Morocco can seem like something conjured from a dream. The twisty alleys of its old-town medinas hold secrets around every corner. Its markets are infused with the aroma of spices and the lilting melodies of musicians, with jewel-colored leather and scarves and rugs as far as the eye can see.

Morocco's history is just as colorful. Nomadic peoples like the Berbers and the Tuareg (a.k.a., the Blue People) were roaming and riding the Sahara desert for centuries. The cities — Tangier and Casablanca, Marrakech and Fez — were well-known havens in and around the World Wars for secret agents, ambitious businessmen, and glamorous movie stars.

In this episode, we discuss books that transported us to Morocco, including two very different — but equally moving — memoirs of personal adventures; a historical novel featuring two strong heroines and a mysterious amulet; a poignant look at the fading art of Moroccan storytelling; and a contemporary thriller about a traveler's worst nightmare.

We also talk Moroccan food and travel with Amanda Ponzio Mootaki, a.k.a., MarocMama, the founder of the MarocMama web site and Marrakech Food Tours.

For more on the books we recommend, plus the other cool stuff we talk about and info about our guest, visit show notes at http://strongsenseofplace.com/podcasts/2020-03-02-morocco/

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