'THRILLER', THE BEST-SELLING RECORD ALBUM IN HISTORY

Today, The Grandma is relaxing at home and preparing a new Communication Skills course. She has been listening to some music and she has paid soecial attention to Michael Jackson's Thriller, the sixth solo studio album, that was released worldwide on a day like today in 1982 and became the best-selling record album in history.

Thriller is a single by American singer Michael Jackson. It was released as a single by Epic Records on January 23, 1984 as the seventh and final single from Jackson's sixth studio album of the same name.

Thriller is a mix of disco and funk. The song was produced by Quincy Jones and was written by Rod Temperton who wanted to write a theatrical song to suit Jackson's love of film. The music and lyrics evoke horror films, with sound effects such as thunder, footsteps and wind. It ends with a spoken-word sequence performed by horror actor Vincent Price.

Thriller received positive reviews and became the album's seventh top-ten single on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number four. It reached the top of the charts in Belgium, France and Spain as well as the top 10 in many other countries. 

Thriller is certified 7x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It is one of the best-selling singles of all time, having sold over 9 million copies worldwide.

Thriller won a Grammy Award. It is often cited as a pop culture phenomenon and a Halloween anthem. It appears on several of Jackson's greatest hits albums and has been covered by numerous artists. The Thriller music video was directed by John Landis and premiered on MTV on December 2, 1983.

More information: Rolling Stone

In the video, Jackson becomes a zombie and performs a dance routine with a horde of the undead. Many elements of the video have had a lasting impact on popular culture, such as the zombie dance and Jackson's red jacket, and it was the first music video inducted into the National Film Registry. It has been named the greatest video of all time by various publications and readers' polls.

Thriller was written by English songwriter Rod Temperton, who had previously written for Jackson's 1979 album Off The Wall. Temperton wanted to write something theatrical to suit Jackson's love of film. He improvised with bass and drum patterns until he developed the bassline that runs through the song, then wrote a chord progression that built to a climax. He recalled: I wanted it to build and build -a bit like stretching an elastic band throughout the tune to heighten suspense.

With the title settled, Temperton wrote lyrics within a couple of hours. He envisioned a spoken-word sequence for the end of the song, but did not know what form it should take. It was decided to have a famous voice from the horror genre perform it, and Jones' then-wife, Peggy Lipton, suggested her friend Vincent Price. Temperton composed the words for Price's part in a taxi on the way to the studio on the day of recording.

The music video for Thriller" references numerous horror films, and stars Jackson performing a dance routine with a horde of the undead. It was directed by horror director John Landis and written by Landis and Jackson. Jackson contacted Landis after seeing his film An American Werewolf in London. The pair conceived a 13-minute short film with a budget much larger than previous music videos.

Jackson's record company refused to finance it, believing Thriller had peaked, so a making-of documentary, Making Michael Jackson's Thriller, was produced to receive financing from television networks.

More information: Mental Floss

The song that's affected me the most profoundly
is probably Michael Jackson's 'Thriller,'
or, more specifically,
the couple seconds of instrumental break
before Vincent Price starts 'rapping.'

Patrick Stump

DIEGO ARMANDO MARADONA, 'THE BEST HAND OF GOD'

Today, The Grandma has returned to her normal life without families. Living with The Stones has been a wonderful and unforgettable experience and she has been very lucky of having the possibility of spending time together.

She has read a little about latest news and take a look at the ephemerides and she has paid attention to one of them especially: on a day like today FC Barcelona was founded by Swiss, Catalan, Irish and Englishmen becoming one of the most popular clubs around the world thanks to its history and its players.

One of the most important and known players who defended Barça's t-shirt was Diego Armando Maradona, the Argentine player who has passed away this week after a life full of lights and shadows. Maradona, considered like God by Argentinian and Neapolitan people, had a short staying in Barcelona but his football was so great that he will be always in our minds. Rest in peace, Diego.

More information: November, 1899 Foot-ball Club Barcelona was founded

Diego Armando Maradona (30 October 1960-25 November 2020) was an Argentine professional football player and manager.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, he was one of the two joint winners of the FIFA Player of the 20th Century award.

Maradona's vision, passing, ball control, and dribbling skills were combined with his small stature (1.65 metres), which gave him a low centre of gravity allowing him to manoeuvre better than most other football players; he would often dribble past multiple opposing players on a run.

His presence and leadership on the field had a great effect on his team's general performance, while he would often be singled out by the opposition.

In addition to his creative abilities, he possessed an eye for goal and was known to be a free kick specialist. A precocious talent, Maradona was given the nickname El Pibe de Oro, a name that stuck with him throughout his career. He was also a troubled character, who was banned in both 1991 and 1994 for abusing drugs.

An advanced playmaker who operated in the classic number 10 position, Maradona was the first player in football history to set the world record transfer fee twice: first when he transferred to Barcelona for a then-world record £5 million, and second when he transferred to Napoli for another record fee of £6.9 million.

He played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla, and Newell's Old Boys during his club career, and is most famous for his time at Napoli and Barcelona, where he won numerous accolades.

In his international career with Argentina, he earned 91 caps and scored 34 goals. Maradona played in four FIFA World Cups, including the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, where he captained Argentina and led them to victory over West Germany in the final, and won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player.

In the 1986 World Cup quarter final, he scored both goals in a 2–1 victory over England that entered football history for two different reasons. The first goal was an unpenalized handling foul known as the Hand of God, while the second goal followed a 60 m dribble past five England players, voted Goal of the Century by FIFA.com voters in 2002.

Maradona became the coach of Argentina's national football team in November 2008. He was in charge of the team at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa before leaving at the end of the tournament. He then coached Dubai-based club Al Wasl in the UAE Pro-League for the 2011–12 season.

In 2017, Maradona became the coach of Fujairah before leaving at the end of the season.

In May 2018, Maradona was announced as the new chairman of Belarusian club Dynamo Brest. He arrived in Brest and was presented by the club to start his duties in July.

From September 2018 to June 2019, Maradona was coach of Mexican club Dorados. He was the coach of Argentine Primera División club Gimnasia de La Plata from 2019 until his death in November 2020.

More information: The Conversation

 To see the ball, to run after it,
makes me the happiest man in the world.

Diego Armando Maradona

CAMBRIDGE EXAM, THE STONES MEET THE WATSONS

Today has been an exciting day. The Stones and The Watsons have meet with The Grandma in Hospitalet de Llobregat.

After travelling around the world in an unforgettable trip, The Stones have joined The Watsons and have gone together to do their A2 Cambridge Exam. It has been a wonderful experience.

The Grandma has said goodbye to another beloved family and she returns to her home hoping that she could find another one to continue travelling, learning and sharing unforgettable moments.

Thanks to The Stones and thanks to The Watsons for trusting in this project and for being part of it. Remember that you are eternal because myths and dreams never die.

More information: If I Can Dream

Cambridge Assessment English, or Cambridge English, is the biggest of three main exam boards forming Cambridge Assessment, a non-teaching department of the University of Cambridge.

The organisation contributed to the development of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), the standard used around the world to benchmark language skills. Its qualifications and tests are aligned with the levels of the CEFR.

Cambridge Assessment English develops and produces Cambridge English Qualifications, courses and tests and IELTS, of which Cambridge Assessment English is an owner.

The first Cambridge English exam was produced in 1913 by UCLES (University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate).

UCLES had been set up in 1858 to provide exams to students who were not members of a university.

The first UCLES examinations took place on 14 December 1858. The exams were designed to test for university selection and were taken by 370 candidates in British schools, churches and village halls. Candidates were required to satisfy the examiners in the analysis and parsing of a Shakespeare text; reading aloud; dictation; and composition on either the recently deceased Duke of Wellington; a well-known book; or a letter of application.

Female candidates were accepted by UCLES on a trial basis in 1864 and on a permanent basis from 1867. Cambridge University itself did not examine female students until 1882 and it was not until 1948 that women were allowed to graduate as full members of the university.

In the mid to late 19th century, UCLES exams were taken by candidates based overseas -in Trinidad (from 1863), South Africa (from 1869), Guyana and New Zealand (from 1874), Jamaica (from 1882) and Malaya (from 1891). Many of these candidates were children of officers of the British colonial service and exams were not yet designed for non-native speakers of English.

In 1913 UCLES created the first exam for non-native speakers of English -the Certificate of Proficiency in English. This may have been prompted by the development of English exams ‘for foreigners’ by other universities.

In 1913 the exam could be taken in Cambridge or London, for a fee of £3 (approximately £293 in 2012 prices). The exam lasted 12 hours and included:

-Translation from English into French or German: 2 hours

-Translation from French or German into English, and English Grammar: 2.5 hours

-English Essay: 2 hours

-English Literature: 3 hours

-English Phonetics: 1.5 hours

-Oral test: dictation (30 minutes); reading aloud and conversation (30 minutes)

The 1913 CPE exam was taken by just three candidates. The candidates were able to converse fluently, expressing themselves on the whole, with remarkable ease and accuracy. However, all three candidates failed the exam and none of them were awarded a CPE certificate.

From 1939 onwards, thousands of refugees from the Spanish Civil War and occupied Europe started arriving in the UK and began taking UCLES exams while stationed in the UK.

UCLES launched the Lower Certificate in English (LCE) to meet the demand for certification at a lower level than CPE. A Preliminary exam, at a lower level than LCE, was also offered from 1944 as a special test to meet the contingencies of war. These were the first steps towards developing language assessment at different levels.

UCLES tests were made available for prisoners of war in Britain and in Germany. In Britain 1,500 prisoners of war took the exams, almost 900 of them Italians. In Germany, the War Organisation of the British Red Cross and Order of St John of Jerusalem made arrangements for UCLES examinations to be offered at prisoner-of-war camps with many Indian prisoners of war, in particular, taking LCE or School Certificate exams.

Exams were also maintained clandestinely in continental European exam centres, which frequently meant unusual measures, including acts of determination and courage. However, UCLES was unable to fund and support the growing international network of English language examination centres around the world. 

Meanwhile, the British Council had a brief to disseminate British culture and educational links. In March 1941 a formal Joint Agreement was signed between the two organisations to collaborate on the distribution of UCLES exams around the world. This started a long-lasting relationship, which continues to this day.

More information: Cambridge Assessment English

We all have dreams.
But in order to make dreams come into reality,
it takes an awful lot of determination,
dedication, self-discipline, and effort.

Jesse Owens

THE STONES TASTE COUSCOUS & RFISSA IN TÉTOUAN

Today, The Stones & The Grandma have spent their last day in Tétouan. They have wanted to say goodbye to the city tasting its local cuisine.

Saida and Ivan Stone have invited the rest of the family to have lunch with a native family who has offered them couscous and rfissa, two of the most popular dishes of Tétouan.

Couscous is a Berber dish of small steamed balls of crushed durum wheat semolina that is traditionally served with a stew spooned on top. Pearl millet and sorghum, especially in the Sahel, and other cereals can be cooked in a similar way and the resulting dishes are also sometimes called couscous. Pearl or Israeli couscous, properly known as ptitim, is a type of pasta.

Couscous is a staple food throughout the Maghrebi cuisines of Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania, Morocco, and Libya. It is consumed in France where couscous was introduced by Maghreb immigrants -Algerians, Moroccans and Tunisians.

The word couscous is of Berber origin. The exact formation of the word presents some obscurities. The Berber root √K-S means, well formed, well rolled, rounded. Numerous names and pronunciations for couscous exist around the world.

Couscous is traditionally made from the hard part of the durum, the part of the grain that resisted the grinding of the millstone. The semolina is sprinkled with water and rolled with the hands to form small pellets, sprinkled with dry flour to keep them separate, and then sieved. Any pellets that are too small to be finished granules of couscous fall through the sieve and are again rolled and sprinkled with dry semolina and rolled into pellets.

More information: Clifford A Wright

This labor-intensive process continues until all the semolina has been formed into tiny granules of couscous. In the traditional method of preparing couscous, groups of women come together to make large batches over several days, which were then dried in the sun and used for several months. Handmade couscous may need to be re-hydrated as it is prepared; this is achieved by a process of moistening and steaming over stew until the couscous reaches the desired light and fluffy consistency.

In some regions couscous is made from farina or coarsely ground barley or pearl millet. In Brazil, the traditional couscous is made from cornmeal.

In modern times, couscous production is largely mechanized, and the product is sold in markets around the world. This couscous can be sauteed before it is cooked in water or another liquid.

Properly cooked couscous is light and fluffy, not gummy or gritty. Traditionally, North Africans use a food steamer called ataseksut in Berber, a كِسْكَاس kiskas in Arabic or a couscoussier in French. The base is a tall metal pot shaped rather like an oil jar in which the meat and vegetables are cooked as a stew. On top of the base, a steamer sits where the couscous is cooked, absorbing the flavours from the stew. The lid to the steamer has holes around its edge so steam can escape.

It is also possible to use a pot with a steamer insert. If the holes are too big, the steamer can be lined with damp cheesecloth. There is little archaeological evidence of early diets including couscous, possibly because the original couscoussier was probably made from organic materials that could not survive extended exposure to the elements.

Rfissa (Arabic: رفيسة‎) is a dish that is very popular in Morocco and is served during various traditional celebrations.

It is traditionally served with chicken and lentils and fenugreek seeds, msemmen, meloui or day-old bread, and the blend of ras el hanout.

It's traditional to serve rfissa to a woman who has just given birth, as fenugreek is supposed to be beneficial for women that are recovering from child birth.

More information: Journey Beyond Travel

Little by little
the camel goes into the couscous.

Moroccan Proverb

ENJOY THE ETHNOGRAPHIC INDIGENOUS ARTS MUSEUM

Today, The Stones and The Grandma have visited The Ethnographic Museum in Tétouan. They have discovered lots of things about the history of the city and its culture and they have spent an enjoyable day.

Tomorrow, they are going to spend their last hours in Tétouan and they want to say goodbye to this wonderful city and its nice inhabitants tasting the most popular dishes of the local cuisine.

The first Ethnographic Museum in Tétouan was founded in 1928 and was known as the Museum of Indigenous Arts or as the Muslim House. However the museum and its endless variety of exhibits was moved to the old military fortress of Sultan Moulay Abderrahman in 1948, which had been renovated to house the new and improved Ethnographic Museum in Tétouan.

The Ethnographic Museum is an attraction in Morocco that visitors should not miss out on as it exhibits and educates the public on the traditions, culture and artistic history of the community.

The Moroccan community, especially in Tétouan, can be seen as an extremely natural artistic community. Every object is important and their creative abilities are evident even in the most insignificant items. Baskets are decorated in bright and lively designs, bowls are painted in a variety of colors, pillows are embroidered and every design that can be seen on the traditional clothing has a specific message or meaning attached to it.

The Tetouan Ethnographical Museum has been divided into specific sections and has authentic recreations of a Tetouani kitchen, celebration rooms, bedrooms and living areas with each displaying their own fascinating collection. From antiquities and costumes to weapons and crafts, each features the detailed and handcrafted designs and decorations commonly seen. One of the most popular rooms in the Tétouan Ethnographical Museum is the Trousseau Room. Here visitors will be able to view the traditions related to one of Morocco’s most important celebrations –marriage. Linens, clothing, bridal trousseau, marriage chest and other symbolic items are on display in this room.

Sewing and embroidery is a significant part of the Moroccan tradition, as it is a form of individuality and identity. Visitors will be able to feast their eyes on spectacular linens, silks and materials. The intricate stitches and braiding techniques are also on display, as are different items of clothing made from wool, cotton and even camel hair.

The museum also has magnificent exhibits of jewelry, mosaics, headdresses, bridal bed covers and pillows, paintings, furniture, woodcrafts, weaving, traditional instruments, firearms and weapons. The kitchen also proves to be an exciting exhibit, as visitors are able to get a little taste of true Tetouan cuisine and even try the non-alcoholic drinks that are made traditionally on the premises.

Walking through this spectacular museum in Tétouan is a wonderful journey. It brings visitors and guests much closer to the culture of the city and gives them a glimpse into personal moments and celebrations in the community that most foreign visitors will never have the opportunity to experience normally.

More information: Infos Tourisme Maroc

A museum is a spiritual place.
People lower their voices when they get close to art.

Mario Botta

THE GREAT MOSQUE, A PLACE OF RESPECT AND PRAYERS

Today, The Stones have visited The Great Mosque of Tétouan, a spiritual place for Muslims. They have learnt more about Muslim religion and culture. It has been an amazing interesting visit and an unforgettable experience.

The Great Mosque of Tétouan, Morocco, is the largest mosque in the medina of Tetouan and one of the city's most beautiful historical monuments.

The Great Mosque was built in the early 19th century, near the city's old Jewish quarter, which was moved to its present location at the other end of the medina.

An entire 19th-century quarter bearing the mosque's name developed around the mosque. The mosque's minaret was constructed as the highest point in the medina, and is visible from long distances.

The decoration of the minaret is a good example of the continued development of Andalusian architecture in Morocco over a period of many centuries. Located on the Mediterranean Sea east of Tangier, Tetouan served for centuries as a major point of contact between Morocco and the Arab culture of Andalusia on the Iberian Peninsula.

After the Reconquista –the retaking of Andalusia by the Christians of Spain–Tetouan was rebuilt by Andalusian refugees expelled by the Spanish.

In 1997, the medina of Tetouan was inscribed on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites as an exceptionally-well preserved historic town, displaying all the features of the high Andalusian culture.

More information: Khan Academy

A mosque is a place of worship for Muslims. Any act of worship that follows the Islamic rules of prayer can be said to create a mosque, whether or not it takes place in a special building.

Informal and open-air places of worship are called musalla, while mosques used for communal prayer on Fridays are known as jāmiʿ.

Mosque buildings typically contain an ornamental niche (mihrab) set into the wall that indicates the direction of Mecca (qiblah), ablution facilities and minarets from which calls to prayer are issued. The pulpit (minbar), from which the Friday (jumu'ah) sermon (khutba) is delivered, was in earlier times characteristic of the central city mosque, but has since become common in smaller mosques.

Mosques typically have segregated spaces for men and women. This basic pattern of organization has assumed different forms depending on the region, period and denomination.

Mosques commonly serve as locations for prayer, Ramadan vigils, funeral services, Sufi ceremonies, marriage and business agreements, alms collection and distribution, as well as homeless shelters.

Historically, mosques were also important centers of elementary education and advanced training in religious sciences. In modern times, they have preserved their role as places of religious instruction and debate, but higher learning now generally takes place in specialised institutions.

Special importance is accorded to the Great Mosque of Mecca (centre of the hajj), the Prophet's Mosque in Medina (burial place of Muhammad) and Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem (believed to be the site of Muhammad's ascent to heaven).

In the past, many mosques in the Muslim world were built over burial places of Sufi saints and other venerated figures, which has turned them into popular pilgrimage destinations.

With the spread of Islam, mosques multiplied across the Islamic world. Sometimes churches and temples were converted into mosques, which influenced Islamic architectural styles.

More information: Journey Beyond Travel

There's just really interesting facets
of culture just swirling in Morocco.
They all have slightly different colours,
so it's just an inspiring place to be.

Mark Foster

THE WHITE DOVE, SYMBOL OF TÉTOUAN & THE BIG SOUK

Today, The Stones and The Grandma have started to visit Tétouan. They have discovered why the city is nicknamed the White Dove and they have visited the souk where they have spent their first shopping day.

Tétouan, known as the White Dove, is a city of Berber origin in Northern Morocco.

Its name means water springs in Berber, owing to the abundance of springs throughout the city. It is located at the foothills of Mount Dersa, which belongs to the Hauz mountain range, about 70 kilometres from Tangier and 40 from Ceuta.

Tétouan was of particular importance in the Islamic period, from the 8th century onwards, since it served as the main point of contact between Morocco and Andalusia. After the Reconquest, the town was rebuilt by Andalusian refugees who had been expelled by the Spanish. This is well illustrated by its art and architecture, which reveal clear Andalusian influence.

Although one of the smallest of the Moroccan medinas, Tétouan is unquestionably the most complete and it has been largely untouched by subsequent outside influences.

The Medina of Tétouan developed on the steep slopes of the Jebel Dersa. In the Islamic period it had particular importance from the 8th century onwards since it served as the point of connection between Morocco and Andalusia.

The Medina of Tétouan is surrounded by a historic wall of approximately 5 km in length and accessed by means of seven gates. The urban layout is characterised by main streets linking the gates to one another and giving access to open spaces, squares and smaller squares, and public buildings such as funduqs, mosques, zawayas and to the artisan and commercial districts, and on the other hand to smaller lanes leading to passages and semi-private residential areas.

A true synthesis of Moroccan and Andalusian cultures, the historic town of Tétouan presents urban and architectural features that have influenced the architectural and artistic development during the period of the Spanish Protectorate.

More information: Visit Morocco

The town of Tétouan is famous for its school of arts and crafts (Dar Sanaa) and its National Institute of Fine Arts which testify to an ancestral tradition and an opening onto the world today.

Is a maze of streets, alleys, squares, corners, doors and windows full of life which attract tourists. Feeling part of it all is easy -just take a stroll through its streets, drink tea at one of its cafes or talk to the locals. Let yourself be taken in by the medina and get lost in it.

There are three areas within the medina: Andalusian, Jewish and Berber.

It is almost completely surrounded by walls and its highest spot is dominated by its alcazaba, which once served as the Spanish barracks.

The heart of the Medina is Souk el Houts, dominated by the alcazaba of al-Mandari, and an interesting place where many women sell typical aprons from the city.

Another place you should visit is the Feddan Square, a beautiful square where you'll find the Royal Palace. Next to the palace are the zaouias of Sidi Abdellah el Hach and Sidi Ali Ben Aisa. This square has cafes, shops and provides access to the Jewish quarter.

The Jewish quarter is well worth a visit for its splendid houses and the ancient Queen Victoria Theatre.

A bazaar or souk, is a permanently enclosed marketplace or street where goods and services are exchanged or sold.

The term bazaar originates from the Persian word bāzār. The term bazaar is sometimes also used to refer to the network of merchants, bankers and craftsmen who work in that area. Although the word bazaar is of Persian origin, its use has spread and now has been accepted into the vernacular in countries around the world.

The term souk is used in Western Asian, North African and some Horn African cities.

More information: O Hay Away

Morocco is such a beautiful place.
It's incredibly beautiful.
And also it is captivating place because for a writer,
you feel that you make impact.
I mean, when I write something in the press,
the day after in the fish market,
people will be discussing it.

Fatema Mernissi

TITTAWIN & BERBERS, ORIGINS OF MEDINA OF TÉTOUAN

Today, The Stones have arrived to Tétouan in Morocco. it has been a long flight from Tierra del Fuego and the family is a little exhausted. For this reason, they have decided to stay at their hotel where Saida Stone has been explaining to the rest of the family some interesting things about Tétouan and its origins.

Tétouan, nicknamed the White Dove, is a city located in northern Morocco. 

It lies along the Martil Valley and is one of the two major ports of Morocco on the Mediterranean Sea, a few miles south of the Strait of Gibraltar, and about 60 km of Tangier.

In the 2014 Moroccan census, the city recorded a population of 380,787 inhabitants. It is part of the administrative division Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima.

The city has witnessed many development cycles spanning over more than 2,000 years. The first settlements, discovered a few miles outside of the modern city limits, belonged to Mauretanian Berbers and date back to the 3rd century BC. A century later, Phoenicians traded there and after them the site -known now as the ancient town of Tamuda- became a Roman colony under Emperor Augustus.

In the late 13th century, the Berber Marinids started by building a casbah and mosque in what is now the old city. Soon after in 1305, the scale of the settlement was expanded by sultan Abu Thabit Amir, who fortified the place. Around the early 15th century, the Castilians destroyed the settlement in retaliation for piracy.

The modern history of the city starts around the late 15th century. It was re-built and fortified by Ali al-Mandri, who emigrated from the Nasrid city of Granada in the decade before it fell in the hands of the Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile as the War of Granada was completed in 1492.

Thousands of Muslims and Jews from Andalusia settled in the north of Morocco and on the ruins of the city of Tétouan.

The city went through a prosperous period of reconstruction and growth in various fields and became a center for the reception of Andalusian civilization.

It is often linked to Granada and is labelled Granada's daughter; some families still keep keys belonging to their old homes in Granada. It is also nicknamed Little Jerusalem by Sephardi Jews.

The vast majority of the population are Muslims and small Christian and Jewish communities also exist, although their presence has declined sharply in recent decades.

More information: Go Tétouan

In 1913, Tétouan became the capital of the Spanish protectorate of Morocco, which was governed by the Jalifa, Moroccan prince serving as Viceroy for the Sultan, and the Spanish Alto Comisario accredited to him. It remained the capital until 1956, when Morocco regained its full independence.

Tétouan is a renowned multicultural center. The medina of Tétouan is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997. It has also been part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the area of Crafts and Folk Art since 2017.

The Berber name means literally the eyes and figuratively the water springs. Before its foundation in the late 13th century, small fortifications existed here with the name Tittawin. The current name is first mentioned in 9th-century Arabic chronicles, after the death of Idris II. The official name of the Marinid city was Afrag, royal tent in Berber. Unofficial documents kept referring to it as Tétouan.

According to Leo Africanus, the name comes after the Goths bestowed the government of the town upon a woman with one eye and that the inhabitants called it Tetteguin, meaning eye in their language.

The city is situated about 60 km east of the city of Tangier and 40 km south of the Strait of Gibraltar. To the south and west of the city, there are mountains. Tétouan is situated in the middle of a belt of orchards that grow oranges, almonds, pomegranates, and cypress trees. The Rif Mountains are nearby, as the city is located in the Martil Valley.

It is picturesquely situated on the northern slope of a fertile valley down which flows the Martil river, with the harbour of Tétouan, Martil, at its mouth. Behind rise rugged masses of rock, the southern wall of the Anjera country, once practically closed to Europeans; across the valley are the hills which form the northern limit of the still more impenetrable Rif.

More information: Visit Morocco

I was born in Morocco and lived there until I was 13;
I'm really proud of my heritage.
 

French Montana

SHANIA TWAIN & THE STONES IN LAS VEGAS, 'LET'S GO!'

Last day in Las Vegas and last surprise for The Stones and The Grandma. 

Today, They have received another unforgettable invitation for another great show.

Shania Twain has sung for them in a private session at the Zappos Theater her last show Let's go!.

Eilleen Shania Twain (born Eilleen Regina Edwards; August 28, 1965) is a Canadian singer and songwriter.

She has sold over 100 million records, making her the best-selling female artist in country music history and among the best-selling music artists of all time. Her success garnered her several honorific titles including the Queen of Country Pop. While Billboard named her as the leader of the '90s country-pop crossover stars.

Twain wrote her first songs at the age of 10, Is Love a Rose and Just Like the Storybooks, which were rhyming fairy tales. She states that the art of creating, of actually writing songs, was very different from performing them and became progressively important.

Raised in Timmins, Ontario, Twain pursued singing and songwriting from a young age before signing with Mercury Nashville Records in the early 1990s.

Shania currently holds a status card and is on the official band membership list of the Temagami First Nation. In 1991, the singer was offered a recording contract in Nashville and applied for immigration status into the United States. At that time, by virtue of her stepfather Jerry Twain being a full-blooded Ojibwe and the rights guaranteed to Native Americans in the Jay Treaty (1795), Shania became legally registered as having 50 percent Native American blood.

Her self-titled debut studio album was a commercial failure upon release in 1993.

More information: Shania Twain Official Site

After collaborating with producer and later husband Robert John "Mutt" Lange, Twain rose to fame with her second studio album, The Woman in Me (1995), which brought her widespread success. It sold over 20 million copies worldwide, spawned eight singles, including Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?, Any Man of Mine, (If You're Not in It for Love) I'm Outta Here! and You Win My Love, and earned her a Grammy Award.

Her third studio album, Come On Over (1997), became the best-selling studio album by a female act in any genre and the best-selling country album of all time, selling over 40 million copies worldwide. Come On Over produced twelve singles, including Don't Be Stupid (You Know I Love You), You're Still the One, From This Moment On, That Don't Impress Me Much, Man! I Feel Like a Woman! and You've Got a Way, and earned Twain four Grammy Awards.

Her fourth studio album, Up! (2002), spawned eight singles, including I'm Gonna Getcha Good!, the title track, international hit Ka-Ching! and Forever and for Always, and has sold over 20 million copies worldwide, also being certified Diamond in the United States.

In 2004, after releasing her Greatest Hits album, which produced three new singles including Party for Two, Twain entered a hiatus, revealing years later that diagnoses with Lyme disease and dysphonia led to a severely weakened singing voice. She chronicled her vocal rehabilitation on the OWN miniseries Why Not? with Shania Twain, released her first single in seven years in 2012, Today Is Your Day, and published an autobiography, From This Moment On.

More information: Shania Twain-Instagram

Twain returned to performing the following year with an exclusive concert residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Shania: Still the One, which ran until 2014.

In 2015, she launched the North American Rock This Country Tour, which was billed as her farewell tour. Twain released her first studio album in 15 years in 2017, Now, and embarked on the Now Tour in 2018.

In June 2019, Twain announced her second Las Vegas residency, Let's Go!, which opened on December 6, 2019, and will run for two years.

Twain has received five Grammy Awards, 27 BMI Songwriter Awards, stars on Canada's Walk of Fame and the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and an induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

According to the RIAA she is the only female artist in history to have three (consecutive) albums certified Diamond by the RIAA and is the sixth best-selling female artist in the United States. Altogether, Twain is ranked as the 10th best-selling artist of the Nielsen SoundScan era. Billboard listed Twain as the 13th Greatest Music Video Female Solo Artist of all time.

More information: Caesars

Without a doubt,
the best way to get to know me is through my music.

Shania Twain