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Big Thicket National Preserve - Texas
Known as the "biological crossroads of North America", the Big Thicket National Preserve has a remarkably diverse wildlife. The National Preserve is a biological and botanical wonder located in the southeastern corner of Texas, near the Gulf of...
Italy's Best Kept Secret- Montefeltro
Norm Goldman, Editor of the travel site, www.sketchandtravel.com and the book reviewing site, www.bookpleasures.com recently discovered one of Italy's best kept secrets, Montefeltro.
Norm interviewed an expert on this region. Read what he...
Love the outdoors? Consider Gatlinburg cabin rental.
Love the outdoors, looking for adventure, a romantic getaway, or a family vacation? Gatlinburg, Tennessee, located in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains, is the perfect vacation spot for families looking for outdoor adventure and entertainment....
Lured to sport fishing? Jamaica hooks more than your attention
Deep and productive waters
only 15 minutes from shore,
well-equipped sport fishing
boats and scenic views add up
to a quality fishing experience
in Jamaica. Visiting anglers
have a chance at landing blue
and white marlin, wahoo,
tuna and...
Riviera Maya- Mexico As A Romantic Getaway
Today Norm Goldman, editor of www.sketchandtravel.com and www.bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as our guests Lubo Krstajic of Karisma Hotels and Julio Trujillo of the Riviera Maya Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Thank you both for...
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Castles in the Sand
Jimi Hendrix wrote his song, "Castles in the Sand" in 1967,and
that was two years before he actually visited Morocco. The site
of "Castles in the Sand" was the then small town and fishing
village of Essaouira on Morocco's Atlantic Coast. The town has
grown a lot in the intervening 35 years. It is relatively close
to the capital Casablanca, built around a busy fishing port.
Ironically Essaouira was one of only two ports in Morocco that
were entitled to trade with Europe, and so in the past it had
held a much more important role in Moroccan affairs than it does
today. As a trading port founded by the Portuguese in the
eighteenth century it lured business and business people to come
and work within its confines. In fact the British held an
important foothold there. However, with the growth of the French
protectorate, Casablanca was favored and in the early twentieth
century, and Essaouira fell into disrepair.
Today the fishing port is surrounded by whitewashed two storied
buildings with traditional blue shutters. Its sandy beaches are
uncluttered and for the most part empty of high-density
tourist traffic. Beyond the beaches are row upon row of rolling
dunes. These dunes provide ideal shelter because Essaouira is a
windy place and that is part of its charm! Because this town,
which the Portuguese named Mogador is a wind surfer's
paradise,
so much so that I plays host to several international
windsurfing competitions. But there's more, if there's wind
there is generally surf as well. Yes, Essaouira is also a
surfer's heaven, and they come from all around and even further
afield to catch rides on some big breakers. Another feature of
this remarkable Moroccan town is the Gnawas Festival, which is
probably the event that attracted Jimi Hendrix to the region.
The Gnawas comprise a traditional group of singers and
musicians. They are black because they come from a slave
heritage and this has greatly influenced their music that has a
heavy trance-inducing beat. The Gnawas Festival takes place in
June each year and draws people from all over the world.
Essaouira offers a grand selection of hotels and guest houses to
cater for all pockets and tastes. For example for something
rather different, "Dar Liouba" is a gem of a place. This small
guest house is a former Imam's residence which has been
re-designed by a Russian Furnisher and a French Chinese Jewelry
designer to be come a sophisticated hostelry filled with lush
green plants and traditional carved cedar wood, but if that's
not to your taste there is a lot more accommodation to choose
from.
Interested in this subject? Try this link for more of the same
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