Women buying doughnuts
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
Meknes, Volubilis and departure
Running to catch the train to Fez, so this one will be brief.
On Monday I checked into the hotel, after saying goodbye to Aicha, and spent the afternoon in the valley where Volubilis, one of the southern most Roman cities existed. It's only 35 minutes away with private taxi. The major industry in Volubilis (aka Walili), as seen in the archaelogical ruins, was olive oil. The oil before the Oil, in other words.
Today, I walked all over the Medina, and bought my first item, a Berber rug, absolutely gorgeous. Had lunch with Pierre, a fellow traveller, who was with me in a local Madrassa, then tea with Aicha and family, before heading to the train station.
Will update the Blog from Fez. All is good. I am staying at the Ibis hotel for 2 nights and can be reached there.
On Monday I checked into the hotel, after saying goodbye to Aicha, and spent the afternoon in the valley where Volubilis, one of the southern most Roman cities existed. It's only 35 minutes away with private taxi. The major industry in Volubilis (aka Walili), as seen in the archaelogical ruins, was olive oil. The oil before the Oil, in other words.
Today, I walked all over the Medina, and bought my first item, a Berber rug, absolutely gorgeous. Had lunch with Pierre, a fellow traveller, who was with me in a local Madrassa, then tea with Aicha and family, before heading to the train station.
Will update the Blog from Fez. All is good. I am staying at the Ibis hotel for 2 nights and can be reached there.
Monday, November 29, 2004
Meknes
Sunday night decided to go into the Middle Atlas region because the heavy pollution was beginning to bother me. Took the train to Meknes which has a Medina listed as world heritage (see previous blog).
The train ride was 3 and a half hours which meant plenty of time to talk to people. One passenger was a businessman from Fes, another was a Moroccan lady who lives in Belgium. Of course I got invited to meet her family, and I accepted knowing it is a great honour to be invited to tea. It became a delightful visit with lunch, an escorted walk to the old Medina, dinner and a sleep over!
Our hostess, Aicha, is a nurse, in her early fifties, who has 2 grown sons in Europe, one in Belgium and the other in France. She lives separated from her husband, and has adopted a daughter, Hiba, who is 6 years old.
Our lunch and dinner were absolutely fantastic, the dinner was steamed vermicelli with sugar, ground cinnamon and almonds.
The weather is cooler in this region. And the air is cleaner. Fleece is a useful second layer and I haven't needed to put on my trench yet.
Plans are to go to the Roman ruins of Volubilis today, finish the old city, and then tea with Aicha tomorrow before going to Fes.
The train ride was 3 and a half hours which meant plenty of time to talk to people. One passenger was a businessman from Fes, another was a Moroccan lady who lives in Belgium. Of course I got invited to meet her family, and I accepted knowing it is a great honour to be invited to tea. It became a delightful visit with lunch, an escorted walk to the old Medina, dinner and a sleep over!
Our hostess, Aicha, is a nurse, in her early fifties, who has 2 grown sons in Europe, one in Belgium and the other in France. She lives separated from her husband, and has adopted a daughter, Hiba, who is 6 years old.
Our lunch and dinner were absolutely fantastic, the dinner was steamed vermicelli with sugar, ground cinnamon and almonds.
The weather is cooler in this region. And the air is cleaner. Fleece is a useful second layer and I haven't needed to put on my trench yet.
Plans are to go to the Roman ruins of Volubilis today, finish the old city, and then tea with Aicha tomorrow before going to Fes.
Saturday, November 27, 2004
Casa continued
Lots of cellphones in Casablanca. Red taxis too, each town having its own colour coded taxis. The sound and car pollution is pretty bad.
Continued with my visit to the old Medina, towards the food stalls and clothes; have a few nice pix.
The older and some of the younger women wear the traditional jellaba; must say it looks very comfortable. It's quite warm for me, but most people are covered up. Young men and women walk hand in hand or arms interlocked.
People are mostly nice, some older men are a pest: ignoring them is a good way to avoid any issues.
Visited the Place des Nations-Unies, Mahomet V, large crossroads with beautiful gardens around. Saw two exhibits: the graphics of Mehdi Quotbi in a local bank's gallery, then the fibre arts of Soumiya Jalal Mikou, at the Villa des Arts. It got dark around 5pm, so I didn't finish the Art Deco house hunting.
After dark the city was bustleting with people rushing home -- quite a traffic scene -- others getting haircuts, shopping. This is why I like to travel by myself; to witness humanity, talk to people and so forth.
I seeked refuge in a nice Salon de The (I only go in if I see women inside), had my first mint tea -- delicious. Listened to a few Italian and French pop songs from the 70s :-)
Feeling quite refreshed I started walking around but wasted about an hour looking for a restaurant recommended by the guidebook but it was closed. I was very tired by then, so I proceeded to eat at a hole in the wall, which was a tenth of the cost of my lunch!!!
After dinner watched many French dubbed episodes of Alias and when jet lag woke me up -- a few torch songs by an Egyptian singer followed by al-Koran el-Kerim closing signing off the station.
This was my first day in Morocco.
Continued with my visit to the old Medina, towards the food stalls and clothes; have a few nice pix.
The older and some of the younger women wear the traditional jellaba; must say it looks very comfortable. It's quite warm for me, but most people are covered up. Young men and women walk hand in hand or arms interlocked.
People are mostly nice, some older men are a pest: ignoring them is a good way to avoid any issues.
Visited the Place des Nations-Unies, Mahomet V, large crossroads with beautiful gardens around. Saw two exhibits: the graphics of Mehdi Quotbi in a local bank's gallery, then the fibre arts of Soumiya Jalal Mikou, at the Villa des Arts. It got dark around 5pm, so I didn't finish the Art Deco house hunting.
After dark the city was bustleting with people rushing home -- quite a traffic scene -- others getting haircuts, shopping. This is why I like to travel by myself; to witness humanity, talk to people and so forth.
I seeked refuge in a nice Salon de The (I only go in if I see women inside), had my first mint tea -- delicious. Listened to a few Italian and French pop songs from the 70s :-)
Feeling quite refreshed I started walking around but wasted about an hour looking for a restaurant recommended by the guidebook but it was closed. I was very tired by then, so I proceeded to eat at a hole in the wall, which was a tenth of the cost of my lunch!!!
After dinner watched many French dubbed episodes of Alias and when jet lag woke me up -- a few torch songs by an Egyptian singer followed by al-Koran el-Kerim closing signing off the station.
This was my first day in Morocco.
Friday, November 26, 2004
Casa 1st day
Arrived safe and sound. The flight with Royal Air Maroc was quite pleasant especially because it was on time and only a quarter of the 767 was full.
We landed at dawn; I have a beautiful shot of the sun rising and a city's lights in the bottom left of the picture.
Had a short nap in the morning, then went to the Corniche for my first meal in a luxurious restaurant: what a blast eating while checking the waves on the Atlantic Coast. I had a harissa soup, a delicious tagine cooked with dates, a farina type bread served with olives. A delegation from Senegal was sitting nearby having an animated conversation about politics.
The restaurant was near the new Hassan II mosque which is a huge complex.
Proceeded to visit the old Madina, got a telephone card to call home and found an internet store to update the Blog. Cheerio!
We landed at dawn; I have a beautiful shot of the sun rising and a city's lights in the bottom left of the picture.
Had a short nap in the morning, then went to the Corniche for my first meal in a luxurious restaurant: what a blast eating while checking the waves on the Atlantic Coast. I had a harissa soup, a delicious tagine cooked with dates, a farina type bread served with olives. A delegation from Senegal was sitting nearby having an animated conversation about politics.
The restaurant was near the new Hassan II mosque which is a huge complex.
Proceeded to visit the old Madina, got a telephone card to call home and found an internet store to update the Blog. Cheerio!
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
World Heritage Sites in Morocco
In case any of you are planning to visit Morocco, here's the list of World Heritage Sites, as per UNESCO, and in parenthesis the year they were nominated as WH site.
Medina of Fez (1981)
Medina of Marrakesh (1985)
Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou (1987)
Historic City of Meknes (1996 )
Archaeological Site of Volubilis (1997) [roman]
Medina of Tétouan (formerly known as Titawin) (1997)
Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador) (2001)
Portuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida) (2004)
Medina of Fez (1981)
Medina of Marrakesh (1985)
Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou (1987)
Historic City of Meknes (1996 )
Archaeological Site of Volubilis (1997) [roman]
Medina of Tétouan (formerly known as Titawin) (1997)
Medina of Essaouira (formerly Mogador) (2001)
Portuguese City of Mazagan (El Jadida) (2004)
Monday, November 22, 2004
All packed
I have packed... The weather report is 21C/70F high in Casablanca for the rest of the week :-)
Sunshine here I come.
Sunshine here I come.
Thursday, November 18, 2004
Seven days to Go!!!
Second Malaria pill down the hatch, the countdown has begun.
First and foremost: a stop at the pharmacy to get the travel basics. Anti-bacterial hand cleaners, Immodium AD, cold medicine and kleenex, and band aids.
First and foremost: a stop at the pharmacy to get the travel basics. Anti-bacterial hand cleaners, Immodium AD, cold medicine and kleenex, and band aids.
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
Malaria Pills
Yuch, yuch, yuch. The first one was pretty sour tasting; 7 more to do, that's until December 30th!
Friday, November 12, 2004
1st days in Casablanca
I land in Casablanca on November 26th, and will be staying at the
Ibis Moussafir Casablanca
tel :(+212)22/401984
Boulevard Bahmad
Place de la Gare Casa - Voyageur
20000 CASABLANCA
MOROCCO
Ibis Moussafir Casablanca
tel :(+212)22/401984
Boulevard Bahmad
Place de la Gare Casa - Voyageur
20000 CASABLANCA
MOROCCO
Travel to Morocco
I booked the flight in August, and I am two weeks away from the trip. I will be there 2 weeks, including my 43rd birthday. --
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