We slept fairly well but were awake early. After another not very inspiring breakfast (pretty bad) we went down and checked out early ready to meet our driver early for our trip to Rabat. At 10:38 we decided enough was enough and called the tour company. A few minutes later Karim (turns out that's his name)came in the lobby. He claimed he had been waiting out side all that time. I had gone out and looked and didn't see him, why didn't he come in and let us know he was waiting? Water under the bridge and we move on.
The drive to Rabat should take an hour but we were two because of traffic.
You can see the ocean on your left as you approach Rabat. It looks blue, beautiful and vast. We drove along the ocean when we got into Rabat with a beautiful park between us and the water. After quite a long drive we entered the gates of the Medina. Karim parked or rather he stopped in the street and made a phone call. It was chaotic out side and there wasn't much very eye appealing. "The porter will be out for your bags" says Karim. I know we are staying in a Riad that sounded pretty nice on the Internet. This isn't anywhere near pretty nice. We entered a narrow street with very ornamental doors of homes on either side of the street and after a few twists and turns entered a gravel and dirt street. We bumped along it (it had a few more turns) and we were outside the door of Riad Kalaa. Oh my! Inside was nothing like outside. It is tastefully decorated in Moroccan style.
our bed
door to our room
After you leave reception you enter a common area with tables and chairs. The ceiling is open to the sky (with a glass cover of course. The second floor has traditional filagree ornamental railing edging the hallway ( the name for it eludes me) around the rooms on that floor. There are 9 rooms. Ours is on the first floor and is the smallest on the ground floor. We entered through to arched, carved dòor to see our that bed has rose petals sewn across the foot as does the bath mat. We have a bouquet of fresh flowers, a bowl of fruit and 2 litres of water. There is a towel warmer in the bathroom. It is also tiny. Just room to walk sideways on either side of the bed. No chairs - no room for them. The room is about 8 feet across and 24 feet long with a divider for a bathroom. But it is wonderful. The reception staff are young and eager to please. Very helpful and patient. Zenam gives us a map and circles the things we should see. She suggests we have dinner at Riad Kalaa number 3 (We are at #2) and takes our order in advance. She will be serving there tonight and will see us at 7:30. Moussine will walk us there. Thank goodness. We'd never find it. I shouldn't go on about food but our tagines were delicious. The salad has to be mentioned. Roy even took a picture and we do not take food pictures. Three salads in individual ramekin size dishes. #1 aubergine, #2 pickled peppers, #3
During the day we disobeyed Abdul once again and wove our way though the twists and turns in the streets. Roy took pictures at the corners so we would have landmarks. The best landmark turned out to be the two flattened boxes a man put out side his door to keep the dirt from coming in his house. After we got out to the main street we retraced our steps in the hope that it would help us find our way back later. Still got misplaced once. Not much was open on Friday afternoon as everyone has 2 hours off to go to the mosque.
The Kasbah was a fortress. If you are reading this and want to know the history you fill find it on the Internet. Even before we entered a man approached us and offered a tour which we took. He had grown up living inside the Kasbah. There are many people living inside the Kasbah now. It is very clean and our guide said that the residents monitor it themselves.
The Kasbah design Oudaias sits overlooking the Atlantic and guards entrance to the river that separates Rabat from Sale. It was built by Yacoub Manor and contained a sultans residence.
We wandered through the streets and saw different door knockers. Some were the hand of Fatima to protect the home against evil spirits and some indicated that Jewish people lived the (the knocker was by their choice). There is an open area where bazaars and slave sales were held that overlooks the ocean and the necropolis in Sale. Within the walls is a beautiful old garden. It is very peaceful and filled with many exotic plants. I wish I could remember how old it is. Guess I could look it up??
Next we were confused so back to the Raid for help from the lovely Zemem. Following her advice we set off to the Hassan Tower and the chellah. We had to cross 4 lanes of traffic, jaywalking! We wait til the locals cross and try to keep them between you and the traffic! This took us to a park by the river and it was fun watching young boys diving in the river the daring one another to jump in and impress the girls. We decided the Chellah was not possible so back we went across the lanes of traffic again. We wound up crossing that road two more times. So we visited the Tower of Hassan and his tomb then retraced our steps. More was open in the Medina when we got back and so we bought a leather cushion. Even bargained but probably could have done better.
Back to the Riad.
