Category: Destinations
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Meknès
Meknès never set out to be an ‘imperial city’. But, as chance would have it, the inhabitants of Fès and Marrakech showed little enthusiasm for 17th-century ruler and builder Moulay Ismaïl, and so heturned his attentions towards Meknès. Strategically situated at the heart of Morocco, Meknès became his capital and he embarked on a massive…
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5 unmissable experiences in Nicaragua
This beautiful Central American country hasn’t always had a smooth ride – but today its friendly folk, picture-perfect landscapes, wildlife and diverse heritage provide plenty of thrills for visitors Ometepe Island, Nicaragua Roam volcanic Ometepe Island Board the ferry at San Jorge for the short crossing over Lake Nicaragua (reputedly home to freshwater bullsharks)…
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Essaouira
Essaouira, ‘little picture’, is one of those stage set places: you half expect to see plumed cavalry coming round the corner, or a camera crew filming some diva up on the ramparts. It is a beautifully designed 18th-century military port, and somehow hasn’t been too much changed since. The walls are white, the windows and…
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Chefchaouen
Contents 1 Introduction 2 Background 3 Sights 4 Médina 5 Hillwalking The blue-and whitewashed town of Chefchaouen, sometimes called Chaouen, and even spelt Xaouen (the Spanish version), is an exceptionally photogenic Andalucían town in the Rif, 60 km south of Tetouan, set above the Oued Laou valley and just below the twin peaks of the Jbel ech…
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Marrakech
Marrakech is Morocco’s main point of entry for tourists, many of whom never venture far beyond its red walls, despite the enticing and dramatic backdrop of the High Atlas mountains, snow-capped until April or May and a venue for numerous excursions . The city has a memorable beauty, with its palm-lined streets and red earth…
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Tangier
Tangier is a product of its location: the gate to the Mediterranean Sea and the meeting point of Africa and Europe. The Phoenicians and Carthaginians established trading posts here. The Romans made it a capital city. It was invaded by the Vandals and Visigoths and occupied by the Arabs. The Portuguese took the town before…
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Casablanca
In the 1930s, only two French achievements are said to have surprised the Americans: the First World War and Casablanca. A boom town, nicknamed ‘the African Marseilles’, ‘Casa’ was a city where you could drive around at 130 kph and where the streets were filled with luxurious cars. The city grew from a small trading…
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Go Birdwatching in Colombia
The array of birds in Colombia is astonishing – this is the country with the most species in the world. Ben Box explores the burgeoning birdwatching opportunities in the Coffee Zone Valle de Cocora, Colombia In Colombia’s Eje Cafetero (coffee axis), houses with wide eaves and verandas cling to ridges, nestling amid coffee bushes, fruit…
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6 Best Colombia National Parks
Colombia has 42 Parques Nacionales Naturales (PNN), as well as numerous other sanctuaries and reserves, spread throughout the country, covering virtually every type of terrain, and comprising more than 20% of the national territory. Although some are very remote and difficult to access, others offer visitors the best chance to get to know the country’s…
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The Palaces of Fès
Hidden in the narrow streets of the Douh, Zerbatana and Ziat neighbourhoods, just east of the Batha, are some truly huge 19th- and early 20th-century palaces. The heirs have long since migrated to more promising elsewheres, and the high-ceilinged rooms are semi-squatted by poor relatives or rural migrants. If your time is limited, try to…