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Useful information ...
Time
Morocco is on GMT all year round.
Health
No vaccinations are required for Morocco and, as there are very few mosquitoes in Essaouira, anti-malaria tablets are not necessary. Morocco does not have any reciprocal health care agreements so it is advisable to have travel insurance. There is a small hospital in Essaouira. You will find numerous excellent pharmacies in town, clearly marked with a green cross. The principal pharmacy is at the end of the lane that leads to Chez Rebecca.
Money
Local currency is the Moroccan Dirham (abbreviated as DH, MAD or MDH). This is a restricted currency so can not be obtained outside Morocco. Click here for exchange rates. You can change money at Marrakech airport (note: the kiosk is more reliable than the ATM). Currency is better than traveller cheques for changing at the airport and also some of the banks in Essaouira. Euros are more useful than sterling as you can also use them to pay for meals in most restaurants (note that most restaurants don't accept credit cards, even they have a sign saying that they do!). If you want to take travellers cheques, American Express are best as they are accepted by more banks in Essaouira. There are about four ATMs attached to the banks in and around Place Moulay Hassan.
Opening hours
Opening hours are very variable. Banks are usually open from 08:30 - 11:30 and 14:30 - 16:30 Monday to Friday. Large shops tend to open between 09:00 - 13:00 and 15:00 - 19:00 Monday to Saturday. Small shops in the medina may not open until about 10:00 but often stay open until quite late.
Moroccan holidays
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Religious (note: dates vary each year) |
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New Year's day: 1 January Labour Day: 1 May Feast of the Throne: 30 July Allegiance Day: 14 August Day of the Green March: 6 November Independence Day: 18 November |
Muharram (Islamic New Year): 29 Jan 09 Mawlid al-Nabi (Mohammed's birthday): 9 Mar 09 Ramadan begins: 2 Sept 08, 22 Aug 09 Eid al-Fitr (Ramadan ends): 2 Oct 08, 21 Sept 09 Eid al-Adha (Festival of sacrifice): 9 Dec 08, 28 Nov 09
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UK holidays
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School (note: dates vary - check Directgov for individual areas) |
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New Year's day - 1 January 2009 Easter: 10 _ 13 April 2009 May day: 4 May 2009 Spring: 25 May 2009 Summer: 31 August 2009 |
Half term: 27 - 31 October 08 Christmas: 22 December 08 - 2 January 09 Half term: 16 - 20 February 09 Easter: 6 - 17 April 09 Half term: 25 - 29 May 09 Summer: 21 July - 31 August 09 |
Telephone
The international dialling code for Morocco is 212. Chez Rebecca has a phone which accepts incoming calls; to make outgoing calls you will need to credit it with a ‘Carte Jawal’ which can be bought in various denominations in the teleboutiques in the town.
There are also numerous teleboutiques and public cardphones dotted about the town.
Newspapers
You can buy day-old English newspapers at Jack's kiosk in Place Moulay Hassan.
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