Friday, November 30, 2012
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Opera Comes To The Fez Medina
Riad Fès have just announced that they will have a mini opera season in Fez. Two of Italy's young opera stars will be Fez with a programme of some of the best loved arias. And the best thing? They will be performing right beside your table as your eat dinner.
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| mezzosoprano Nadia Pirazzini |
From January 2nd to 5th, opera is coming to Fez with a feast of fine music. The programme will include the great arias by Gluck, Mozart, Rossini, Verdi, Bellini, Donizzetti, Tchaikovsky, Bizet, Strauss, Puccini, Massenet, Saint-Saens, Gershwin and Tosti. The performances will be by mezzosoprano Nadia Pirazzini and sopranoValentina Corradetti accompanied by pianist Cristina Giardini.
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| sopranoValentina Corradetti |
Dinner is 550 MAD per person (excluding drinks)
Please note that the concerts start each evening at 8.30 pm. Punctuality is essential!
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| Riad Fès - Relais & Châteaux |
To find out more, or to make a reservation
Telephone: +212 535 74 12 06
Email: reservations@riadfes.com
Website: Riad Fès - Relais & Châteaux
Address: 5 Derb Ben Slimane Zerbtana
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Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Moroccan Photo of the Day - Jake Warga
Jake is an award-winning Independent Journalist currently based in Seattle.
He has an M.A. in Visual Anthropology with a unique sensitivity and curiosity to the many cultures he visits around the world.
With a microphone in one hand, a camera in the other, he collects stories for Public Radio and images for various outlets.
See his website here
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Monday, November 26, 2012
An Unusual Tale of Moroccan Skill
The King of a Middle Eastern fiefdom advertised for a new chief swordsman. But after a year, only three applied for the job: a Japanese samurai, a Chinese martial arts expert and Sidi Driss from Morocco.
"Demonstrate your skills!" commanded the King.
The Japanese samurai stepped forward, opened a tiny gold box and released a fly. He drew his sword and *Swish!* the fly fell to the floor, neatly divided in two!
"What a feat!" said the King. "Number Two Swordsman, show me what you do."
The Chinese martial arts expert smiled confidently, stepped forward and opened a tiny silver box, releasing a fly. He drew his sword and * Swish! * Swish! * The fly fell to the floor neatly quartered.
"That is skill!" nodded the King. "How are you going to top that, Number three swordsman?"
Sidi Driss stepped forward, opened a rough little wooden box releasing one fly, drew his scimitar and *Swoooooosh! * flourished his sword so mightily that a gust of wind blew through the room.
But the fly was still buzzing around!
In disappointment, the King said, "What kind of skill is that? The fly isn't even dead."
"Dead?" replied Sidi Driss. "Dead is easy. Circumcision... THAT takes skill!"
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Saturday, November 24, 2012
Rick's Cafe and Casablanca Anniversary
For many people the first time they heard of Morocco was when seeing the classic film Casablanca. The fact that the movie was not shot in Casablanca or indeed anywhere in Morocco, does not take away from the huge impact the film has had on popular conceptions of Morocco. It has also had an impact on tourism. Now there is a new cause for celebration. On Monday November 26th Rick's will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of the debut of the movie.
When Kathy Kriger made the decision to open a Rick's Cafe in Casablanca the sceptics thought it would be a flash in the pan and probably a tacky Hollywood imitation. How wrong they were. Even if there had never been a film called Casablanca, Kriger's Rick's Cafe would still be worth visiting. Not only is the food exceptionally good, the decor, architecture and general ambiance make it a stand out.
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| Kathy Kriger in Rick's |
For more than 60 years, tourists visiting Casablanca tried to visit Rick’s Café Americain only to discover that Warner Brothers had built the entire set on a studio back lot. In her book RICK'S CAFE, she takes us through souk back alleys, the Marché Central's overflowing food stalls, and the shadowy Moroccan business world, all while producing, directing, casting, and playing lead actress in her own story. Instead of letters of transit, she begged for letters of credit; the governor of Casablanca watched her back instead of Captain Renault; and at the piano, playing “As Time Goes By,” sits not Sam but Issam. She encountered paper pushers, absent architects, dedicated craftsmen, mad chefs, and surprising allies. It took over two years, but Rick’s Café opened in 2004 to rave reviews. Now, as Captain Renault says to Major Strasser, “Everybody comes to Rick’s.” Kathy has brought to life the screen legend that has captured the imagination of generations.
The View From Fez congratulates Kathy and the staff on a wonderful achievement and wish them well for the anniversary celebrations
Kathy Kriger's recent book about her adventure is here.
Rick's Cafe: Bringing the Film Legend to Life in Casablanca
Click on image to purchase
Find Rick's at 248 Boulevard Sour Jdid in Casablanca's Medina. Ph 0522 27 42 07/08
Rick's Cafe Website
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Friday, November 23, 2012
Unique Cultural and Artistic Event in Morocco
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| The Festival site at Sidi Ali |
Jess Stephens, Artist and Culture Coordinator of Culture Vultures in Fez, has announced an exciting cultural opportunity - an Islamic pilgrimage interwoven with ancient Moroccan folkloric ceremonies. These are the ingredients of the Moroccan Moussem (festival) of Sidi Ali Ben Hamdouch, the founder of the Hamadcha Sufi Brotherhood. The event takes place in the tiny village of Sidi Ali in the hills beyond Meknes.
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| Inside the mausoleum at the festival |
The Moussem will be the focus of an extraordinary artists' residency project organized by Culture Vultures. Musical offerings, slaughter, trance and possession are all part of the happenings at the week long event that starts on the birthday of the Muslim prophet Mohammed, next year - January of 2013.
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| Pilgrims going into trance |
Jess Stephens, visual artist and culture coordinator, has designed the programme around the Moussem, for artists to draw inspiration and feed their work. Jess says that the artists involved in the Artists in Residency project will need to be orientated to approach the Moussem sensitively with the understanding that personal ceremonial experiences of the pilgrims should always take priority when researching and feeding their artistic practice.
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| A local woman entering trance |
Both day and nighttime visits to the festival will be coordinated by Culture Vultures with festival acquaintances dotted around the town as refuge points. The base camp for the project will be guest house Dar Zerhoune, in the neighbouring town of Moulay Idriss Zerhoune where academics, musicians, local herbalists and alternative doctors will be invited to the table to share their experiences, knowledge and understanding of the Moussem of Sidi Ali Ben Hamdouch.
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| Huge crowds gather to watch the ceremonial procession to the mausoleum |
In July of 2013, the works inspired by this project will be presented at venues in Fez in collaboration with the French Institute. The definition of artists who can apply is broad. Writers, dancers, musicians, magicians, performers, visual artists are invited to apply. The deadline for submission is December the 10th 2012
Read more about the Moussem here
For the full project program, prices and more information see:
http://culturevulturesfez.org/air-sidi-ali/
http://culturevulturesfez.org
(00 212)06 45 22 32 03
Moulay Idriss Zerhoune
photos; Sandy McCutcheon
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Moroccan News Briefs #80
This week's wrap-up of news from around Morocco
Free Press in Morocco
"There cannot be democratic development without a free and responsible press," Khalfi, who is also government spokesman, told a seminar in Rabat on "Evaluating the freedom of the press."
"Morocco is classed as the worst in north Africa... The observer organisations use indicators that are justified, but other factors are involved that are not very precise, which is why dialogue is needed," he said.
"A number of categories do not reflect the reality on the ground," added Khalfi at the opening of a two-day seminar attended by Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
As The View from Fez reported earlier, Al Jazeera TV will be allowed to return to Morocco. In addition, Sky News, BBC and Al-Türkiye will soon have permission to broadcast in Morocco. The minister said that the accreditation of Al Manar TV and Al Mayadine was still under consideration because of the large number of contacts in this folder. El Khalfi, who presented the budget allocated to communication for the year 2013, said the Moroccan media field would expand to include the linguistic and cultural aspects as required by the new constitution.
The Moroccan Istiqlal party wants to legalize cannabis cultivation
The President of the Istiqlal group in the House of Representatives, explained that cultivation could be beneficial for citizens, if it is done in limited areas.
Nouredine Mediane, speaking at a session on the budget of the Ministry of Interior, said that "the transformation of barley into beer and figs into mahia, does not prevent the legalization of barley cultivation or the cultivation of figs."
Mahia is a popular traditional alcoholic spirit made from figs. Morocco already has a very successful wine and brewing industry.
Fez airport - bad news
Passenger traffic at the airport Fez Saïss has decreased by 21.36% during the month of October, compared to the same period previous year, according to statistics from the National Office of Airports (ONDA). This is mainly due to the cancelation of Ryanair flights due to the dispute between the airline and ONDA.
Ryanair returns to Morocco
Ryanair, Europe's only ultra-low cost airline, confirmed the return of 2 London-Marrakech routes to its winter schedule, with 8 weekly flights to/from London Stansted (4 per week) and London Luton (4 per week) from February 2013, as late additions to its winter 2012-13 schedule.
According to Ryanair's Stephen McNamara, "Ryanair is pleased to confirm the return of its London Stansted-Marrakech and London Luton-Marrakech routeswhich will start in February 2013, as late additions to our winter 2012-13 schedules, meaning UK passengers can escape the cold on our low cost routes and enjoy some African sun this winter. To celebrate these routes, Ryanair is launching a 100,000 seat sale with prices starting from £18 for travel across Europe in December, which are available for booking until midnight Thur (22 Nov). Since seats at these crazy low prices will be snapped up quickly, we urge passengers to book them immediately on www.ryanair.com."
Air Arabia announces new route
Air Arabia Maroc, a subsidiary of the Sharjah-based low cost airline, has announced the expansion of its network to Montpellier in southern France on November 14. The carrier is now operating a weekly service with a A320s from Marrakech, complementing existing Montpellier services from Casablanca, Fez and Nador.
Moroccan Unemployed Protest
Moroccan police with batons broke up a protest by more than a thousand unemployed graduates in central Rabat on Wednesday, the second protest this week ahead of the parliamentary vote on the first part of the 2013 budget.
Leftist and Islamist graduates protested in different groups of several hundred each in the area around the Moroccan parliament, in an apparent effort to outwit police who prevented protesters gathering outside the parliament building on Sunday. The graduates said the government had broken promises made in the past year.
"We want jobs," said protester Hicham el-Hachemi. "We got a written promise and the attention of the government, so we are here to push them to take us into consideration."
"If the government doesn't respond, we will unify all the jobless and organise a massive protest," said Mohamed Amine Sekkal, one of the organisers of the protest.
Karan Johar films at Marrakech Festival
Hindi Cinema completes 100 years next year and the Marrakech Film Festival will be the first to pay a tribute to the centenary. As a special gesture they will be screening some of the Hindi movies that have made a mark this year and in the past.
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| Karan Johar |
For Karan, it is even more special, because perhaps for the first time a festival is having three screenings from his banner.
“It’s a great tribute for the Indian film fraternity to be honoured at an international platform such as this. The festival also has a special emotional connect with me because my films, such as Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, have a vast audience in Morocco,” says Karan.
Moroccan Children Acting Debut in Advert - Stunning
A new advertisement for Nedbank Private Wealth features an amazing performance by two Moroccan children. We would not normally bring you an advert, but the performance of the children is exceptional and worth watching. The filming was directed by Egg Films' Kim Geldenhuys.
Working closely with M&C Saatchi Abel executive creative director Gordon Ray, art director Helen Botes and producer Bronwyn Henry, Kim shot on location in Morocco at Ait Benhaddou, a fortified city and UNESCO World Heritage Site that has hosted films like Gladiator and Prince of Persia.
The two lead children were street cast, had never acted before, and didn’t speak English, but both produced memorable performances. with Kim directing them via a Moroccan actress who acted as the translator.
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Thursday, November 22, 2012
Thanksgiving Day in Morocco
Like halloween, Thanksgiving Day is not a Moroccan holiday and yet every year it is celebrated around the country among the expat community. The eating of turkey is traditional and turkey salesmen in Fez reported higher than normal sales over the last few days. Today The View from Fez went hunting for a Thanksgiving Day celebration and we did not have to go far before the smell of roast turkey and baked pumpkin pie wafted into our nostrils.
The celebration of Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday primarily in the United States and Canada. It is said to have originated with the early colonists giving thanks for a good harvest. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and on the second Monday of October in Canada. Because of the longstanding traditions of the holiday, the celebration often extends to the weekend that falls closest to the day it is celebrated. Several other places around the world observe similar celebrations. Thanksgiving has its historical roots in religious traditions, but today is celebrated in a more secular manner.
The tradition of having pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving is an interesting one. Early Americans would not have had pies because they had no ovens in which to bake them. However, some suggest they stewed pumpkins or filled a hollowed out shell with milk, honey and spices, and then baked it in hot ashes.
One of the earliest pumpkin pie recipes that includes a crust comes from Francois Pierre la Varenne, the famous French chef and author of Le Vrai Cuisinier Francois (The True French Cook 1661). It was translated and published in England as The French Cook in 1653. It has a recipe for a pumpkin pie that included the pastry:
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| The turkey being carved |
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| Delicious turkey stuffing |
The celebration of Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday primarily in the United States and Canada. It is said to have originated with the early colonists giving thanks for a good harvest. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and on the second Monday of October in Canada. Because of the longstanding traditions of the holiday, the celebration often extends to the weekend that falls closest to the day it is celebrated. Several other places around the world observe similar celebrations. Thanksgiving has its historical roots in religious traditions, but today is celebrated in a more secular manner.
The tradition of having pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving is an interesting one. Early Americans would not have had pies because they had no ovens in which to bake them. However, some suggest they stewed pumpkins or filled a hollowed out shell with milk, honey and spices, and then baked it in hot ashes.
One of the earliest pumpkin pie recipes that includes a crust comes from Francois Pierre la Varenne, the famous French chef and author of Le Vrai Cuisinier Francois (The True French Cook 1661). It was translated and published in England as The French Cook in 1653. It has a recipe for a pumpkin pie that included the pastry:
Tourte of pumpkin - Boile it with good milk, pass it through a straining pan very thick, and mix it with sugar, butter, a little salt and if you will, a few stamped almonds; let all be very thin. Put it in your sheet of paste; bake it. After it is baked, besprinkle it with sugar and serve - The French CookIn the USA many pumpkin pies are made with store bought pastry crust and tinned pumpkin. We can report that the pumpkin pie we sampled in Fez was much more the genuine article; real pumpkin and homemade pastry - delicious.
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French Institute Film Festival Fez
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Autumn Tourism in Morocco
While the flow of visitors arriving in Morocco had been relatively steady over the last month, the numbers appear to have increased in the last couple of weeks. Tour groups from Europe as well a considerable number of families from South America, Australia and New Zealand have been arriving recently. Guest house owners in the Layoun and Rcif areas of the Fez Medina report being at full capacity and with many forward bookings. Visitors are taking advantage of the fact that autumn is a cool but beautiful time of year and after the recent rains the countryside is green for the first time in months.
The snowfalls in the High Atlas have abated for the moment and the roads have been cleared of the snow.
Recent visitors (pictured above and below), Amy from Australia and Saara from Finland, exploring the Fez Medina for the first time found it "awesome". They spent a couple of days shopping in the Medina before heading off on a day trip to the Roman ruins at Volubilis, lunch in Moulay Idriss and a visit to the granaries in Meknes.
Booking Early
Michele Reeves from Plan-it-Fez says that October was a very busy month, and though the numbers of arrivals have slowed slightly, it remains steady. Recent arrivals have been from America, the UK and countries in South America and most had the foresight to book well in advance. Michele says that last year people were booking accommodation and tours at the last minute which caused problems with supplying vehicles. Now, however, she says people are booking for late November and December, well in advance. Culinary tours and day trips, she says, remain incredibly popular.
Aisha Bail (pictured above), who manages Riad Rcif, says that the last couple of months have been incredibly busy with guests flowing in from European countries (due to the discount flights). The interesting demographic change she has noticed is there have also been many South American vistiors from countries such as Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Columbia and Brazil. They have also had a growing number of tourists from the Scandinavian, Baltic and Eastern bloc countries including Lithuania, Poland and Russia. Other riad owners in the Layoun, next to Rcif, have reported an increase in visitors from the Indian subcontinent.
Aisha Bail agrees with Michele Reeves that there is a trend towards many people booking well in advance. Some, she says, as far ahead as August 2013. Like Michele Reeves, she welcomes this as it makes management so much easier.
False Guides
The problem that concerns Aisha Bail most is the new breed of sophisticated false guides on the trains. The View from Fez has reported on this before, but it is worth repeating the warning. According to Aisha, the men, posing as businessmen, get on the trains to Fez at Meknes or Casablanca, and then try to convince visitors that the riad they are staying at is not a good place. Other visitors say that the men act in pairs with one laying the ground work and a follow-up person backing up the stories of poor accommodation. They also try and convince people that where they have booked is a "dangerous" area of Fez. They then offer to act as their guide in Fez and find them "better" accommodation. Unfortunately, even though many false guides have been stopped in recent weeks, the men on the trains continue to evade the police.
More info:
Plan-it Fez: email: info@plan-it-fez.com. Website: www.plan-it-fez.com Tel: +212 (0) 678 549 482
Riad Rcif website
Rent a riad in Fez
Morocco Basics
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| A frozen cedar forest - photo Jearld Moldenhauer - Dar Balmira Gallery |
The snowfalls in the High Atlas have abated for the moment and the roads have been cleared of the snow.
Recent visitors (pictured above and below), Amy from Australia and Saara from Finland, exploring the Fez Medina for the first time found it "awesome". They spent a couple of days shopping in the Medina before heading off on a day trip to the Roman ruins at Volubilis, lunch in Moulay Idriss and a visit to the granaries in Meknes.
Booking Early
Michele Reeves from Plan-it-Fez says that October was a very busy month, and though the numbers of arrivals have slowed slightly, it remains steady. Recent arrivals have been from America, the UK and countries in South America and most had the foresight to book well in advance. Michele says that last year people were booking accommodation and tours at the last minute which caused problems with supplying vehicles. Now, however, she says people are booking for late November and December, well in advance. Culinary tours and day trips, she says, remain incredibly popular.
Aisha Bail (pictured above), who manages Riad Rcif, says that the last couple of months have been incredibly busy with guests flowing in from European countries (due to the discount flights). The interesting demographic change she has noticed is there have also been many South American vistiors from countries such as Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Columbia and Brazil. They have also had a growing number of tourists from the Scandinavian, Baltic and Eastern bloc countries including Lithuania, Poland and Russia. Other riad owners in the Layoun, next to Rcif, have reported an increase in visitors from the Indian subcontinent.
Aisha Bail agrees with Michele Reeves that there is a trend towards many people booking well in advance. Some, she says, as far ahead as August 2013. Like Michele Reeves, she welcomes this as it makes management so much easier.
False Guides
The problem that concerns Aisha Bail most is the new breed of sophisticated false guides on the trains. The View from Fez has reported on this before, but it is worth repeating the warning. According to Aisha, the men, posing as businessmen, get on the trains to Fez at Meknes or Casablanca, and then try to convince visitors that the riad they are staying at is not a good place. Other visitors say that the men act in pairs with one laying the ground work and a follow-up person backing up the stories of poor accommodation. They also try and convince people that where they have booked is a "dangerous" area of Fez. They then offer to act as their guide in Fez and find them "better" accommodation. Unfortunately, even though many false guides have been stopped in recent weeks, the men on the trains continue to evade the police.
More info:
Plan-it Fez: email: info@plan-it-fez.com. Website: www.plan-it-fez.com Tel: +212 (0) 678 549 482
Riad Rcif website
Rent a riad in Fez
Morocco Basics
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Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Extreme Homes Film Shoot in Fez
The Fez Medina is about to get some major exposure on television with an audience numbering in the millions. The featuring of two Fez Medina houses on the show Extreme Homes and the footage of Fez taken in glorious weather will hopefully provide a big boost to tourism
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| The beautiful Riad n°9 |
The word "extreme" means different things to different people, and what may seem extreme to one person is simply "home" to another. The TV series "Extreme Homes" takes an up-close look at some of the world's most spectacular houses ever built — including a modern Italian castle, a seaside house made of refrigerator panels, a floating home that was a ferry boat and a spherical house that revolves with the sun. Now the film crew have been in Fez finding out what makes the Dars and Riads of the Medina so unique.
The crew spent a day with Stephen di Renza and Bruno Ussel at the stunning Riad n°9 and then a day with The View from Fez team at the more modest Riad Zany. Here is a quick look at the crew in action.
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| Cameraman Piers (left) with Joseph Hassel the Producer/Director |
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| Sue (Aisha) Bail from Riad Rcif drops in to bring cakes and chat with the director |
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| Musicologist and oud player Philip Murphy |
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| French camerawoman Claire taking detail shots |
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| Claire in the kitchen with Rachida making mint tea |
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| Joe and Piers discussing continuity |
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Monday, November 19, 2012
TINGHIR-JÉRUSALEM: ECHOES OF MELLAH - Documentary on Wednesday
As part of their Documentary Month, the French Institute in Fez is showing TINGHIR-JÉRUSALEM: ECHOES OF THE MELLAH - with the director Kamal Hachkar in discussion after the film. The film is in French.
The venue is Cinema Rex on Wednesday November 21 at 7pm
"In France, I grew up in the idea that all Berbers were Muslims. But in my hometown of Tinghir in the Moroccan Atlas, the stories of my grandparents allowed me to discover that other Berbers were Jews. Yet, in the early 60s, despite more than 2,000 years of common history, these Jews left the Atlas. My research showed the buried memory of the generation that experienced the Jewish presence, but quickly this research took me to Israel where I found some of the families from Tinghir. Along with them, between Israel and Morocco, "Tinghir Jerusalem: Echoes of the Mellah" resonates with songs, voices and stories of the dual identity shared between Jews and Muslims." - Kamal Hachkar
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Sunday, November 18, 2012
Saturday, November 17, 2012
The Eiffel Tower in Fez - a sudden vanishing act!
Observant travellers have been quick to inform The View from Fez that the controversial "Eiffel Tower of Fez" has suddenly disappeared. Yet nobody in Fez knows where it is or if it will suddenly appear again. The vanishing act appears to have taken place on late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.
Back in early October, The View from Fez and other social media raised concerns about the erection and a petition was launched on Facebook calling for the destruction of the Eiffel tower. As the petition author said at the time, "I run this petition to initiate a debate and perhaps succeed in demolishing this "horror".
The petition said that many people “were surprised” after seeing a replica of the Eiffel Tower under construction in one of the main areas of the city of Fez.
The author added that “This historic city has, for more than 12 centuries, stood for a rich and varied cultural heritage, renowned worldwide. So I therefore believe that in a strategic city like Fez, the construction of an ordinary replica of the Eiffel Tower is simply not appropriate.”
Larbi Arbaoui, writing for Morocco World News reports that after the tower was built, the people of Fez wondered why Hamdi Chabat, the Mayor of the city and Secretary General of the Istiqlal party, decided to build such a “monument,” which symbolizes the French culture, instead of renovating and restoring the historic and crumbling buildings in Fez that have a significant and a special place in the history of the Kingdom and in popular memory.
Many Moroccans have also questioned the need for an Arc de Triomphe which the mayor of Fez is intending to build at the entrance to the city of Fez on the road to Meknes, knowing that the French Arc de Triomphe was built by Napoleon Bonaparte for the French to remember the victories of their army in the Battle of Austerlitz.
Larbi Arbaoui writes that the workers in Fez who feel the brunt of the economic crisis that the city has been going through for decades are more concerned with finding a decent job to feed their families than seeing what they deem as “unnecessary” monuments that neither represent the history of this city nor its culture.
And, as one non-Moroccan Fez resident told The View from Fez,"questions need to be asked about where the money for the construction and now deconstruction, came from".
Fez residents are quick to point out that instead of embarking on this extravagant project, Mr. Chabat would be better-off safeguarding the precious and unique monuments that are scattered in every corner of the Fez Medina. Simply repairing the wall fountains and providing them with running water would be a good start. And then, as a responsible mayor, enforce the ban on motorbikes in the Medina...
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Air France Rio-Paris Flight Diverted to Casablanca
Passengers at Casablanca airport experienced lengthy delays yesterday (Friday 16th) and although no explanation was given at the time, it appears it was due to the need to find extra seats for 201 passengers from a damaged Air France airliner.
'Even getting through passport control and security took longer than ever,' one passenger told The View from Fez, 'and then we were standing in queues awaiting boarding for the longest time'.
The Air France Airbus A330 had been heading from Rio to Paris but was forced to make an emergency landing in Casablanca due to damage to one of its two engines. According to an Air France spokeswoman the aircraft, which had left Brazil’s southern city of Rio Thursday and was carrying 201 passengers and 12 crew members including three pilots, had been diverted according to safety guidelines.
She said a technical investigation was under way to determine what happened, and added that passengers had been transferred to other flights headed for Paris.
The aircraft, an Airbus A330, was the same model as the Air France airliner that plunged into the Atlantic in 2009 and killed all 228 people aboard during a Rio to Paris flight.
In a July report, French accident investigators concluded that technical faults led an ill-prepared crew to lose control, resulting in the airliner’s crash.
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'Even getting through passport control and security took longer than ever,' one passenger told The View from Fez, 'and then we were standing in queues awaiting boarding for the longest time'.
The Air France Airbus A330 had been heading from Rio to Paris but was forced to make an emergency landing in Casablanca due to damage to one of its two engines. According to an Air France spokeswoman the aircraft, which had left Brazil’s southern city of Rio Thursday and was carrying 201 passengers and 12 crew members including three pilots, had been diverted according to safety guidelines.
She said a technical investigation was under way to determine what happened, and added that passengers had been transferred to other flights headed for Paris.
The aircraft, an Airbus A330, was the same model as the Air France airliner that plunged into the Atlantic in 2009 and killed all 228 people aboard during a Rio to Paris flight.
In a July report, French accident investigators concluded that technical faults led an ill-prepared crew to lose control, resulting in the airliner’s crash.
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Friday, November 16, 2012
Fez Morocco - Cultural News Update
Film News
From February 24 to 25th 2013 Meknes will host the first edition of the National Festival of Aissawa Art. Unfortunately the theme of the festival is not particularly enticing - “Heritage as a Mainstay for Advanced Regionalization” - but that aside, the festival should be exciting enough to escape its theme! The festival will take place at the Faqih Mohammed al-Manouni Hall of the Regional Directorate of Culture starting from 6:30 pm.
It is expected that more than 30 Aissawa orders will participate, such as Ouald Sheikh Kamel from Meknes, Ahl Touat Dar Damana from Ouazzane and Taaifa al-Aissawia from Fez, in addition to artists Abderrahim Souiri and the al-Asri Orchestra.
Under the framework of the festival, a seminar will be held on “Forms of Popular Expressions in the Issmaili City: Issawa Order as a Model,” with Prof. Mohammed Amine, Prof. Mostafa Benfaida, Prof. Muley al-Hassam al-Bouyahyaoui al-Idrissi, Prof. Mohammed Amine al-Alaoui. The seminar will take place on Saturday, February 25, at 3 pm, in the meeting hall of the headquarters of the Council of Meknes-Tafilalt region. At the same time, there will be an exhibition of the work of artist M’hammad Jacky Belhaj at the gallery of al-Manouni Hall.
The Institute Français
The French Institute in Fez has an exciting cultural programme running from September to December. There are exhibitions, installations and performances. Check out the entire programme by downloading the PDF from the link at the bottom of this story.
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| Megumi Matsubara in Fez |
For the full programme of cultural events you can download the PDF HERE
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Thursday, November 15, 2012
Morocco - Breaking News
Helicopter Crash - multiple fatalities
The crash of a military helicopter in Guelmim has left nine dead. The army helicopter with Royal Armed Forces and members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on board, crashed in the region of Guelmim on Wednesday afternoon. Nine people were killed and two are in critical condition. Eleven people were on board the aircraft, eight of whom were killed instantly. The cause of the accident is still unexplained. The three survivors were transported to the military hospital Guelmim. One of them has since died of his wounds say hospital sources.
Tomorrow - Happy New Year!
1st Muharram of the year 1434 of the Hegira will be celebrated on Friday. 1st Muharram of the new year 1434 of the Hegira corresponds to Friday 16 November, the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs said in a statement. The same source said he had consulted various Nadirs Habous, delegates of Islamic Affairs of the Kingdom, as well as the Royal Armed Forces units involved in the operation of the sighting of the crescent moon, which have all confirmed their non- observation at sunset Wednesday. HM the King congratulated the heads of state of Islamic countries on the occasion of the advent of the New Year of the Hegira and wrote congratulatory messages in which he expressed his best wishes for health, happiness and well-being, wishing their citizens further progress and prosperity.
Heavy snowfalls in Morocco
Significant depression having crossed Morocco and other Maghreb countries, has caused significant snowfall in many parts of the kingdom in recent days. Significant snowfalls have been recorded in the Middle Atlas in the nigh from Sunday to Monday, specifically in the provinces of Khenifra and Midelt, where several main road had to be closed to traffic. The national road Azrou, Midelt and Errachidia and Regional Road 503 between Khénifra Midelt were all blocked for several hours, until the road was cleared of snow.
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Glorious Autumn Weather in Fez
Autumn weather in Morocco can be a bit of a mixed bag. However the last couple of days have been crystal clear with almost no pollution. Perfect weather for photography. Today the air was so clear that Djebel Zerhoun, beyond Meknes, which is normally obscured by clouds or pollution, could be clearly seen from the Fez Medina. (Click on photos to enlarge)
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| The distant Djebel Zerhoun |
The weather forecast predicts a couple more days of fine weather before the rain returns on Saturday. Temperatures reaching a top of between 20 and 22 Celsius - enjoy!
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