4^th International Conference on Inverse Problems,

Control and Shape Optimization

Practical information and accomodation

Location of  the conference:

    The conference will be held at the Faculty of Sciences Semlalia of the University Cadi Ayyad of Marrakesh

Université Cadi Ayyad

Faculté des Sciences Semlalia

Boulevard du Prince Moulay Abdellah

B.P 2390 Marrakech

     Participants will be housed in hotels within walking distance of the University. We have retained the services of a local travel agency to take care of hotel accomodations. Please book soon, as the number of rooms available at these prices is limited.

Rooms are still available at Diwane Hotel where the reservation can be done directly, you must indicate that you are a PICOF'08 participant.

http://www.diwane-hotel.com  -     mailto:reservation@diwane-hotel.com

We have also reserved bungalows in a vacation club near the Faculty of Science Semlalia to 50  €.

Contact information (email preferred):

Mohamed EL ALAOUI TALIBI et  Hammadi BOUSLOUS

 E-mail : elalaoui@ucam.ac.ma ; bouslous@ucam.ac.ma

Inverse problems,

Control and shape optimization

MARRAKECH 16 – 18 APRIL 2008

Rates in Moroccan Dirhams ( MAD )

Hotels	Category & Address	Single room on Bed & Breakfast	Single room on half board	Price per person on double room & Bed & breakfast	Price per person on double room & half board
Diwane	4*, A  situé en plein centre de la ville,  Guéliz,		680 =  63 €		475 = 45 €
Ayoub	3*, en face de la Faculté de Médecine		530,00 = £ 53		366,00 = 36 €
Mont Guéliz	3*, Avenue Mohamed V, Guéliz	400,00 =  40 €	450,00 =  45 €	280,00 =  28 €	320,00 = 32 €

PS: Rooms are subject to availability at the time of booking

RETURN TRANSFERS

Prices are per person & per way on Moroccan dirhams MAD

MAD 100,00 ( Minimum of 02 persons is required )

EXCURSIONS FROM MARRAKECH

HISTORICAL CITY SIGHTSEEING

HALF DAY – MAD 190 per person (minimum of 06 persons is required)

14H30 – 18H30

Founded in 1062, Marrakech, the second oldest imperial city of Morocco, remains today the most amazing capital of the south and the best witness of the historical and cultural richness of the whole country. You will discover through its surname ‘the Pearl of the South‘, its historical monuments the Koutoubia, the Bahia Palace, and the Saadian Tombs.

OURIKA VALLEY WITH LUNCH INCLUDED ( 120 kms )

FULL DAY – MAD 370,00 per person ( minimum of 06 persons is required )

09h30 – 16h30

Situated at the foot of the famous skiing station Oukaimden, the luxuriant Ourika Valley slowly rises up to the first hills of the high Atlas where typical villages have nestled. It is a pure wonderful place the silence which of, is” disturbed” only by the birds singing and the streams murmur. Ourika is famous for local pottery and examples of mineral and crystals.

Crossing the Haouz Plain then the relief is climbing progressively in altitude. The road is passing by Berber villages hung up to the hills. You can find houses made in “pisè”, which is a special material composed of soil, lime, stones, and straw. Some of these housed are built in attitude at the top of the hill. Along the road, there is a river surrounded by olive trees, walnut trees, and bougainvillea trees. In this villages, women produce traditional handmade carpets that they can sell in a cooperative. Visit of there cooperative to see the marvelous handmade work of Berber women.

The Berber villages in Ourika Valley produce mainly, pieces of pottery (handmade), mineral and fossils. There are also some cultivations of Saffron (this is the most interesting and shoes the real way of life or Berberian villagers by taking tea in a Berber’s typical home. The landscapes are marvelous with the opportunity of a breath of fresh air.

ESSAOUIRA LUNCH NOT INCLUDED ( 340 kms )

FULL DAY – MAD 310,00 per person ( minimum of 6 persons is required )

07h30 – 19h00

Essaouira or the old Mogador is a city which reminds us of the times when Spain, Portugal and England struggled to keep control over their costs. It is a typical Portuguese harbor with fine examples of both Moorish and Portuguese art. It is famous for its finest wood-working handicrafts men, the silver souk, the art gallery, the harbor and the islands.

Depart from your hotel at 07h30 for Essaouira full day tour. After 2 and ½ hours drive and a tea stop “en route” (along the way), arrive at Essaouira. Visit of the magic and fascinating city. First visit of ramparts in clay and straw surrounding a part of the city, next the port of Essaouira. Afterwards, visit of The Squalla which is a naval fortification with cannons. In 1760s the Sultan Sidi Mohammed transformed Essaouira from a regional backwater established before by Portuguese into an open trading city. He entrusted the planning of the new city to the French architect, Theodore Cornut. He established all the plans of the port and the fortified quarter. All this architecture includes two artillery platforms (called squallah). Essaouira’s Port is one of the finest remaining fortified ports in the world.

This city is also known for the meeting of all the windsurfers of the world. After a short visit, lunch in a sea food restaurant near the port and after some time for relaxation, visit of the medina with Handicraft shops and marketry. Essaouira is a cosmopolitan city, where a lot of foreigners (European) as artists, painters, riad’s owner live there.

Essaouira is very interesting city with its inheritance of treasures both architectural and cultural and more than all of these perhaps, to the unique atmosphere which rules its graceful streets where fishermen, locals, tourists both Moroccan and European, merchants, craftsmen, musicians, and artists of all kinds come to share their work, their perspectives and their friendship as they have now for hundreds of years. Essaouira is acclaimed as one of the most enchanting city in the world. It deserves a short visit.

THE KIK PLATEAU BY LAND ROVER ( 200 kms )

WITH LUNCH INCLUDED

FULL DAY – MAD 720,00 ( minimum of 04 persons is required )

09h00 – 16h30

Departure by land rover through the Tizi-test road via the Moulay Brahim gorges. The Valley Asni is known with the rich diversity of picturesque landscapes. Up to 1350m, in the mountains through the track roads, arrival to the marvelous Kik plateau, rich in agriculture and cereals. Visit of the berber villages and down to the Lalla Takerkoust lake. Lunch under the berber tent and free time to appreciate the beauty of the outskirts.Back to Marrakech.

FANTASIA DINNER CHEZ ALI ( 15 kms)

MAD 450,00 per person ( minimum of 6 persons is required )

20h00 – 00h00

Come to see a grand folklore show, featuring tribesmen and women from different parts of the country. Enjoy a Moroccan dinner including local salads, couscous, lamb and other local specialities served under the Caids’ tent. The concluding highlight of the evening features a show of Arabian horses mounted bu acrobats and cavaliers who simultaneously fire their rifles and demonstrate traditional forms of military combat.