Morocco Day 2
- Teresa
- Apr 1, 2019
- 2 min read
The second day in Morocco the weather was cool and the sky was a light powder blue with wisps of white. The perfect beach day.
The shoreline in Rabat was bordered with history. A large stone structure with several Islamic grave sites lined the glimmering sea. I climbed the stone stairway and was met with a breathtaking view. The city was made up of monochromatic boxes parallel to a glittering river. We were at the point where the river met the ocean and it seemed as if the ocean reached out and became tangled up in Rabat.
We took a path out of the stone overlook and into the back alleys of Rabat. The walls were tall and white with blue accents lining the paths. Each door was unique. Dark wood with steel rivets, or possibly warmer shades with intricate geometric carvings, and usually complemented by a door handle shaped like a hand. This hand belonged to Fatima.
Fatima’s hand is a symbol of protection from the evil eye. Her purity has the power to ward off bad things. Her symbol is scattered all throughout Morocco ranging from door knockers to earrings. She protects all who keep her close.
There were cats around every corner and each one was different from the last, a sassy black feline was lounging atop a car, while an orange-white tabby was drinking from a pot nearby. Our guide Ahmed told us that cats were loved by Moroccans and were allowed in one's house or even one's bed, but dogs were not allowed inside otherwise it is believed the angels will leave from one’s home. I felt bad for the few dogs I saw scrounging around, but some of the cats weren’t exactly well off either.
The next stop was a famous Rabat gateway. It reached high enough for our bus to pass through and was topped with intricate blue tile designs. Birds flew in and out of the holes in the walls wherever we went. After a few pictures and a moment to let it all soak in we headed to our next stop, a traditional Moroccan fashion store.
The store sold beautiful hand made traditional Moroccan dresses. I believe they are called caftans. If I could afford it and/or needed traditional apparel I definitely would’ve been shopping, but a student budget doesn’t allow for many purchases over 20 dollars.
A delicious lunch of chicken Pastilles later and we were off to Fes, the blue city. It is known for its ancient roots and traditional market.
After checking into our hotel, which overlooked all of the city, it was back to climbing, but it was so incredibly worth it in every way. The view from the ruins near our hotel shall forever be embedded in my memory. Fes is parallel to rolling mountains covered in green. This view was a full panoramic of all of it. The city crossed into the countryside in a way I didn’t believe possible. I remember thinking it was like an old oil painting, but the fact it was reality blew my mind.
It was getting dark so we left that gorgeous view and ate a Moroccan buffet at the hotel. Our second day in Morocco set some high expectations for views, and plenty to reminisce upon.
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