Sunday, April 26, 2009

Morocco: Adventures through North Africa

Morocco is really hard to compare to any place I've ever been. It's a Muslim and African country, so although I tried to make comparisons with the other Muslim country I'd been to (Dubai in the UAE), it was too distinct to really make any concrete ties between the nations. The country is en route to developing itself (ie building escalators in some of its nicest train stations), and yet has a ton of pollution both in the air and generally on the ground, like near the ocean. Also, the stray cats trying to jump into your lap when eating don't help feed a "clean" signal throughout the city. 

I stayed in Casablanca but traveled to Rabat for the day on Saturday where we spent a lot of time in the Souk (open marketplace) which was unreal...there were moments when I stood in shops of fine leather and moments where fish blood pooled around my feet from butchers chopping near me and guts flying all around. All around, the Dirham is extremely cheap, so I got some great gifts and an exquisite leather bag for less than 10 euro. Taxis nearly kill you and 100 pedestrians every moment, but you live through them and its their job to drive agressively. I wouldn't say it was one of my favorite trips, but it opened my eyes a lot to experience the distinct culture of Morocco. 

This is a mom playing with her baby boy at a fountain in the center of Rabat (the capitol).


Inside the souks, I got my leather bag right near here...this was a big rug district of the market.

Our last night in Morocco we ate at this gourmet Casablancan restaurant...it was great (and still cheap)! 1 dirham=8.5 dollars or 1 dirham=11.6 euro.

Inside the same restaurant. The tilework all throughout the country can take your breath away.


Inside the Casbah...I'm still not entirely sure what a Casbah is, but it's an area that houses over 3,000 people even today and is guarded by a castle like wall right near the ocean. 

On the edge of the Casbah near the ocean! 


All the Casbah's walls have the blue edge around them, and have beautiful ornate doors, along with potted flowers bordering the walkways. 


Some typical Moorish doors....

Near the entrance to the market. They sell everything from lemons to turtles to doorknobs. 

This is the second biggest mosque in the world. I took this picture from inside the archway of one of the bordering walls...as you can see, made in the typical Arab inspired architecture. 

A friend, Susanna, and I on the beach part near the Mosque...quite the hangout in Casablanca. 

Near one of the fountains. I hate to be repetitive but check out this tile work!!!! Amazing!!!! 


Border of the Mosque, loved these arcs tremendously....it's cool to see these arcs in Spain and realize the ancient Muslim influence that dates back from this same time. 


View of the Mosque from a little afar, it's located right on the beach as you can see! 

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