore more places.  It is no wonder that such journeys are very popular among backpackers!

Eurorail is one of the most popular modes of transport while travelling in Europe as they are not only very efficient but the flexible timings allow you to explore a city during the day before you board the train at night for your next destination.   If you are visiting Russia you can take the 18 day journey on the Trans-Siberian railway which starts from St. Petersburg and on its journey to Irkutsk allows you to explore the Russian capital Moscow, enjoy the calm Lake Baikal and gain a first hand experience of Siberian villages.

If you are planning a visit to the enchanting white sand beaches of Koh Samui from the Thai Capital Bangkok you could take the overnight train starting in early evening from Bangkok to reach Surat Thani as the new day begins and from here a ferry to the island. You have a number of coach options to choose from ranging from the luxurious air-conditioned first class coaches which are for two with a wash basin and the western style toilets even having facility for showers to the non air conditioned third class coaches which are very clean.  A typical journey would cost you approximately $25 to $55.

India boasts of having one of the largest railway networks in the world and there are several overnight sleeper train options available which include the super luxurious Palace on Wheels which takes you to see the Indian capital, admire the romantic Taj Mahal at Agra and explore the desert state of Rajasthan or take the Deccan Odyssey allowing you to visit India’s commercial capital Mumbai and other cities of the state of Maharashtra while you can admire South India aboard the Golden Chariot. Aside from these tourist trains you can take the many regular trains where travelling is an experience in itself, as you could be jostling for a seat if you do not have a reservation and even if you have managed to get a seat there is no guarantee it will be yours for the whole journey.

Whichever overnight train you take, the experience will live long in your memory, for good or for worse!

Last Train – Photo by Michael Cory (on Flickr)

How to earn your points

If you have taken an overnight sleeper train journey then Login (below on the left) and leave a comment answering one of the below:

• Where did you travel to and from?
• How was the cabin or compartment and did you sleep ok?
• Any tips for someone taking an overnight sleeper train?

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We had quite a few new recruits joining the Top 100 and many entertaining comments added this week.    Apologies, I haven’t managed to organise any prizes this week but hopefully there will be next week.

I can’t believe there has been 56 Step Posts published already…the time just flies!

A reminder of the new incentives as below:

1) Simply by signing in and visiting a page you will receive 25 points loyalty each day now!

2) We will help you promote your blog/website when you get to a certain amount of points as below:

• When you leave your first comment we will mention you on Twitter
• When you reach 5,000 points we monitor your Twitter account and RT your best tweets
• When you reach 10,000 points we will monitor your posts and add a thumbnail and link to our Travel Bloggers Guides if appropriate.
• When you reach 15,000 points we will invite you to take part in our ‘Meet The STEPPERS’ interview post.

Thanks for all your support and good luck on your journey to become TheDepartureboard’s Most Travelled!

Happy travels.

Want to get involved? Simply complete the below form and following approval and receipt of your confirmation email,  login and if you have visited one of the STEP attractions share your experiences and knowledge to earn your points.

Can you make the Top 100 or become TheDepartureboard’s Most Travelled? Remember you must have visited the attraction and login before leaving your comment, otherwise your points will not be applied!

Photo by Nasa Goddard Photo (on Flickr)

See the ‘Worlds Best’ Sunset in Santorini, Greece

About 200 km from mainland Greece between Anafi and Ios islands in South Aegean Sea lies the island of Santorini which is the largest island in the archipelago of the same name.   Santorini was created as a result of a major volcanic eruption that took place about 3,600 years ago when the half submerged top of red mountain was blown over to create a caldera whereas the activity post eruption resulted in the formation of nearby islands of Nea Kameni and Palea.

The island which is shaped like a rectangle and has high cliffs on three sides is a major attraction for the tourists due to the stunning views that you can get from here. The island comprising of small villages has a number of beautiful beaches with the one at Perissa being one the best.  You can also relax at the popular Kamari black pebble beach or the white and red beaches.   Exploring the island you would be surprised by the strange architecture at Vothonas where the houses have been cut from ravines and you would love the blend of Cycladic and Venetian architecture at capital Fira, you can also see the Santorini architecture at nearby Karterados.    An interesting point is the island does not have any source of fresh water so it would be advisable to carry fresh water with you as the desalinated water is quite saline.

The inhabitants of Santorini believe the sunset on the island to be the best sunset in the world though people from various other countries may vehemently disagree.   One of the best place to enjoy the sunset in Santorini is the town of Oia or Ia where you can see the spectacular sight of the sun going down beyond the horizon over the sea.   It’s best to reach Oia well before the sunset so that you can get a great vantage point.

Sunset in Imerovigli – Photo by randyc9999 (on Flickr)

How to earn your points

If you have you seen a Sunset in Santorini then Login (below on the left) and leave a comment answering one of the below:

• Was it the best sunset you have  ever seen?
• Where did you watch the sunset from?
• Do you have any tips for anyone wanting to see the sunset in Santorini?

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As part of our STEPS Top 100 Most Travelled initiative any traveller that has amassed over 15,000 points will have the opportunity to be interviewed on thedepartureboard.com.  Instead of the standard interview questions we have created the Perfect Travel Day, whereby the interviewees share their favourite breakfast, lunch, afternoon excursion, dinner and hotel stay, and finally the destinations that fill their dreams.

The first traveller to reach 15,000 STEPS points was Lucy Dodsworth, so enjoy Lucy’s Perfect Travel Day!

BIO

I’m Lucy, a freelance editor and designer based in Cheltenham, England. I gave up my full-time London job 18 months ago after ten years in the city to have a more laid-back lifestyle and travel more. Travel’s my passion – I did a big 16-month RTW trip through South East Asia and Australia ten years ago and since then I’ve been trying to fit in as much travel as I can.  I have a blog called On the Luce where I try to inspire other independent travellers who might not be in the position to travel long term but want to make the most of their travel time. I share my travel tips, tales and photos from a mixture of trips – from weekends around the UK and in Europe to more far-flung exotic trips.

BREAKFAST

My perfect travel breakfast was at a hotel outside Ubud in Bali.  Balam Bali Villas was right in the middle of the countryside surrounded by rice paddies. They had a roof terrace where you could eat breakfast while you watched people working in the fields and kids splashing about in the stream below. The food was really fresh, with lots of exotic fruits and their home-made bread, pancakes and eggs.   And the best bit was that you could have it as late as you liked so plenty of time for a lie in! Read my review of Balam Bali Villas here.

Balam Bali Villas, Jalan Teleng 100, Banjar Cengkok, Baha Village, Mengwi, Bali, Indonesia – balambalivilla.com

LUNCH

Travelling around the south of Western Australia with my sister, we visited the Karri forests near Pemberton. Some of these huge trees were used as fire lookouts and you can still climb up them. The 50-metre climb to the top of the Gloucester Tree, held on by willpower and some precarious-looking metal spikes, was one of my scariest travel moments.  Back on ground level we headed straight to a nearby winery. After steadying my nerves with a few wine tastings, lunch was a platter of fantastic local cheeses, meats, olives and breads, eaten on a terrace overlooking the vines. I’m sure the adrenalin made it taste ever better.

AFTERNOON EXCURSION

Pompeii and Vesuvius had been on my travel wish list for years – right back to doing Latin at school. I was terrible at the language but it started off a fascination with Roman history. I finally made it out there last year and it was just as fascinating as I imagined. We started with a tour around Pompeii then climbed up to the top of Vesuvius for spectacular views across the Bay of Naples. Then after all that culture and exertion, the afternoon ended up with a well-deserved glass or two of Prosecco on a cliffside terrace overlooking the sea in Sorrento.  Check out my post about the visit to Pompeii here.

DINNER

I didn’t have the highest expectations of food in Morocco but totally fell in love with the slow-cooked tagines out there. The best was at in a restored historic kasbah, just outside Ait Benhaddou. Kasbah Ellouze was miles from anywhere among mountains and palm groves.   Dinner was served on a terrace lit up with candles and with local musicians  playing.   The French owner is a chef and the food was fantastic – homemade mezze of dips and salads to start, a gorgeous chicken and lemon tagine, then a flaky pastry and almond honey cake along with some local rose wine.

Kasbah Ellouze, Tamdaght – Aït Ben Haddou – BP 637 45100 OUARZAZATE – MAROC – kasbahellouze.com

SLEEP

My favourite hotel was one on a recent road trip around the southwest USA. O Bar O Cabins (see my review here) are set along the banks of a river in the pine forests of southern Colorado. You’re about 10 miles from town of Durango but the wooden cabins are in an incredibly peaceful location. There’s no roughing it though – each cabin has a full kitchen, lounge with a log fire, spa toiletries and the most comfortable beds I’ve ever slept in. You also have your own patio and fire pit to toast marshmallows over and there’s even a riverside hot tub. I only had two nights there but came away totally relaxed.

O Bar O Cabins, 11998 County Road 240, Florida Road, Durango, CO 81301 – durango-colorado-cabins.com

DREAMS

My dream destination would be to visit South Africa and Namibia. I’ve always wanted to do a safari and photograph animals in the wild. Plus I’m a huge wine fan so would love to do a tasting tour around the Cape. It hasn’t happened yet because of the price – I’m no luxury traveller but don’t want to totally rough it and safaris can be expensive, plus I’d need a new camera and a few zoom lenses! Last year I bought a house and this year I get married so the travel funds have been a bit depleted, but hopefully I can make it out there in the next few years.

A huge thanks to Lucy for sharing her Perfect Travel Day.  Be sure to check out Lucy’s website ontheluce.com

If you think you can beat Lucy on the STEPS Top 100 then be sure to sign up here!

Eat Delicious Asado in Uruguay

The word Asado literally means barbecue and is used in Latin American countries to refer not only to barbecue techniques but also to social event in which you have either hosted or attended a barbecue.   Asado usually refers to beef accompanied by other meats and which is cooked either over open fire or parrilla. The easy availability of red meat is the reason for the popularity of Asado in Uruguay where it can be regarded as the national dish and is cooked twice in a week in most homes.

The typical ingredients you need to cook Asado include water, common salt, cooking oil, garlic, oregano and Asado meat which in Uruguay is tira de Asado which is a four inch cut from the rib area of the beef and along with chorizos (meat sausage) and other innards and parts are also used.   The meat is cooked at a medium temperature to start with the bone side facing the heat and once half done it is turned over and mojo (salt mixed with water) is spread over the meat. In Uruguay charcoal is not used to roast the meat instead embers which are obtained by burning wood in a fire is used to roast the meat, making it a time consuming process but the flavour obtained from the oak, hickory and pecan wood has you licking your fingers.   When the Asado is served it is usually accompanied by Chimichurri sauce which is made by mixing finely chopped bell pepper and garlic with cooking oil, oregano and salt then you add the sauce as per your taste.

Asado in Uruguay are social events which can range from being very formal event to a casual get together of friends and family. In the formal event there is just one main person known as the parrillero handling the barbecue while in the casual events several people join in at the parilla and assist in moving embers not only to its centre but also underneath the grilling area. During the Asado a common pastime is playing a hand of Truco, a traditional card game of Uruguay.

Asado – Photo by stickwithjosh (on Flickr)

How to earn your points

If you have tried Asado in Uruguay then Login (below on the left) and leave a comment answering one of the below:

• What is your favourite memory of Asado in Uruguay?
• How was the taste?
• Do you have any recommendations for places to try Asado?

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Spy on the Octopussy Taj Lake Palace Hotel on Lake Pichola, Udaipur

If you are visiting the Indian city of Udaipur in the desert state of Rajasthan you should not miss a chance to stay at the luxurious Taj Lake Palace Hotel.   Having the honor of being the most romantic hotel in the country it is located on one of the four natural islands on Lake Pichola – Jag Niwas.

Built during the mid 18th century by Maharana Jagat Singh II of the brave Mewar dynasty the palace was the summer retreat for the royal family and was known as Jag Niwas after the name of the Maharana. Legend has it the the royal prince built this hotel as a pleasure palace after he was caught resorting to pleasurable activities on Jag Mandir island by his father.   During the mid twentieth century the then king Maharana Bhagat Singh decided to convert this beautiful palace into an hotel befitting the royalty to meet the huge expenses of the royal family and stop the palace from decaying.   Designed by American artist Didi Contractor the hotel was taken over by Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces in 1971 who added about 75 rooms to the hotel.

As you approach the Taj Lake Palace Hotel on a boat from the nearby City Palace you would be spellbound by the grandeur of the palace built in white marble.   Once you reach the hotel you would be welcomed in the traditional Indian style with vermillion being applied on your forehead and rose petals being showered over you.   Indians firmly believe that guests are gods and sticking to this belief you are treated as one at the hotel with the staff trying to fulfill all your wishes.   You can order your meals anywhere either in the comfort of your elegant room or at restaurant or on the terrace as you enjoy the cool wind from the lake, or you could take a leisurely ride on the boat or spend a romantic time on the royal swing or maybe having a yoga session on the terrace.

The hotel has been frequented by royalty from various countries and has been a part of several Hollywood and Bollywood movies, notably it was featured in the James Bond movie Octopussy in which it was the den of the rich woman Octopussy who headed the octopus cult.

Taj Lake Palace Hotel in Udaipur – Photo by Bjoern (on Flickr)

How to earn your points

If you have stayed or visited the Taj Lake Palace Hotel then Login (below on the left) and leave a comment answering one of the below:

• How was you visit?
• What is your favourite memory from your visit to the Taj Lake Palace Hotel?
• Do you have any tips or recommendations for anyone staying?

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See Jewish Prayer at the Wailing Wall, Jerusalem

In the old part of the holy city of Jerusalem, Israel stands a wall which is about 60 feet high and forms the western wall of the Temple Mount, a temple sacred both to Jews and Muslims and a bone of contention between the two religious groups. Called the Wailing wall it is one of the most sacred places for Jews and got its name from the fact for time immemorial Jews have been thronging here to rue the loss of their temple.

The construction of the wall was a part of the process of expanding the temple enclosure undertaken by King Herod in 20 BC and it is believed that during the eleven years it took to construct the walls it rained only during the night allowing for  the uninterrupted construction . The city of Jerusalem and the temple was destroyed by the invading Romans in 70 AD and it has been a tradition since the 16th century for followers of the Jewish faith to visit the wall for lamentation. Till 1967 the devotees used to cramp up in the narrow alley before the neighbouring Arab settlements were destroyed to expand the area for prayers.

You can visit the wall to offer prayers irrespective of your religion but you should take care that you cover your head with a hat or cloth and not wear short clothes. Adhering to the Orthodox Jewish tradition you would find that there are separate areas for men and women to pray, whereby during prayers the pilgrims move their head back and forth. The Jews believe that a prayer here is immediately heard and the gates of heaven are located here and thus it is common to see the pilgrims writing their messages and prayers on pieces of paper and placing them in the crevices of the wall.

The prayers at the Wailing Wall continue throughout the day and night.  A fascinating time to visit the wall is at nightfall on Fridays when a special Shabbat celebration is held, although you cannot take photographs at this time.

Wailing Wall – Photo by beggs (on Flickr)

How to earn your points

If you have visited the Wailing Wall then Login (below on the left) and leave a comment answering one of the below:

• How did you find the whole experience?
• What time of day did you visit the Wailing Wall?
• Do you have any tips for anyone visiting?

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