Let’s go to

Morocco

Study trip of

ESSEC MS SMIB

20/02/2011-26/02/2011

2

Airport info ................................................................................................... 3

The detailed schedule for the week .............................................................. 4

Before we leave France ................................................................................. 8

Info about companies we are going to visit ................................................... 9

Info about the economy ............................................................................. 11

What do you know about Morocco? ........................................................... 12

Practical Information .................................................................................. 15

Cities and Sightseeing ................................................................................. 16

Free time .................................................................................................... 21

A little entertainment to pass the time………………………………………………………23

Emergency phone nos and hotel addresses ................................................. 25

SMIB ‘Morocco team’ Facebook .................................................................. 27

Welcome to the SMIB study trip to Morocco!

Our study trip has three objectives

- Company visits

- Sightseeing

- Team-building

3

Airport info

RDV 9H20 at PORTE G on 1st Floor in l’Aéroport d’Orly Sud de Paris

For those who are in Paris

Metro 6 Denfert Rochereau / Metro 4 les Halles / Metro 5 La Chapel to get on the RER

B

Or Metro 13 Porte de Clichy / Metro 3 Pereire Pereire / Metro 1 Neuilly Porte Maillot /

Metro 9 La Muette / Metro 6 Bir Hakeim / Metro 8 and 13 Invalides / Metro 4

Saint-Michel / Metro 14 Bibliothèque to get on the RER C, get off at Pont de Rugis, and

take the shuttle bus to the airport.

4

The detailed schedule for the week

Day1 - 20/02/2011 Departure to Morocco

9H20

RDV 9H20 at PORTE G of 1st Floor in l’aéroport d’Orly Sud de

Paris

Bring/buy something to eat at the airport

12 H20-14 H20

Paris-Rabat JET 4 U airline

14 H20

Transfer by coach to the hotel Rihab 4*, received by an English-speaking guide,

distribution of rooms, dinner at hotel

Night and Breakfast at the hotel Rihab

Day 2 - 21/02/2011 Company visits, Departure from Rabat to

Casablanca

9H30 – 12H30

Company visit: Web help

Lunch (not included)

Sightseeing

- Palais royal

- Mausoleum of Mohammed V

- Hassan tower

- Grande esplanade

- Kasbah of the Udayas

17H00 – 21H00

Company visit: Mission Economique (Cocktail included)

Departure from Rabat to Casablanca (1.5h journey)

Night and Breakfast at the hotel Ajiade 3*

5

Day 3 22/02/2011 Casablanca, company visits,

leisure time

8H30 – 11H00

Company visit: BMCI-BNP Paribas

Lunch (not included)

14H30 – 17H00

Company visit: Valyans Consulting

Leisure time (some options: Tour d’orientation de

Casablanca, Esplanade des Nations Unies, Residence ofAnfa,)

Night and Breakfast at the hotel Ajiade 3*

Day 4 23/02/2011 Casablanca, company visits,

leisure time

8H30 – 12H30

Company visit: Stock Exchange

Lunch (not included)

15H30-17H00

Company visit: L’Oréal

Leisure time

Night and Breakfast at the hotel Ajiad 3*

6

Day5 24/02/2011 ,

Sightseeing, Departure from Casablanca to

Marrakech, leisure time

• 9H00-10H00

Sightseeing: Visit of Hassan II Mosque (60Dh)

Departure for Marrakech (3hour

journey)

• Lunch in a snack stand on the way

Sightseeing and free time: The open-air market (les souks) and the square

of Djemaa el fna and a nice dinner together (included)

• Night and Breakfast at the hotel RIAD MOGADOR OPERA 4*

Day6 25/02/2011 Sightseeing, leisure time,

departure from Marrakech to Casablanca

• Sightseeing:

- Palace of Bahia(10Dhs)

- Tomb of Saadiens(10Dhs)

- Koutoubia(Outside)

- Garden of Majorelle(30Dhs)

• 18H – 21H

Departure for Casablanca (3 hour journey)

• Night and Breakfast at AJIAD 3*

7

Day7 26/02/2011 Back to Paris

• 7H10

Depart from Casablanca airport, register the luggage and

board the flight JET 4 U

Casablanca-Paris 07:10- 09 :10 JET 4 U

9H10

Arrival in Paris. Home!

8

Before we leave France

- Luggage restrictions

1 piece of luggage only in the hold, maximum 20 kg

-Regulations for hand luggage

If you need certain liquids during the flight, you can

take them into the cabin in limited quantities as follows:

containers must hold no more than 100ml even if

they are only partly full

containers must be carried in a single, transparent,

re-sealable plastic bag, which holds no more than a litre and measures

approximately 20cm x 20cm

contents must fit comfortably inside the bag so it can be sealed

the bag must not be knotted or tied at the top

each passenger can carry only one of these bags

the bag must be presented for examination at the airport security

point

-Take a suit

Take a suit for company visits

-For girls

For girls, avoid dressing in miniskirts or tank tops and also take a scarf to cover

your head when we visit a mosque. It doesn’t have to be a special scarf.

-Student card

Remember to take your student card

-Copy of passport

Put the original of your passport in the hotel safe and keep a photocopy with you.

Passports sometimes get lost

-Mobile phone

Check with your operator that your mobile phone works in Morocco

-Phone no. of the bank

Note the phone number of your bank in case you lose your credit card

-Small change

Prepare small change, as shopkeepers and stall holders often don’t have change

for large bank notes

9

Information about companies we are going to visit

- L’Oreal

L'Oreal Group is the world leader in cosmetics and beauty products.

It is present in 130 countries, deploys 42 factories around the world

and possesses 628 patents and 28 brands.

Established in Morocco in 1943 under the name of UFCI (French

Union for Trade and Industry), it was not until 2000 that L'Oréal

decided to unify the name of all its subsidiaries around the world,

and thus gave birth to L'Oreal Morocco. L'Oreal Morocco has three

operating divisions: 1) The Consumer Products division, present in

the self-service distribution channels and retailers. It includes:

L'Oreal Paris (Excellence, Elsève, Dermo Expertise Men's Expert, etc), Garnier (Ultra Doux, Fructis,

Nutrisse), Lascad (Jacques Dessange, Mixa, Narta, Ushuaia, Wellness, etc), and makeup Gemey

Maybelline. 2) The Professional Products division, distributed in salons, with products as L'Oréal

Professionnel, Kérastase and Matrix. 3) The Active Cosmetics Division, whose products are sold in

pharmacies, offers the brand Vichy and La Roche-Posay.

L'Oreal employs hundreds of people in Morocco.

- BMCI Group BNP Paribas

BMCI Group is the Moroccan subsidiary of BNP

Paribas Group. It offers a wide range of banking

products and services to private individuals,

professionals and corporate/ institutional clients.

The network covers more than 40 cities in Morocco

with more than 250 branches. It also established special subsidiaries as ARVAL (long

term car rental), BMCI Assurance (insurance brokerage), BMCI Bank Offshore

(Offshore operations), BMCI Bourse, BMCI Finance (Equity investment), BMCI Leasing,

etc.

- Valyans Consulting

It is the Moroccan leader in the consulting

sphere specializing in Corporate Strategy,

Management Consulting and Information and Communication Technologies. The

company was created as a result of the merger between New.e.com Ernst & Young

and Business Consulting. Valyans Consulting brings together over 50 professionals. To

offer its customers a complete service, the company has developed strong

partnerships and alliances that provide support and expertise in targeted customers

areas, i.e. Créargie Morocco (a marketing research firm that collects quantitative and

qualitative data and performs the analysis), Tourism & Leisure ( a consulting firm

specializing in tourism and real estate), AOA (a consulting firm specializing in project

management in the insurance and social security industry).

10

- Mission Economique

The « Mission Economiques » are

branches of French Embassies, which deal

with economic matters.

Their mission:

To ensure economic and

business relations between France and

the country they are established in

Endorse french companies that want to do business in a particular

country

- Webhelp

Webhelp is an international call

center operator.

It was founded in 2000, and it grew

exponentially to become one of the

major players in customer

relationship management.Its clients

are diverse: SFR, Orange, Axa…

Key data:

5000 collaborators

19 call centers located in France and abroad (Romania, Morocco)

Turnover: €108 Million (2008)

Message for potentially interested students:

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

‘Our ambition is to maintain a policy of high investment, high

potential recruitment and research and development’

11

- Casablanca Stock Exchange

The Casablanca Stock Exchange was established in 1929.

Its mission consists in ensuring the running, growth and

promotion of the Moroccan stock market, by:

Monitoring and managing trading sessions

Publishing and disseminating market information

Providing assistance to insurers in the listing of their

securities and in the execution of their financial transactions

Intervening to ensure successful transaction completion

between the various parties

Guaranteeing that transactions are cleared in the event of

some default by some intermediary

Ownership:

In 2009, the stock exchange was owned by brokerage firms that operated in the

marketplace.

Information about the economy

- Key areas and sectors

Morocco's market economy benefits from the country's relatively low labor costs and

proximity to Europe, which aid key areas of the economy such as agriculture, light

manufacturing, tourism, and remittances. Morocco is also the world's largest

exporter of phosphate, which has long provided a source of export earnings and

economic stability. It is the world's biggest exporter and third producer of

phosphorus. It houses approximately

2/3 of the world's phosphate reserves,

putting it in a higher league than major

competitors China, Russia, and the

United States. Although it employs only

2% of the population, phosphate mining

is responsible for half of the nation's

income. Morocco, however, still depends

to an inordinate degree on agriculture.

The sector accounts for only around 14%

of GDP but employs 40-45% of the Moroccan population.

- Economic policies and challenges

Economic policies pursued since 2003 by King MOHAMMED VI have brought

macroeconomic stability to the country with generally low inflation, improved

financial performance, and steady progress in developing the service and industrial

sectors. In 2006, Morocco entered a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US, and in

2008 entered into an advanced status in its 2000 Association Agreement with the EU.

12

However, poverty, illiteracy, and unemployment rates remain high. In response to

these challenges, King MOHAMMED

in 2005 launched a National

Initiative for Human Development,

a $2 billion program aimed at

alleviating poverty and

underdevelopment by expanding

electricity to rural areas and

replacing urban slums with public

and subsidized housing, among

other policies. Morocco's trade and budget deficits widened in 2010, and reducing

government spending and adapting to sluggish economic growth in Europe will be

challenges in 2011. Morocco's long-term challenges include improving education and

job prospects for young Moroccans, closing the disparity in wealth between the rich

and the poor, confronting corruption, and expanding and diversifying exports beyond

phosphates and low-value-added products.

- Some key data

GDP - Purchasing power parity: $153.8 billion (2010 est.)(Country

comparison to the world: 58 )

GDP – Real growth rate: 4.2% (2010 est.)(Country comparison to the world:

73 )

GDP per capital (PPP): $4,900 (2010 est.)(Country comparison to the world:

148 )

GDP – Composition by sector: agriculture: 17.1%, industry: 31.6%, services:

51.4% (2009 est.)

Labor force: 11.63 million (2009 est.)(Country comparison to the world:

43 )

Labor force – by occupation: agriculture: 44.6%, industry: 19.8%, services:

35.5% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate: 9.8% (2010 est.)(Country comparison to the world:

109 )

Population below poverty line: 15% (2007 est.)

What do you know about Morocco?

- Brief Introduction

The Kingdom of Morocco is a country located in North Africa which is less formally

known as simply Morocco. It has a population of nearly 33 million and an area of

710,850 km². Morocco has a rich indigenous culture and civilization, and its cuisine

has long been considered to be one of the most diverse in the world. The Capital of

Morocco is Rabat, the largest city is Casablanca.

13

- History

The History of Morocco spans over 12 centuries.

The country was first unified by the Idrisid

dynasty in 780, representing the first Islamic

state in Africa autonomous from the Arab

Empire. Under the Almoravid dynasty and the

Almohad dynasty, Morocco dominated the

Maghreb and Muslim Spain. Under the Saadi

dynasty, Morocco would consolidate power and

fight off Portuguese and Ottoman invaders. In

1578, the reign of Ahmad al-Mansur brought great wealth and prestige to the

Sultanate. After the death of al-Mansur the country was divided among his sons. In

1666 the sultanate was reunited by the Alaouite dynasty. This dynasty distinguished

itself in the 20th century by maintaining Moroccan independence. In 1912, after the

First Moroccan Crisis and the Agadir Crisis, the Treaty of Fez was signed, effectively

dividing Morocco into a French and Spanish protectorate. In 1956, after 44 years of

occupation Morocco regained independence from France as the Kingdom of

Morocco.

- Culture

Morocco is a country of multi-ethnic groups with a rich

culture and civilization. Through Moroccan history,

Morocco hosted many people in addition to the

indigenous Berbers, coming from both East (Phoenicians,

Jews and Arabs), South (Sub-Saharan Africans) and

North (Romans and Vandals). All of which have had an

impact on the social structure of Morocco. It conceived

many forms of beliefs, from paganism, Judaism,

Christianity to Islam.

Each region possesses its own uniqueness, contributing

to the national culture. Morocco has set among its top

priorities the protection of its diversity and the preservation of its cultural heritage

- Language

The official language is Arabic but French is the dominant business language in

central and southern Morocco and something you can get along with about

anywhere. Spanish is often spoken in the north. English is fairly widely spoken. The

Berber languages, once dominant throughout Morocco, have declined in importance,

and in the early 1990s about 25 percent of the people used Berber as their first

language.

- Religion

Islam is the established state religion of Morocco. Almost the entire population is

14

Sunni Muslim. The monarch is the supreme Muslim authority in the country. About 1

percent of the population is Christian, and less than 0.2 percent is Jewish.

- Food + drink

Pastilla

Pastilla is an elaborate meat pie traditionally made of squab

(fledgling pigeons). As squabs are often hard to get,

shredded chicken is more often used today; pastilla can also

use fish as a filling. It is typical of Morocco and highly

regarded as a national dish of that country.

Tajine

Tajines in Moroccan cuisine are slow-cooked stews

braised at low temperatures, resulting in tender meat with

aromatic vegetables and sauce. They are traditionally

cooked in the tajine pot, whose cover has a knob-like

handle at its top to facilitate removal. While simmering,

the cover can be lifted off without the aid of a mitten,

enabling the cook to inspect the main ingredients, add

vegetables, mix the contents, or add additional braising

liquid.

Mint tea

Moroccan mint tea is a green tea with mint leaves. It

contains caffeine. Moroccan-style mint tea is now

commonly served all through the West Arab World (North

Africa). It is served not only at mealtimes but all through

the day, and it is especially a drink of hospitality,

commonly served whenever there are guests.

Harira

Harira is the traditional soup of Morocco. It is

usually eaten during dinner in the Muslim holy month of

Ramadan to break the fasting day. It is considered as a

meal in itself. It is also served to relatives and friends after

a special celebration, such as the morning after a wedding

night, and its recipe varies then slightly from the harira

eaten during Ramadan. Of course, it could be prepared any time, however, some

families prefer to stick to tradition and serve it on special occasions.

15

Practical Information

- Currency

100EUR=1117.74MAD (This rate is flexible, please check it before exchange by

visiting the link

(http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi?Amount=1&From=EUR&To=MAD&image.x=37

&image.y=7)

There are foreign exchange offices in most banks.

Credit cards are accepted, but there is some loss of exchange rate discrepancies

The cheapest way is to have it changed in the

local bank.

The principal local banks are BMCE, BMCI, BCM

and Morocco Credit. Most of them have contacts

with International banks or French Banks such as

SG, Citybank and ABN.

Don’t rely on the ATM’s as they are often out of

order, it’s best to withdraw money while the bank is

open(8:30-12:00/14:00-16:00)

Never trust the exchange service in the street although the exchange may be

offered at a preferential rate.

The coins range from 5 dirhams to 10 dirhams; the notes range from2O dirhams

to 200 dirhams

- Transport

Take the taxis with meters or negotiate the

price before departing. The minimal fare is

around 1,4 Dh (1Dh per kilometer after). Add 50%

to the cost of your ride during the night (starting

around 8-9pm).

Avoid taking taxi in front of the hotel gate,

it’s incredibly expensive

Taxis take a maximum of 4 passengers

Prepare small change/coins and you can pay a tip of 10-15% if you’re satisfied

with their service

- Weather

Morocco has a Mediterranean climate that is

generally hot and dry for most of the year, with

cooler, yet still mild, temperatures and rainfall

during the winter months between November

and March.

Winters in Rabat and Casablanca are enjoyable

in the winter months, with temperatures very

rarely falling below 8°C, and daily highs of about

16

17°C to 18°C,

Marrakech lies in Morocco’s interior. In the winter the average temperature is a very

enjoyable 22°C

- Clothes

Please take with you warm medium weight wears for the evenings, during the winter.

Waterproofing is advisable in the wet season, particularly on the coast.

Remember to pack a suit which is necessary for company visits. And for women, you

should avoid provocative clothes. Last point, you could bring your swimming suit

with you.

- Customs+Politeness

Morocco is a Muslim country, so you should dress properly,

if you are invited to their home.

Don’t take photos without asking for consent of the

host.

It’s impolite to refuse an invitation to drink.

Use your right hand for meal while your left hand for

toilet

Never disturb people during their prayers and never

criticize their religion

Show respect while visiting Mosques

Don’t criticize the monarchy

Try not to smoke in public places.

- Health+Safety

We have already subscribed insurance for all of you

Drink mineral water instead of tap water

Don’t eat raw food and salad, wash your hands carefully before the meal

Pay attention to pick-pockets in souks, and go to the nearest police station for

help if something has been stolen.

Never go out alone

- Shopping

Bargaining is a tradition and is expected. People will try to sell you fake copies of

famous brands; it’s not worth risking buying fakes. As you probably know that the

fines are very high, if you are caught.

Cities and Sightseeing

Casablanca

Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the

capital of the Grand Casablanca region.

17

Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as

its chief port. It's also the biggest city in the

Maghreb. Casablanca is considered the

economic and business center of Morocco,

while the political capital city of Morocco is

Rabat.

Casablanca hosts headquarters and main

industrial facilities for the leading Moroccan

and international companies based in Morocco. Industrial statistics show Casablanca

retains its historical position as the main industrial zone of the country. The Port of

Casablanca is one of the largest artificial ports in the world, and the largest port of

North Africa.

Sightseeing

Hassan II Mosque

The Hassan II Mosque is the largest mosque in Morocco and the fifth largest mosque

in the world. Designed by the French architect Michel Pinseau and built by Bouygues.

Built on reclaimed land, almost half of the

surface of the mosque lies over the Atlantic

water. This was inspired by the verse of the

Qur'an that states "the throne of Allah was

built on water." While some say part of this

floor is glass and overlooks the sea, this is

not the case; above, spotlights shine at

night from the top of the minaret toward

Mecca. These features were specifically

requested by King Hassan II, who declared, "I want to build this mosque on the water,

because God's throne is on the water. Therefore, the faithful who go there to pray, to

praise the Creator on firm soil, can contemplate God's sky and ocean."

It also includes a number of modern touches: it was built to withstand earthquakes

and has a heated floor, electric doors, and a sliding roof.

Rabat

Rabat is the capital and third largest city of the Kingdom of Morocco.

The city is located on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the river Bou Regreg. On

the facing shore of the river lies Salé, Rabat's bedroom community. Silting problems

have diminished the Rabat's role as a port; however, Rabat and Salé still maintain

important textile, food processing and construction industries. In addition, tourism

and the presence of all foreign embassies in Morocco serve to make Rabat one of the

most important cities in the country.

18

Sightseeing

Kasbah of the Udayas

The Kasbah of the Udayas is a kasbah(a type of Islamic

city or fortress) in Rabat, Morocco. It was built during

the reign of the Almohads. When the Almohads had

captured Rabat and destroyed the kasbah of the

Almoravids in the town, they began reconstructing it in

AH 544 / AD 1150. They added a palace and a mosque

and named it al-Mahdiyya, after their ancestor al-Mahdi

Ibn Tumart. After the death of Yaqub al-Mansur (AH 595 / AD 1199) the kasbah was

deserted.

Hassan Tower

Hassan Tower is the minaret of an incomplete mosque in

Rabat, Morocco. Begun in 1195 AD, the tower was intended

to be the largest minaret in the world along with the mosque,

also intended to be the world's largest. In 1199, Sultan Yacoub

al-Mansour died and construction on the mosque stopped.

The tower only reached 44 m (140 ft), about half of its

intended 86 m (260 ft) height. The rest of the mosque was

also left incomplete, with only the beginnings of several walls and 200 columns being

constructed. The tower, made of red sandstone, along with the remains of the

mosque and the modern Mausoleum of Mohammed V, forms an important historical

and tourist complex in Rabat.Instead of stairs, the tower is ascended by ramps. The

minaret's ramps would have allowed the muezzin to ride a horse to the top of the

tower to issue the call to prayer.

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

The Mausoleum of Mohammed V contains the

tombs of the Moroccan king and his two sons,

late King Hassan II and Prince Abdallah. It is

located on the opposite side of the Hassan Tower

on the Yacoub al-Mansour esplanade in Rabat,

Morocco. The building is considered a

masterpiece of modern Alaouite dynasty

architecture, with its white silhouette, topped by

a typical green tiled roof. Its construction was completed in 1971. Hassan II was

buried there following his death in 1999.

Palais royal

Principal residence of royal family of Morocco since 1912

Grande esplanade

It is a large plaza with a beautiful panoramic view of the river that separates Rabat

from Salé.

19

Marrakesh

Marrakesh, known as the "Red City", is the most important former imperial city in

Morocco's history. The city of Marrakesh is the capital of the mid-southwestern

economic region of Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, near the foothills of the

snow-capped Atlas Mountains.Like many North African cities, the city of Marrakesh

comprises both an old fortified city (médina) and an adjacent modern city(Gueliz).

Marrakech has the largest traditional market (souk) in Morocco and also has one of

the busiest squares in Africa and the world, Djemaa el Fna. The square bustles with

acrobats, story-tellers, water sellers, dancers and musicians. By night food stalls open

in the square turning it into an huge busy open-air restaurant.

Sightseeing

Majorelle Garden

The Majorelle Garden is a botanical garden in Marrakech, Morocco. It was designed

by the expatriate French artist Jacques Majorelle in 1924.

Though Majorelle's gentlemanly orientalist

watercolors are largely forgotten today , the

garden he created is his creative masterpiece. The

special shade of bold cobalt blue which he used

extensively in the garden .

The garden has been open to the public since

1947. Since 1980 the garden has been owned by

Yves Saint-Laurent and Pierre Bergé. After Yves

Saint Laurent died in 2008 his ashes were

scattered in the Majorelle Garden.

The garden also houses the Islamic Art Museum of Marrakech, whose collection

includes North African textiles from Saint-Laurent's personal collection as well as

ceramics, jewelry, and paintings by Majorelle.

The garden hosts more than 15 bird species, which can be found only in the area of

North Africa.

Djemaa el Fna

Djemaa el Fna is a square and market place in

Marrakesh's medina quarter (old city).

The place remains the main square of Marrakesh,

used equally by locals and tourists. During the day

it is predominantly occupied by orange juice stalls,

youths with chained Barbary apes, water sellers in

colourful costumes with traditional leather water-bags and brass cups, and snake

charmers who will pose for photographs for tourists.[2] As the day progresses the

entertainments on offer change: the snake charmers depart, and in the afternoon

and evening the square becomes more crowded, with Chleuh dancing-boys (it would

be against custom for girls to provide such an entertainment), story-tellers (telling

their tales in Berber or Arabic, to an audience of appreciative locals), magicians, and

20

peddlers of traditional medicines. As dark descends the square fills with dozens of

food-stalls, and the crowds are at their height.

Koutoubia Mosque

The Koutoubia Mosque is the largest mosque

in Marrakech, Morocco. The minaret was used

as the model for the Giralda of Seville and for

the Hassan Tower of Rabat.The name is derived

from the Arabic al-Koutoubiyyin for librarian,

since it used to be surrounded by sellers of

manuscripts. It is considered the ultimate

structure of its kind. The tower is 69 m (221 ft)

in height and has a lateral length of 12.8 m (41 ft). Six rooms (one above the other)

constitute the interior; leading around them is a ramp by way of which the muezzin

could ride up to the balcony. It is built in a traditional Almohad style and the tower is

adorned with four copper globes.According to legend, the globes were originally

made of pure gold, and there were once supposed to have been only three globes.

The fourth globe was donated by the wife of Yacoub el-Mansour as compensation for

her failure to keep the fast for one day during the month of Ramadan. She had her

golden jewelry melted down to flab the fourth globe.

Bahia Palace

The Bahia Palace is a palace and a set of gardens

located in Marrakech, Morocco. It was built in

the late 19th century, intended to be the

greatest palace of its time. The name means

'brilliance'. As in other buildings of the period in

other countries, it was intended to capture the

essence of the Islamic and Moroccan style.

There is a 2 acre (8,000 m²) garden with rooms

opening onto courtyards.

Set up at the end of 19th century by Si Moussa, grand vizier of the sultan, for his

personal use, this palace would bear the name of one of his wives. Here, the harem,

which includes a vast court decorated with a central basin and surrounded by rooms

intended for the concubines. As the black slave Abu Ahmed raised to power and

wealth towards the end of the 19th century, he had the Bahia palace built by

bringing in craftsmen from Fez. The structures tell a lot about the taste of the

nouveau-riche of its time, and can appear vulgar to modern tastes. It was intended to

become the greatest palace of its time, but it is really dominated by hasty planning as

well as uninspired detail work.

Saadian Tombs

The tombs have, because of the beauty of their decoration, been a major attraction

for visitors of Marrakech. The building is composed of three rooms. The most famous

is the room with the twelve columns. This room contains the grave of the son of the

sultan's son Ahmad al-Mansur.

21

Free time

Restaurants

(Average price: $: < 4,5 euro $$: <7.3 euro $$$: < 13,6 euro)

Rabat：

- Le Petit Beur-Dar Tajine

Specialty: Delicious tajine and

pastillas

Contact: 8 Rue Damas

Price: $ $

- Restaurant de la Libération

Specialty: Many choices for tajines and

excellent couscous

Contact : 256, av. Mohammed-V

Price :$

- Best food

Specialty: Nice food with good service

Contact: 6, rue du Dadès

Price : $

- Chez El-Ouazzani

Specialty: Nice pincho offered with typical Moroccan decoration

Contact : Pl. Ibn- Yassine

Price : $ $ $

Casablanca:

- Central market

Specialty: Various kinds of

fresh sea food offered and could be

cooked by the nearby small restaurants

with low prices

Contact: Central market.

Price: $

- La Marina

Specialty: Very popular place for delicious tajine and couscous

Contact: 77, rue El-Arrar

Price: $

22

- Snack Amine Adam

Specialty：Fish and sea food plate

Contact: 22, rue Chaouia (Opposite the central market)

Price : $ $ $

Marrakesh:

- The stands of the Jemaa-el-Fna

Specialty: All kinds of Moroccan food

offered to you: Tajines, couscous, soup,

salads, pinchos, fish…..

Contact: Djemaa el-Fna

Price: $

- Chez Chegrouni

Specialty: Considered to sell the best

tajine in the city

Contact: 4-6 Djemaa el-Fna

Price: $ $

- Toubkal cafe

Specialty: Breakfast, mint tea

Contact: Avenue Ahmed Ouaqala

(beside la place jemma)

Price : $

- Restaurant Oscar Progres

Specialty: Mediterranean and

Moroccan cuisine

Contact : 20, rue Bani Marine

Price : $ $

- La Lune d’Or

Specialty: Shawarma of snack

Contact : Place Jemaa el Fna, rue

Bab Agnaou (near la Place Jemma and

beside ‘librairie Ghazil’)

Price : $

- Chez Haj Brik

Specialty: Toaste and pincho

Contact : Rue BaniMarin

(besides la Gazelle)

Price : $

23

- Agana

Specialty: ice cream!

Contact: Jemma (at the begining of souk and also opposite ‘la

pâtisserie des Princes’ )

Price: $

Clubs and bars

(Average price: $: > 10 euro, $$: > 15 euro, $$$: > 20 euro)

Rabat:

- Bloom

Specialty : a quite new one

Contact: Complexe le Dawliz - Rabat

Bouregreg, +212 6 59 70 21 02

Price : $ $

Casablanca:

- La Petit Roche

Specialty : Exotique and leisure

atmosphere

Contact : Boulvard de la

Corniche, Phare El-Hank , 022 395748

Price : $

Marrakesh :

- Pacha

Specialty: Famous DJ

Contact: Complexe pacha

Marrakesh, boulevard Mohammed VI

024 388 405

Price: $ $ $

24

A little entertainment to pass the time

A man runs to the doctor and says, "Doctor, you've

got to help me. My wife thinks she's a chicken!"

The doctor asks, "How long has she had this

condition?"

"Two years," says the man.

"Then why did it take you so long to come and see

me?" asked the shrink.

The man shrugs his shoulders and replies, "We

needed the eggs."

Smith goes to see his supervisor in the front office.

"Boss," he says, "we're doing some heavy

house-cleaning at home tomorrow, and my wife needs

me to help with the attic and the garage, moving and

hauling stuff."

"We're short-handed, Smith" the boss replies. "I can't

give you the day off."

"Thanks, boss," says Smith "I knew I could count on

you!"

25

Emergency phone nos and hotel addresses

- Emergency phone numbers :

SOS Médecins Maroc Tel: 05 22 98 98 98

Police Tel: 19

S.O .S. accidents Tel: 150

Protection civile Tel: 15

Pompiers Tel: 15

Ambulance Tel: 15

- Our hotel address

Casablanca: the hotel Ajiad 3*

http://www.hotelajiad.com/

Tel: +212(522)449226

Fax: +212(522)449228

Address: on the corner of Rue Kamal Mohamed and fakir Mohamed,

Casablanca

Rabat: the hotel Rihab 4*

Tel.: +212 5 37 70 48 34

Adresse: 45 Avenue Moulay Ismail, Rabat

26

Marrakesh: the hôtel RIAD MOGADOR OPERA

Tel: +212 5 24 33 93 90

Fax:+212 5 24 33 93 92

Address: Av Mohamed Vi, Marrakech

-

-

- Useful contacts

Rabat - Embassy

Rue Sahnoun Agdal - BP 602 Rabat

Tél : [212] 37 68 97 00

Fax : [212] 37 68 97 01 http://www.ambafrance-ma.org

Casablanca - Consulate

Rue du Prince Moullay Abdallah 15810 Casablanca

Tél : [212] 22 48 93 00

Fax : [212] 22 48 93 05 http://www.consulfrance-casablanca.org

Marrakech - Consulate

Dar Moulay Ali - 1 rue Ibn Khaldoun - BP 518 Marrakech

Tél : [212] 44 38 82 00

Fax : [212] 44 38 82 32 http://www.consulfrance-marrakech.org

- Some useful words in Arabic

- Hello: Salam – Marhaba - Thanks: Shukran

- Welcome: Ahlan Wa Sahlan - Sorry: Aasif

- Goodbye: Ma'assalama - Yes: Na'am – Aaywa

- No: La'a - Excuse me, I want to go to.....: Afwan Biddi

27

SMIB ‘Morocco team’ Facebook

Organization team

DENCH Linda

B00004658

0680923043

TOUSSAY Lysiane

B00164055

06 82 18 62 69

DE WAAL Eduard

B00178344

0626781870

MAHAJAN Ankit

B00286488

0627521135

GROMOVA Viktorija

B00307797

0668320043

YAO Jiajie

B00180208

0679922093

CAI Minjie

B00310088

0646048018

YANG Jiali

B00312305

0622715881

GUO Ning

B00295963

0623259021

28

Our team members

YU Jing

B00179187

0614308025

BAI Yu

B00294423

0646321780

LI Sum-Yee

B00309972

0638397060

XIA Cheng

B00312861

0626597966

COGNET Christophe

B00030574

0632471149

KIYOTO Motoko

B00312738

0659059791

LIM Xin Yan

B00306909

0628950834

LOURTIOUX

Romain

B00299953

0672138419

CABROLIER Romain

B00023150

0648658315

LE BRAS

Emmanuelle

B00201181

0689953033

QUEGUINER Mathieu

B00278132

0687161235