SNOW IN AFRICA?

Why visit Morocco, people ask me. I like exotic destinations and having been to S Africa, why not Morocco in N Africa? I was more than pleased as Morocco is indeed an amazing place. From the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean to the sand dunes of the Sahara Desert and the snow in the Atlas Mts, one is never bored. What's more, there is a rich medieval history coupled with a people who not only favour tourism but love their King dearly. Although, it is a Constitutional Monarchy, it's at the same time a republic with democratic elections held to elect a President and a Parliament with representation from the various Chambers of Commerce. The pic shows the place to get flowers in Casablanca, the country's economic capital.    

Notre Dame de Lourdes Church of Casablanca. Architecture is profoundly French, a legacy of past colonization.

A stained glass panel in the church.

I will call this the seafood strip of Casablanca. There are many seafood restaurants and a couple of American fast food joints here. Food served is relatively inexpensive, delicious and fresh.

The minaret of the Sultan Hassan II Mosque reaches up to about 200 m. Unlike the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, which has six minarets, this famous mosque (and others in Morocco) has only one minaret.

The Mohamed V Mausoleum dedicated to the father of the present sultan, Sultan Mohamed VI. Every morning, an Imam will chant prayers for those who are interred there.

The dome of the mausoleum.

Mohamed V Square in Casablanca. Tourists and locals will congregate here to have some fun and watch street performers like the "Waterman".

SNOW IN AFRICA? (Cont'd)

My Macik with a Royal Horse Guard outside the mausoleum.

The famous and impressive Sultan Hassan II Mosque is built entirely on land reclaimed from the sea.

Courtyard of the mosque.

Interior of mosque with beautiful chandeliers. Have a feel for its vastness.

There we were outside the Royal Palace wall in Rabat.

SNOW IN AFRICA? (Cont'd)

The Oudaya Kasbah of Rabat, the White Imperial City and the administrative capital of the country. I'd imagine this to be hard to take during battles in medieval times. A kasbah is a town or city that is fortified and walled in. My earlier concept of a kasbah was a discotheque cos' of the then "Kasbah" disco in the Mandarin Hotel of the 70's.  

Lunched here with nice seafood and sea breeze.

Shot of the pleasant surroundings of the restaurant.

Restaurant within the kasbah.

Streets here are fairly wide compared to those of other medinas we visited. They are always clean.

Hotels side by side -which one can offer the better rate?

Moroccan architecture with elaborate wood carvings and lovely and lively mosaics which we see lots more of later..

Rabat Royal Palace gates with beautiful carvings. Altogether, there are 17 palaces in Morocco, with two exclusively for Saudi Royalty and another for the Moroccan princes

Entrance to the kasbah.

Another view of the kasbah.

Having a refreshing mint tea and a semolina cake.

Blue is a favourite Moroccan colour. This colour is found on walls, doors, etc.

SNOW IN AFRICA? (Cont'd)

The Royal Stables of Mouly Ismail, now preserved as a museum of sorts, in Meknes, the Ismalian capital. Imagine the number of horses kept here then.

This used to be the granary and even though it's hot outside, it's virtually cool here. 

The medina (medieval town or city usually walled) of Meknes is surrounded by a 40-km long triple wall. This preserves the most beautiful gate of Morocco, shown here, called the Bab Al Mansour.

And then, it's time for lunch at a typical Moroccan restaurant serving delicious fare. Shown is the starter made up of boiled & healthy veggies like broccoli, beetroot and carrots.

This is the main course served in tagine or tajine. The food is cooked over a charcoal fire in a plate-like container covered with a conical device which when lifted reveals couscous, strips of carrot, zukini and other veggies covering pieces of chicken or beef. Kebabs are also popular there.

 

When Morocco was under the Romans, they built their HQ here called Volubilis. This arch entrance may well have inspired Moroccan architecture which features the arch prominently.

The Romans also built the first city in Morocco in its vicinity. The city is shaped like a dromedary with a single hump.

Columns and other stones that held majestic buildings before.

The Romans could also have influenced Moroccan ceramics? Pictures in ceramic which tell Roman stories.

The original 'Arc de Triomphe' in Volubilis which inspired the one in Paris?

SNOW IN AFRICA? (Cont'd)

No prize for guessing what institution was housed here in Volubilis. Just like the Japanese, Indians and many Europeans, the Romans also idolised this organ. No offence meant, ladies.

SNOW IN AFRICA? (Cont'd)

The ceramics factory owner's cat enjoys being stroked and pampered by Adriana.

In a sense, ceramics (pottery) in Morocco is comparable to that made in Turkey.

Have a feel for the biggest medina in the World found in Fes. It dates back to the 9th Century and is home to the World's oldest university.It has a labyrinth of hundreds of narrow and maze-like streets through which flow wheel-barrows of goods, donkey carts, bicycles, m-cycles and people with probing hands. One can easily get lost in there and not find a way out for days.

He and his mates provide much needed transportation of goods in the medina. At other times, he may also be his owner's 'wife'. What a life!

Hwee Lin, centre, is vying for attention? Hamdi, our guide, is dressed in his best jalabah, topped with a fez, which has been banned in Turkey by Ataturk, founder of modern Turkey

A medina shoe-shop. The owner resides within.

Judging by the ornate door carvings and the beautiful wall ceramics, the owner of this house must be a rich man. Doors and windows are normally shut to keep out prying eyes and unsolicited visitors.

Peek-a-boo into a medina shop. Women will be attracted here?

As one navigates in the medina streets, traffic from the front and the back need watching out for. When "attention, attention" sounding French is heard, it's best to step aside unless one doesn't mind being trodden on by a heavily-laden donkey.

A tannery in the medina. Workers here take on the same jobs from one generation to the next so no worries about labour relations and rights?

Leather goods produced at the tannery. The quality is good and the pricing is reasonable but one gets a better buy if skilled in the intricacies of bargaining. Some of the produce here goes overseas for branding by the better known international brands.

SNOW IN AFRICA? (Cont'd)

Medieval Morocco boasts of such intricate wood carvings which can be cedarwood or ebony in medina buildings. Elaborate ceramics adorn the walls.

An Islamic university (University al-Karaouine, founded in 859 AD) within the medina of Fes. It is the oldest university in the World.

A market place (souk) within the medina.

This pic highlights a Jewish living quarter, the distinguishing characteristic being the balcony. By now, most of such houses are owned by Moroccans.

An exceptionally beautiful gate in blue mosaic which is the colour of Fes. The left minaret within is that of a mosque while that on the right belongs to a university.

The iconic limestone lion of Irfane in the Atlas Mountains.

Irfane could easily be mistaken for a town in Europe. People flock here to ski the slopes of the Atlas Mountains during winter.

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Caucasians such as these two flock here from the end of winter and beginning of spring from Europe (like Spain) to 'worship' the sun, sea and sand.