From Friday to Friday, 34a: Morocco Edition (Fez)

Here's something interesting about Morocco:
To go from city to city, you go to the grand taxi station and find the taxi headed where you are going. Then, you wait until the taxi fills with the requisite 6 passengers + driver (no matter whether the car is a small mini-van or a smaller and old Mercedes), and then you are off.

The next morning while Katy worked, I was deposited by her friend Driss into a taxi headed back to Fez, 

where friends of Katy's met me and took me around the medina there.

We started with lunch by this gate,

including this super sweet (super yummy) mint tea,

and then we entered into the tiny streets inside.

We wandered past the mosque set in the midst of things,

and I rejoiced in the beauty

found at every turn.

We were led down a backway and up many stairs,

to this rooftop tannery view,

where skins are laid out to dry and then died in vats of color.

We continued on to see more crafts, 

woodworkers working in their booths,

rooftop carpet weaving,

ceramics sellers,

spice sellers,

bread sellers,

poultry sellers

and other meats (see the camel head?),

and many other kinds 

of delicious Moroccan specialties.

Before we knew it, we were at the upper gate,

from where we drove up to this view,

an old fortress 

set over the city

where we took a few moments to enjoy some fried and spicy potato pastries we'd purchased. 

Some wandering livestock came to say hello

as we drove away,

and then I went to the taxi station, to wait for my taxi to fill.

After a bit of a wait, fill it did (to capacity),

and Katy met me for a "kifta" (ground seasoned beef) sandwich (yummy) dinner once I was back in her little town...

From Friday to Friday, 34: Morocco Edition (Rabat)

Here's what you need to know about Morocco:

 First, I went to see Katy.

And then: food, tile, old cities, and markets.

I flew to Casablanca and then to Fes,  

 where Katy and friends picked me up and we spent the night sleeping.

The following day we made our way to the train station,

climbing aboard and into our compartment

 for the ride to the capital city, Rabat.

Upon arrival, we settled into our air b&b and then headed out to find

 delicious food,

ambiance included.

Then we went a-walking.

 First stop, the "medina" 

meaning, the old "city", and walled in, 

 containing shops 

 and homes

 inside of what's called the

 kasbah ("fortress").

 After we'd gotten some shopping in,

we went for drinks (yummy Moroccan beer for me)

 and dinner

 where we were serenaded while we ate.

The next morning,

 we left our apartment

and walked,

 unexpectedly happening upon 

an awakening 

souk

 ("marketplace"),

 our destination this ocean view

 for

breakfast. (Yum.)

Then

  we taxi'd over to 

 this unfinished mosque.

 The story is that in the late 12th century,

 the king ordered it built, 

but then died, 

 leaving it 

 incomplete.

On the other side of the courtyard

 stands a beautiful 

guarded mausoleum,

where past kings lie.

Then we walked back to the kasbah,

 seen here in the distance.

Having made it to the gate, 

we wandered around inside,

 until we came out on this terrace of sorts,

 overlooking the ocean.

It was beautiful beyond words.

We got on our way then,

 taking train

and taxi back to Katy's section of country. 

 I met some of her people,

 and was served cookies and Moroccan tea

 before settling in

to her sweet new establishment for the night,

before another day of adventure....