Rabat, Morocco

I normally post a blog on Fridays and a quote on Tuesdays, but I am switching things up this week due to some special visitors. Our daughter and son-in-law are arriving tomorrow from the states, and we will be busy showing them around Normandie. It has been one year since we’ve been together, and we are all very excited about spending time together in France. So today I will continue sharing our Moroccan adventure.

Rabat, the capital of Morocco, a 90 minute drive from Casablanca, is a modern city and home to approximately 550,000 residents. The city has many parks, gardens, boulevards, monuments, beautiful homes, and has the UNESCO distinction of being a modern and historic city.

The city is the home of the royal family, with their residence being the Royal Palace of Rabat. The current palace was built in 1864 on the ruins of the original palace. The area is quite large and contains gardens, a mosque, and is a gathering place for public assemblies.

Hassan Tower is another interesting place to visit. Construction began in the 12th century with the intention of being the largest mosque in the world; however, it was never completed. Commissioned by Yaqub al-Mansur, construction on the partially completed sandstone minaret and 348 columns came to an end when he died in 1199.

Kasbah of the Udayas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was featured on the silver screen when Tom Cruise, being chased by the bad guys, drove a BMW down the stairs in a Mission Impossible movie.

Its location on the mouth of the River Bou Regreg and the Atlantic coast, made it ideal for defending the city from pirates and other invaders. Ironically, it was once a shelter for pirates. Built in the 12th century and refurbished multiple times over the years, today it houses trendy cafes and shops. You will find lovely views of Bou Regreg Estuary here with the Atlantic in the distance.

Here you will also find Jardin des Oudayas, an exquisite and beautiful garden filled with fruit trees, flowers, and lots of families and couples strolling and enjoying this inviting oasis in the city.

My Moroccan experience is somewhat limited (last week I wrote about our adventure in Agadir, you can find that post here), but what I saw was sadly overshadowed by extreme poverty and numerous stray animals. This woman was rummaging through garbage in a vacant lot. There were also some stray dogs and puppies in the same location.

I saw this donkey standing alone on a sidewalk near some nicer homes. Its ribs clearly visible, with absolutely no one around. I can only imagine that it was a stray.

These images (and more) made me think of this Anthony Bourdain quote from his book, Around the World on an Empty Stomach:

Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.

Tricia