Continuing our series on travel writing about Morocco, we turn our attention to the Guardian website where Doug McKinlay limps along with a piece about Moulay Idriss (pictured above and below).
Unfortunately along with interviewing the mayor he takes a quite swipe at writers of travel guides. His lack of collegial appreciation of his fellow scribes is only surpassed by his rather lazy and inaccurate shot at Lonely Planet...
Publishers and websites are only now waking up to Moulay Idriss's open-door policy. The latest edition of Lonely Planet's Morocco states: 'The embargo on non-Muslims staying overnight has only recently been lifted.' But it goes on to recommend two restaurants that are now closed and gives no advice on accommodation. From a strictly selfish perspective, I'm happy the guidebook writers have it wrong.Well, Dougie boy, actually no. He should have kept reading his Lonely Planet because the accommodation is listed. He should also appreciate that there is a lead time in book publishing that daily hacks don't have to contend with. Between research and publication can be months and in that time restaurants open and close. It is a fact of life.
Anyway - if you would like to read the piece, you will find the full text here: Doug Explores Morocco
Photo credits: Sandy McCutcheon
Check out our earlier travel writing stories:
Travel Writing Eighteen
Travel Writing Seventeen
Travel writing Sixteen.
Travel Writing Fifteen.
Travel Writing Fourteen.
Travel Writing Thirteen.
Travel Writing Twelve.
Travel Writing Eleven.
Travel Writing Ten.
Travel Writing Nine
Travel writing eight
Travel writing Seven
Travel Writing Six
Travel Writing Five
Travel Writing Four
Travel Writing Three
Travel Writing Two
Travel Writing One
Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news
4 comments:
Doug was the photographer for Lonely Planet's Fez Encounter. Perhaps he's a wannabe writer instead ...
LP's country guide is two years old now, so of course it's out of date. That's why the LP writer was in town last month to do the update. And he visited Moulay Idriss, so Doug can rest assured that the latest information will be included.
It is so interesting to read all the writing about Morocco. Thank you. I enjoy your weblog every day.
Great stories, lovely blog ,thankx for sharing this all.
PS
Ever read Tahir Shah ? just another
great Travel Writer ,who lives in Casa and loves Fez and Morocco by heart ,his last two books "The Caliphs House& In Arabian Nights "are all about this love affair :)
Yeah, but LP gets things wrong all the time. Oujda is not two or three but nearly eight years outdated.
That said, the most recent LP is FAR better than the one before (remember? Written by two women who got all "waa waa" about traveling solo in Morocco)
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