Morocco Trip - Day 2 "the city tour; Rabat"

The weather today is really nice. It’s cool, and yet the sun shine keeps us warm enough to enjoy the clear blue sky. Its about 18c outside.
Today’s agenda, meeting! And then sight seeing the city of Rabat.

Through out the day, we were accompany by our very own city guide, Mr.Abdullah Al-Ghazi.
A really nice man, who we were Introduced by our ambassador, Pak Tosari. Mr. Abdullah is the owner of a company distributing Indomie in Morocco. He is also known as a film maker, working in the industry for the past 20 years. He then decided to become a businessman while still enjoying his time in the art world.

I found Mr. Abdulah very humble and really interesting. Knowing he is a quite well respected man in Morocco, he took us around the city, and acting as a tour guide for a whole day. He gave us information about Morocco and Rabat in general, and told us bits interesting stories as well.

Something I remembered, from the book “No Regrets : 101 Fabulous Things to Do Before You’re Too Old, Married, or Pregnant”, On the traveling section, it said, "Hang out with the local people and you’ll find the trip more interesting."
And that’s what i felt spending the whole day with mr. Abdullah.

Before we met mr. Abdullah, our ambassador, Pak Tosari, already gave us a head start about the social life in Morocco. one of them is that mostly people with high power or considered rich in here, are tends to be more humble. For example, like the wife of people in high status, usually still drive their own cars themselves, without driver or even securities.

We also got the chance to take home mr.Abdullah to his house. And I can see a huge house it is, and see the story of humbleness to be true.

After having a short meeting during lunch by the bay,
this our stops during the day trip.

1. The Oudaya
"This ancient castle is part of the origins of Rabat. Estimated to have been built in the 12th century, this fortress at the mouth of the Bou Regreg River was used to fight off enemies, host royal delegations, plan for the Muslim conquest of Spain. It also became the capitol of the kingdom in the 17th century.

There is a cool cafe serving tea and sweets that overlooks the Atlantic and the mouth of the Bouregreg as well as a small art gallery above the Oudaya that is interesting as well. If you have seen any pictures of the white and blue walls in Rabat (like the one below), they are found in the neighborhood here. There are also some really exquisite Moroccan doors adorning the lanes as well."

2. Tour Hassan & The Mosoleum of Mohammed V
"Tour Hassan and the Mosoleum of Mohammed V stand facing each other. The brown stone tower is the minaret of the incomplete mosque (Tour Hassan). It was started in the 12th century with the ambitions of being the largest minaret in the world, and the adjoining mosque the largest mosque in the world. It was not completed, and today stands at 44m, half of its intended height. Small pillars that were to be the pillars of the large mosque, line the area around the minaret as well.

The Mosoluem of Mohammed V, is the burial place of the current king’s grandfather, father and uncle. It is an architectural masterpiece. Non Muslims are also allowed to enter and to see the Mosoleum."

3. Medina of Rabat
"Many of Medinas have the same basic goods in the touristy parts- shoes, lanterns, rugs, leather, jewellery etc. All of which are fun if you are in the mood to shop (only check the leather closely, because the smell will stick with the bag). But the thing we enjoy the most about the medinas is that each medina has a different atmosphere than the others.

The medina in Rabat is very different. Specially about the touristy part, where they sell all the furniture and whatnot (it is the entrance across the street from the Oudaya). There, the breeze blows in from the Atlantic and the Bouregreg, and has a laid back, relaxed feel that is unique to the Rabat medina. I see a lot of tourists entering the medina through the “main entrance” at the bottom of Boulevard Mohammed V, but this is really not the “tourist entrance” it is more normal, everyday Moroccan life entrance where you would go to find cell phones, kids toys, clothing etc."

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Interesting facts relating with Indonesian History,
We passed, Rue Soekarno (street Soekarno), the name was given by the kingdom of Morocco as a form of honouring the President how he acknowledge the Moroccan’s Independence in 1956.
And as a thank you, there other names that was given as a street name; Rue Bandung, Rue Jakarta, and a mosque that’s named Mosque Indonesia.

Also, the Kingdom rewarded us, free Visa to enter the Country for a life-time.

Other than the excitement of our first city tour, I was overwhelmed with seeing the local neighborhood that Morocco are famous for, the small alleys with blue painted walls, and their colorful mosaic tiles.
I've been pondering them through sites in the internet. So when I got to actually see them myself, it was just a 'sujud syukur' moment.

Now, wait till us see my trip to Chefchaouen.