International Travel in the Age of Ebola

The Ebola crisis has people around the world running scared, cancelling travel plans and halting any plans for future travel. 

It has become a kind of mass hysteria, fueled by speculation and fears that are blown completely out of proportion. This blog will give an objective portrait of the situation, with the intention of dispelling the misplaced hysteria and empowering the public to continue life as normal.

According to Amar Safdar, MD of Emory University in Atlanta, which specializes in infectious diseases (where they cured 2 patients of the virus), “It is not a casual contact-acquired infection. There is no known Ebola transmission through coughing or sneezing, like with influenza or tuberculosis." In other words, you are not at risk for Ebola infection unless you are in direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person in the late stages of the virus. (http://www.everydayhealth.com/news/ebola-10-essential-facts-about/)

The most severely affected countries, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia have very weak health systems, lacking human and infrastructural resources, having only recently emerged from long periods of conflict and instability.  (http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/)

Because of this recent instability, these countries have extremely poor nutrition and the people who live there have very low immunity, which makes them much more susceptible to infection than people of the First World. (http://www.naturalhealth365.com/natural_cures/ebola-virus-thomas-levy-1095.html)

To prevent cross-contamination, major airports are now flagging travelers for Ebola screening to prevent infected passengers from boarding planes (http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/10/13/355874691/ebola-screening-at-jfk-airport-flagged-91-travelers-none-had-virus). 

If you have to travel, what is the best way to protect yourself?

The best way you can prevent any viral or bacterial infection is to boost your immune system. Eat a healthy diet low in sugars and processed food, stay hydrated with good water, get plenty of exercise and sunshine, and boost up your intake of quality, non-chemical Vitamin C. These are simple steps that you can take all year long to remain healthy in any situation. (http://blog.drbrownstein.com/what-can-you-do-to-preventtreat-ebola/) 

Don't let fear prevent you from living the life you deserve! 

Life is to be lived, and lived well. In our modern world, it is a crucial skill to be able to recognize hype, and see beyond it. I hope this information helps you to understand that Ebola is completely over-hyped, and there is absolutely NO reason to fear traveling anywhere in the world that you desire to go.

“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.” 

- Frank Herbert, Dune

Marrakesh Voyage is a Morocco ground tour operator specialized in FIT and exotic escorted trips throughout the mystical Kingdom of Morocco, representing Guests and Tour Operators from all around the Globe. Our headquarters are in New York, and we have offices all over Morocco.

We will help you design and customize the trip of a life time according to your interest, passions, and desire for you, your guests and for your company.

 

The Adventure of Marrakesh

There's something mystical and enchanting about this desert oasis, which in ancient times was a vibrant trading post for camel trains connecting Sub-Saharan Africa with Europe and the North.

In its 1000 year history Marrakesh has belonged to many different kingdoms, but in most respects it is a Berber city, painted with the natural hues of roses and pinks and reds that mirror the iron in the High Atlas mountains just beyond. The medina, the old city, with its narrow, cobbled streets is home to modern-day traders in exquisite handicrafts and fruits of the desert for an absolute shopping delight. There are fantastic museums of antiquity, where you can glimpse the lives of the concubines of the harem, and the caliphs, and the sultans. Much remains as it was hundreds of years ago.

This includes, of course, the souk.... the ancient covered market where you can wander for days, haggling with the vendors, feasting your eyes on some of the most wondrous selection of handicrafts, herbs, ointments, clothes, and whatever else you can imagine.

And yet because of the years of the French Protectorate, there is a gleam of modern elegance and technology, lodged in step with the ancient city. World class restaurants, bars and cafes; art museums; music, film and cultural festivals;  fabled grand hotels.... Marrakesh has something to delight everyone.

Visit the famed Marjorelle Gardens, built by french artist Jacques Marjorelle, who gave to Morocco its ubiquitous "Marjorelle Blue," a home and property that was later owned by Yves St. Laurent, who gifted it to the Moroccan people. Enjoy a quick trip to the Sadiaan Tombs from the 16th century, which will inspire and captivate, and the Koutoubia Mosque, finished in 1199, which was the largest mosque in Morocco until the Hassan II Mosque was built in Casablanca in recent years. Its magnificence inspired La Giralda in Seville, and the Hassan Tower in Rabat.

There are too many historical and cultural sites to mention! Marrakesh is a city for wandering, getting lost, and discovering the unexpected. It's an excellent spot for relaxation, fine dining, and world class entertainment.  You can dress as you like! As a highly touristic city, Marrakesh is accepting of all traditions; however to enter religious buildings, women will need to have their hair and arms and legs covered, and for fine dining you would dress as you would in any respectable establishment.

Marrakesh Voyage is a Morocco ground tour operator specialized in FIT and exotic escorted trips throughout the mystical Kingdom of Morocco, representing Guests and Tour Operators from all around the Globe. Our headquarters are in New York, and we have offices all over Morocco.

We will help you design and customize the trip of a life time according to your interest, passions, and desire for you, your guests and for your company.