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Movie Set Travel / SATC2 / Sex and the City Travel / Girlfriend Travel / → All Tags

Follow in the Footsteps of Carrie and Company in Morocco

If just watching Sex and the City 2 in a theater tonight with your girls isn't enough, why not take them to Morocco, where the movie was shot?

The plot of SATC2 finds Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda on an all-expenses-paid vacation in Abu Dhabi. But, the conservative Emirati nation wasn't crazy about a movie with SEX in the title shooting there, amongst the other risque topics discussed in the movie, and so SATC2 ended up spending eight weeks filming in Morocco instead.

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Jennifer Aniston and Gwyneth Paltrow Break Bread in Morocco

Two of Brad Pitt's exes spent Turkey Day together in Morocco this year, leaving him to his family life. Jennifer Aniston and Gwyneth Paltrow, along with Orlando Bloom, Miranda Kerr, Salma Hayek and Adrien Brody, celebrated the re-opening of La Mamounia Hotel on Thursday in Marrakech. Suspiciously absent from the star-studded affair were the ladies of Sex and the City. All four women—Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon—have been filming scenes for next year's feature, Sex and the City 2 in Morocco since Oct. 25.

It's no wonder so many A-Listers showed up for the gala event. The hotel was a mainstay for celebrities for decades before it closed its doors three years ago. Even Alfred Hitchcock was a fan and shot The Man Who Knew Too Much in the hotel's lobby, which was also a favorite hang out for the Rolling Stones, Charlie Chaplin and Sharon Stone.

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'Sex' And The Moroccan City

The title "Sex and the City" may become too limiting for the world's most fashionable set-jetting foursome. It seems "Sex and the City 2" has our favorite New Yorkers treading some very unfamiliar territory this week as Sarah Jessica Parker and Cynthia Nixon began shooting in Morocco. The women were spotted filming in the famous marketplaces of Marrakech, looking even more fabulous than the last time we saw them in New York City. Carrie was wearing a "J'Adore Dior" Tee and full lavender skirt while Miranda had on a flowy white dress with matching jacket.

Though Kristin Davis and Kim Cattrall haven't been spotted in Africa yet, rumor has it they will be joining SJP and Cynthia Nixon on the Moroccan set soon. All four ladies are also scheduled to film scenes in London before filming wraps next month.

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Christmas Alternatives / Holiday Travel / Morocco Travel / Richard Branson / Christmas Travel / Virgin Limited Editions / → All Tags

Join Richard Branson Under The Moroccan Mistletoe This Christmas

We're not ashamed to be fans of all things Richard Branson, and with the Christmas season approaching scary fast, we're thinking Richard's ideas on how and where to spend Christmas sound pretty good. If you want to avoid the shopping mall headaches and escape the northern hemisphere cold, Virgin's Kasbah Tamadot Resort in Morocco has some very tempting Christmas deals.

There are five or seven-day packages over the Christmas and New Year period, and they'll certainly be a little bit different from your average gift-swapping, carol-singing festive season. Packages include festive Berber feasts, guided walks in the Atlas Mountains, market excursions and a ride on the resident mules. Booking soon would be a great idea, because these are special, limited-capacity vacations.

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Best Vegetarian Restaurants / World's-Best-Vegetarian-Restaurants / Food Travel / Restaurants / → All Tags

Gold Medal In Morocco

Are you ready to expand your palate? Put down that steak and look beyond the salad plate at the world's best vegetarian restaurants.

On its website, Sable D'Or lists among its credits that the Pakistani and Sri Lankan national cricket teams eat there exclusively whenever they come to Tangier. Whether or not Sable D'Or is the only Indian restaurant in Tangier, it seems to be the best vegetarian option in a place where the word vegetarian often draws blank stares.

Named for a beach south of Rabat also known as Sid el Abed, Sable d'Or isn't wholly veggie--or wholly Indian for that matter. But where else are you going to go to watch European sports or listen to live Moroccan music with a side order of aloo dum? If you aren't too full, hit the attached bar afterwards for some dancing.

Want to see your favorite joint featured? Tip us off.

Related Stories:
· A Place In The Sun [TIME]
· Mash, No Bangers [Jaunted]
· Food Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Sable D'Or]

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Comic Book Travel: Following Tintin's Footsteps To Morocco

Anyone who has a fond memory of devouring the journeys in Tintin books is going to be a bit jealous of a British guy who's about to recreate the trip Tintin took in Land of Black Gold.

Barrimore England-Davis, major Tintin fan, has done up a vintage Jeep and will be driving through Spain and then across the desert in Morocco--along with a friend, and a dog named Snowy after Tintin's faithful hound.

The journey's scheduled to take six weeks and we're wondering if England-Davis plans to then follow a few more of Tintin's journeys. We're especially curious about what's going to happen when he sets out on Tintin's trips to fictional lands like Sao Rico, Syldavia or Borduria.

Related Stories:
· Tintin Fan's Epic Trip [Ananova]
· Road Trips Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: ergates]

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Take the Slow Boat to Morocco

Exotic Morocco is one of those countries we always want to know more about. Romantic and spicy, remote yet not that difficult to get to and holiday mecca for plenty of European travelers--we want to go.

And now we know the best way to get there: by ferry from Spain. The UK Times tells us you can get there in as fast as half an hour, but to savor the experience more, they recommend taking an older ferry to travel from Algeciras, Spain to Tangier, Morocco. It takes about two and a half hours.

Our tip is to buy a Moroccan beer on board, sit back and relax while Morocco slides into view. You'll skip all the hassles of lost baggage and flight delays that the average budget flight can bring and even if you don't find meaning in Morocco, you'll have a romantic start to your exploration of northern Africa.

Related Stories:
· Take the Ferry from Spain to Morocco [UK Times]
· Find Meaning in Morocco [Jaunted]

[Photo: ferry-site]

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Movie Set Travel: Charlie Wilson's War

Charlie Wilson's War is living up to the hype. Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts are back on the big screen for this political tale of intrigue. Hanks plays a quick Congressman who carefully funnels money to Afghanistan after the country is invaded by the Soviets in 1979.

Roberts is a socialite who steps in at all the right moments (doesn't she always?) and helps him out. Charlie Wilson's War is based on an excellent book of the same name, and for once, apparently the film doesn't stray from the text.

Much of this one was shot in Marrakesh, Morocco as shooting in Afghanistan was likely, um, not an option. In that vein, we offer you some things to see and do in Marrakesh.

Where To Stay: La Sultana One of Marrakesh's more charming riads, La Sultana is a little tacky, sure, but there something comforting and cozy about its 21 rooms. Think ornate gold doors and bright linens, with a great view and decent on-site restaurant with tons of fresh fish dishes.

Where To Eat: Dar Marjana This is the most authentic Morroccan spot in Marrakesh and you'll pay for it. The five-course dinners aren't cheap, but you'll also get a show with your meal. Traditional belly dancers and musicians roam the room and you'll feast on couscous and lamb tagine while sipping all the drinks you want. Keep in mind that reservations are essential.

Where To Shop: Djemaa el Fna Marrakesh's largest marketplace, Djemaa el Fna springs to life every day with folks selling water from traditional leather sacks, men with monkeys chained up for sale, storytellers and food stalls. The market seems to change every hour, so spending a day there would be worthwhile if you can handle the chaos.

Related Stories:
· Morocco Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· Movie Set Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: CanMag]

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Volunteer Travel: Find Meaning in Morocco

Cross Cultural Solutions began offering volunteer abroad programs in Morocco earlier this year. Come December, global-minded do-gooders can participate in the second wave of the project. It's a chance to spend a few weeks in the capital city of Rabat, working with locals on community-based projects in shelters and prisons. Volunteers provides services to women and children through local schools, employment training, and social assistance programs.

This type of travel is more than a vacation overseas, warn past volunteers — it's a commitment to the community. Though the work is challenging, volunteers say that's what makes the trip worthwhile:

The most memorable for me was not the teaching specifically, but instead the general interaction with the inmates and how fun it was trying to overcome the language barrier using the few Arabic and French words I knew — there were many rounds of Charades! I felt like most of the students were really eager to learn. Those who were not so interested in English were just as eager to get to know me and the other volunteers.

[Photo: Sundownr01]

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Sahara Desert Sues For Defamation In Movie "Sahara"

A desert can't really sue people, but it seems like everyone else involved in the 2005 movie is bringing suit. Author of the original book Clive Cussler is suing producer Philip Anschutz for denying him the "absolute control" his contract required, which he alleges led to the movie's failure (it took in $122 million, but cost over $240 mil to make); Anschutz is counter-suing, claiming Cussler sabotaged the flick. In efforts to sort out how a box-office winner became a bomb in court, the L.A. Times dug up the film's working budget -- where they discovered the film's stars Matthew McConaughey and Penelope Cruz together cost nearly $1.7 million just in perks -- from his personal chef ($48,893) to her hair stylist ($135,550). That's more than was paid to all the extras combined! And we won't even get into the bribes they paid to the Kingdom of Morocco to shoot the film there (instead of on a sandy soundstage).

After you read the most exciting bunch of numbers since your tax return, book a flight to the real Sahara: At $1,122, that New York-Paris-Casablanca flight we found on Air France will look like a steal. For Marrakech hotel reviews, HotelChatter will start you off right. Here's looking at you, kids.

[Photo: Week in Rewind]

Amazing-Race-10 / Amazing Race Maps / Ouarzazate / Morocco / Kiev / Ukraine / → All Tags

Amazing Race 10: The Curse of the Moroccan Idol

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Chasing Racers is back, with a brand new Amazing Race 10 mashup. This map will update the morning after every new episode. Send along tips, rumors, gossip, locations and spoilers to our map editors, become a member and comment on the stories below, and add to the Jaunted-Flickr photo pool to get in on the fray. Enjoy.

Beware the curse of the Casablanca idol. While no one has been the victim of a terrible surf accident just yet, we bet in the coming weeks that little Moroccan idol will be the undoing of one team. With only four teams remaining, things are getting fierce between beauty queens Dustin and Kandice and, well, about everyone else. With the lovable Cho Brothers off the course, will anyone do the right thing? Will Rob and Kimberly continue to be cursed by every car they jump into? And can Lyn and Karlyn hang tough without the help of the now-eliminated Six Pack? Answers, and maybe some leftovers, after the jump!

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Marrakech Hotel Highlights

If you haven't already, it's time to start planning for a cool holiday trip, especially hotel-wise. If you're looking go somewhere exciting this season, check out Marrakech, one of North Africa's most famous and admired cities. The Times Online offers a great Marrakech lodging round-up, with spots to serve whatever kind of trip you're taking.

One we love: Dar Les Cigognes, a traditional Marrakech riad that's been modernized and decked out with a glass-roofed courtyard, a hot boutique, and dozens upon dozens of candles spread throughout the property at night. It's just opposite the Royal Palace and features only 11 guest rooms and suites, with tons of dark corners designed for slipping away to.

The most famous: La Mamounia, deemed one of the "most beautiful places in the world", this one's got it all. Luxury rooms, 17 acres of gardens, a spa, five restaurants, and an art gallery await you. Be prepared to pay up though, because the entire hotel was closed for months this summer for a complete renovation and there's no doubt someone will be footing the bill.

[Photo: Joanpix]

Related Stories:
· Get a room: Marrakesh [Times UK]
· Movie Set Travel: Babel [Jaunted]
· Dar Les Cigognes hotel reviews [TripAdvisor]