Morocco ~ Erg Chebbi Dunes - Merzouga ~

...Impressive dessert scenery.... beautiful pristine massive sand dunes in pure silence... Erg Chebbi sand dunes are the highest in North Africa... the dunes offer one of the most authentic Sahara Desert experiences... from all the dunes of Morocco, the big dune of Merzouga is one of the highlights...a stunning expanse of iconic fire-orange sand dunes... According to local legends, the Erg Chebbi sand dunes were sent by God as a punishment for turning away a weary traveller... It is believed that the dunes piled up outside Merzouga, to teach the villagers a lesson so that they never refuse to help a traveller again... Thanks a lot Mustapha!【ツ】

Merzouga  is located in the Sahara Desert in eastern Morocco on the edge of Erg Chebbi Desert Dunes.

The dunes of Erg Chebbi (Ergs are large dune seas made of wind blown sand) rise up to 150 meters from the surrounding hamada (rocky desert) and altogether it spans an area of 28 kilometers from north to south and up to 5–7 kilometers from east to west lining the Algerian border.

Stretching from Egypt to Morocco, the Sahara Desert is the largest hot desert in the world, comparable in size to the continental US.

Stamp:

Commemorative King Mohammed VI.
(Issued 2002)

MOROCCO ~ Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou - UNESCO ~

... Great view of a one of Morocco’s most impressive historic landmarks... it sits atop a large hill across a river... the ksar, a fortified city ('ksar' or 'ksour' meaning castle in Moroccan) itself is beautiful... but the stunning surrounding landscape makes it even more special.. ..inside the defensive wall, you can admire the small or bigger houses, the towers, the motifs cut or carved in the clay... the location is also well known for being the scene of many classic movies beginning with Lawrence Of Arabia in 1962, Jesus of Nazareth (1977),  Game of Thrones (2014) and many more til today.....Thanks a lot Mustapha!【ツ】

Photo: Xavier Duràn
Aït Benhaddou is a fortified city and lies on the old trans-Saharan trade route, where traders carrying cargos of slaves, spices and other goods would pause to rest on their way to Timbuktu or the Western Sahara at the border of the High Atlas Mountains and Sahara Desert in present-day Morocco, North Africa.

The kasbah dates back to around the 17thC, built mostly of mud. It is made up of several small fortresses (Kasbahs) which are approximately ten meters in height. When the majority of the residents deserted the kasbah, it began to decay. Several years ago, projects were initiated to preserve the scenic community.

​ It was added as a UNESCO Heritage site in 1987.

Stamp:

Commemorative King Mohammed VI.
(Issued 2002)

MOROCCO ~Essaouira~

...Local views of  "Wind City of Africa"...It is the wind that ensures Essaouira retains its character....It blows too hard to attract many sun, sand and sea tourists...but seems to be a great place for windsurfers!
Thanks a lot David for this extra surprise!^^ (David's great blog:http://postcardsandtravel.blogspot.be/ )


This time a "very" clear postmark!
50th Anniversary of HH The King Mohammed VI
(Issued 21-08-2013)

©éditions Manchoube/Marrakech Essaouira is a city in the western Moroccan economic region of Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, on the Atlantic coast.

Essaouira is an exceptional example of a late-18th-century fortified town, built according to the principles of contemporary European military architecture in a North African context. Since its foundation, it has been a major international trading seaport, linking Morocco and its Saharan hinterland with Europe and the rest of the world.

Morocco ~Marrakesh - Jemaa el Fna - UNESCO ~

...Great view of the most famous landmark in Marrakesh... a lively busy atmosphere... from snake charmers to acrobats, musicians and dancers, stalls selling food, fruits and vegetables...Many thanks David!!

With nice stamp but unfortunately not cancelled:
Geography and Meteorology -Maps
(Issued 03-08-2012)

©edivision, casablanca The Jemaa el-Fnaa or Djemaa el Fna, is one of the most famous squares and market places in all of Africa and is the centre of city activity and trade used by locals and tourists.

Unesco declared the Djemaa el-Fna a ‘Masterpiece of World Heritage’ in 2001.
This UNESCO label aims to raise awareness about the importance of oral and intangible heritage as an essential component of cultural diversity.

Marrakesh is known as the "Red City" and is the capital of the south of Morocco.

MOROCCO ~Medina of Fez - UNESCO~

...Morocco a new country (nr 112) in my collection...wonderful views of children playing at the communal fountains in the medina...so wonderful mozaieks... a postcard with a totally new atmosphere than all European ones: "the feel of Africa"!!! ^__^ Thanks a lot Manu for card nr 5!!!

Stamp showing Mohammed VI the present King of Morocco.

Fez (founded in 793 AD) is found in the foothills of the North Middle Atlas mountains of Morocco, North Africa. The medieval centre of Fez, the Medina (market) has not changed for centuries. Its narrow alleys house hundreds of merchants and craftsmen selling a range of products such as dates, fish, spices, copper urns, carpets and musical instruments.