Rabat, the second largest city and capital of the Kingdom of Morocco - is as vibrant and colorful as I had imagined Morocco to be as a country. Comfortably noisy and lively as many Arabic cities around the world - with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. We took an interesting taxi drive (20 Dirhams - 2 Euros) to one of the main shopping areas in search for some genuine Moroccan ambiance and tasty baklavas. Interesting taxi ride, because of the fact that you share your ride with other strangers who jumps in to the car (most probably a white Mercedes from around 1985) in the middle of the busy multiple-lane roads and out wherever might be suitable.
Arabs are very loud and intense in their way of communicating and it's always a fascinating encounter to see them in action in their home environments. A special kind of chock - especially when coming from the sea, empty on people and their conversations. In the souk we visited and on the narrow surrounding streets of it, we found some of the most amazing pieces of leather bags, jewelry, shoes, home decoration, accessories, pottery, rugs and glass ware - all delicately handmade with beautiful details. We were not in a shopping mood though, more into the eating one and while strolling around in this intense and bustling environment - we ate our way around the city. Grilled meat served straight off the street with spicy flavors. Arabic pastry and baklavas served with Moroccan mint tea from the holes in the walls. The sweet flower smells from handmade soaps and perfumes shifted place with the warm scent of grilled meat, from one bustling street to the other.
We have been told that Rabat is very calm and relaxed compared to Casablanca and Marrakech - so I assume it was a good start for us coming straight from the tranquility on the sea. The winding asymmetries and the orange/reddish hue made us feeling very comfortable and relaxed and it's with pleasure we will be heading further into town to discover more parts of this interesting city. And most definitely we'll be back in the souk or one of the other ones very soon - to stock up on spices, pottery and Moroccan tea cups. All to make our little boat an even heavier one.
8 comments:
It all looks fantastic...great photos, like in a travel magazin.I also love to take photos when I travel, mostly people. If I were in Marocko i would bye so much..love that style. you are blessed to be sailing and to see all these wonderful places. Myself travel into the new born baby world, five weeks to early baby and I also look at travel channel..jus went to the south pacific. All the best to you, winter and snow alohas from Haga in Göteborg.
Your pics are always amazing! What camera and lens are you using? Thanks for a super inspirational blog!
hehehe...the pictures look EXACTLY like Morroco! Funny how only a few countries look like they are supposed to in photographs. LOL.
I think you guys need to bust a move. Have either of you been to the Caribe? So far, 5th December + 21 days min. to get there, pushing it tight for NY's in the Caribbean.
Where are you aiming for there? Suggest to get going already, Africa will always be there, end-2010 will not. Last thing you want to do is be in the boat as 2011 rolls over.
Giddy up! :-)
p.s the word verification to post is "mizat" how Arabic is that. Now I'm wondering for google uses ad or word sense for its word verifications. talk about paranoia.
I love your blog.I read your maximum of posts and i always found them interesting and impressive.The knowledge shared by all the post are good enough to acquire the whole information such as in the above post i get good information about the Morocco.I have planed to travel to Morocco next year, most probably in month of June.The knowledge of the post helps me a lot during my travel to Morocco.
Beautiful photographs, they really capture the ambience and atmosphere. You should sell them to the travel magazines!
I've been to Morrocco once, Agadir, Marrakech and Essaouira and it was by far one of mye favourite holidays. Your story about the mercedes-taxi really bring back memories, try to find the smaller gold painted ones (trying to remember if they where beetles...?), they are cheaper and you don't have to wait for the other people. They have categories for taxis, so much fun :)
Enjoy and thanks so much for sharing stories, pictures and everything!
The camera is a Canon 5d mark ii with several different lenses. I will write a post about it some day soon as many seem to wonder about the equipment.
For new year: I think that we most probably will celebrate it on the Atlantic ocean this time. We have both been on crazy new years-parties around the world in many different fascinating places, but never have we celebrated it in intimacy with only the person we love in the middle of an ocean before - so why not? Besides, there seem to be too little time left for making it over on time.
Thank you all for leaving comments regarding the photos, makes me happy that you're enjoying them!
Josephine: The new baby world seem wonderful, as well! Congrats!!
very charming.
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