November 02, 2014 Sunday
Submitted by Caroline
macmoore4@gmail.com

and  Meli
sevalmehlika@gmail.com
 

MOROCCO TOUR NOVEMBER 2014
Group Journal
RABAT

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Day 04 Fes
Melitour Home Page
Morocco Tour Itinerary 
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Driving to Rabat A stork nest shaped
around the minaret

Kasbah

Looking at Sale from Rabat

The break water trying to tame the sea

Walking down to the beach
to get to our restaurant

The minute we arrived at the hotel, everyone
got busy with their phones and I- pads

At the beautiful setting of our hotel,
we all felt like queens.

Even the bathrooms were to die for

Click here for
Day 04 Fes
Melitour Home Page
Morocco Tour Itinerary 
Photo Gallery  

 This was an early morning, with breakfast at 7 and departure at 7:30. Meli had a plan for the day which required exquisite timing in order to capture some special photos in just the right light. We made our way out of Casablanca in our comfortable van, heading north aside the Atlantic Ocean through groves of mimosa and jujube trees.

While we were driving through the industrial neighborhoods of Casablanca, we started getting our first language lessons. Most of them we would forget, but we will definitely use SHOOKRANN - Thank you.
Good Morning is not just one work in Morrocan: The first person says "may your day be good to doo some nice deeds". The second person replies," May your day have holy light poured into it". The first person again wishes a good day by saying," May your day be full of Flowers".

- Sabah el Heer
- Sabah el Nour
- Sabah el Warda

The road to Rabat  along the Atlantic Ocean was quiet at first, then we started seeing families doing their walking, jogging, walking. A nice coffee break at La Rode des Sable d'Or and a short walk to the beach helped us stretch our legs. Our driver Abdul dropped his car keys in the toilette. We had to wait for the rescue operation  to be completed. It was hard to believe that the winter was coming soon. The flowers were glowing with the brightest colors.

Our first main stop was the town of Rabat, which is the administrative Capitol of Morocco. We walked and shopped in the souk, where yours truly succumbed to a beautiful indigo Kilim carpet. As we came to the end of the souk, we crossed the street to an ancient kasbah, a walled city-within-a-city built in the 12th century by Muslim refugees from Spain.

The kasbah has beautiful views of the sea from its high perch.

 
From there, we continued along the ocean, where surfers and bathers were enjoying themselves, to a wonderful seafood restaurant with terrace seating and enjoyed a lovely lunch of fresh fish and composed vegetable salad.  We listened to the sound of the surfs breaking on to the rocky shore and the huge boulders of the breakwater. The fish had its heads on and Karen thought the eyes of the fish were gazing her. Carole had to take the heads off and offer the rest of the golden bodies of the fried fish to Karen.

We also made a stop at the mausoleum of Mohammed V, then visited the unfinished mosque of Sultan Yacoub el- Mansour. He died before it could be finished and then an earthquake in 1755 left only shattered pillars. 

The Moroccans were visiting the tomb as if it were the basilica of a saint.

We noticed another Moroccan art; henna drawing. The young lady whose feet were beautifully decorated posed for us so we could take her picture.

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We climbed aboard our van and continued eastward toward our final destination of Meknes. Along the way Meli had the bus stop so we could see cork trees recently harvested, with their bright red trunks. 

The day was beginning to turn to dusk as we climbed a hill into  small town whose houses were painted mostly shades of red. Meli had planned the stop, the lighting, and the exact location to stand in order to take pictures of the lovely hillside village in the waning daylight. 

After a quick coffee to perk us up, we continued on, arriving in Meknes around 6 and checking in to the most delightful hotel many of us had ever seen. It is an old fabulous home that has been turned into a boutique hotel ( RIAD) with rooms surrounding an amazing courtyard with fountain, lounging sofas, tables and chairs. Every space, including our rooms, is decorated with period tile, carpet, carved wood, and other furnishings. Each room is unique and beautiful. We are happy campers. 

Riad Didi, Meknes