Rabat – People in Chile have experienced a taste of Morocco, after a popular Chilean TV channel broadcast a travel show on the north African country, showing off its tourist attractions and rich cultural heritage.
The “Socios Por El Mundo” program broadcast on the Chilean TV Channel 13 showcased Morocco’s rich cultural heritage and various tourist attractions, as well as teaching viewers about Moroccan people and their costumes and traditions.
Socios Por El Mundo, meaning “Partners around the world” is a television program that travels around the world to discover the cultures of different countries. It is presented by TV presenter Francisco Saavedra and Chilean actor Jorge Zabaleta.
The two hosts visited three Moroccan cities; Marrakech, Essaouira, and Ouarzazat, as a part of their Morocco travel blog that took place in March 2022.
They were captivated by the rich Moroccan heritage, delicious traditional food, and friendly locals.
Marrakech
The trip began in a small village near Marrakech, where they met with the well-known Moroccan chef Moha. They visited a traditional pottery workshop and learned how to make “Tajine”. Tajine is a traditional Moroccan piece of clay where food is cooked and served.
They resumed their journey in Mellah, Marrakech’s walled Jewish district, which is a great example of cultural and religious coexistence in Morocco.
Alongside Moha, the two bloggers headed to Marrakech’s Souk – a traditional market – to buy the ingredients needed to make “Tanjia”, Marrakech’s specialty dish of tender meat slowly cooked in a clay pot buried for many hours in embers.
After buying the meat, they visited Marrakech’s largest spice market, which has a varied collection of Moroccan spices and herbs, used for both cooking and medication.
In his restaurant “Dar Moha”, the international chef taught Zabaleta and Saveedra how to make “Tanjia” using beef, saffron, candied lemon, cumin, and other spices in his restaurant. They then headed to the public ovens of Marrakech to cook the traditional dish.
In addition, the two bloggers wore traditional Moroccan clothes, enjoyed “Dakka Marrakchia” – traditional Marrakech music – and enjoyed the Tanjia they made.
The two hosts were fascinated by Moroccan hospitality and sense of community. “I am moved by that place, I am moved by the sense of community that can come into being today, which is rare to come across,” said Saveedra.
Essaouira
The next destination for the two partners was Essaouira, a port city on Morocco’s Atlantic coast known as ”Mogador” or “the bride of the Atlantic” among Moroccans.
The two visitors enjoyed the beauty and the magical ancient vibes of Essaouira port, where scenes from the series “Game of Thrones” were filmed. They recreated a picture from the series and posted it on their Instagram account.
Essaouira’s high protective walls, castles, and ancient remains reflect the town’s deeply-rooted history.
Walking through the town’s square and Medina, Saveedra and Zabaleta were fascinated by the friendly locals and enchanted by the traditional colorful outfits, handicrafts, spices, and souvenirs.
They visited the fish market where they tried sea snails, oysters, and other types of fish cooked on the grill.
In addition, the two hosts enjoyed the spectacular view of the sun setting over the water and the little blue fishing boats gently rocking in the waves.
They were once again fascinated by the friendliness and hospitality of Moroccans.“The people of Morocco are very affectionate and nice”, said the hosts.
Ouarzazate
The two bloggers saved the best for last. They concluded their trip with a visit to the Moroccan desert near the city of Ouarzazat, also called the Valley of the Kasbahs or the Hollywood of Morocco.
They took a camel ride through the golden dunes of the Sahara, which is tourists’ favorite activity when visiting the Sahara.
Under a breathtaking starry sky surrounded by sand dunes, the two bloggers spent the night at a campsite and enjoyed their evening with a delicious traditional dinner.
Read also: Marrakech’s Jardin Majorelle: Second Most Beautiful Garden Worldwide
