Morocco is a most impressive country to visit. At first in Casablanca, I felt disapointed. The streets were littered with rubbish and the men gathered in groups and looked hostile. I didn't want to explore this city.
We visited the Mosque of Hassan II which was very imposing. No expense was spared on building with the best marble and creating a huge room inside for prayer. The building of this mosque is a statement which impresses upon people the power of Islamic religion in this region.
 

Our group led by Samir our guide, caught a train to Meknes. I met Celia, a girl travelling for a year around the world based in the UK. She was an Aussie from Canberra. We also had Linda from Adelaide, Greg from Perth and Paul from England.

At Meknes, we visited a medina that was built in the 9th century. A medina is a walled city that was once the capital of Morocco and it housed the royal palace. The king at the time had 20000 arabic horses and an uncountable number of concubines.





We went to a market and saw handmade cookies that were tiny and beautiful. On the flipside we walked past the butchers with all kinds of bits and pieces, including a cows head with the tongue hanging out. The butcher was digging around inside.

 


We took the train to Fez to visit another medina called Fes - El  Bali. This one was built in the eighth century. We learnt "Baleck" which means, "Get out of the way!" Often a fully loaded donkey or a man with a cart would plod by. The narrow alleys twisted and turned so we relied on our guide to show us the way.

                                                                                               

 

 


The highlight was the feast. In the alley way, there was a huge door with two door knockers. One up high for letting the donkey in and one down low for letting the people. There is a smaller door inside a larger door.
Upstairs we ate so much. Goats cheese with thyme, sweet potato with sultanas and spice, chicken with eggplant and something else. Everything was delicious. My description doesn't begin to describe it.
We drove out of Fez into the hills and walked through the hilltops to another small town called Bhalil. We visited a cave dweller. Her house was built into the hill and the owner was called Aicha. She treated us to a hot drink of mint tea with sugar. She showed us how she gets water from the spring 200metres away by carring the bucket on her head. It was so heavy. She said she was 85 years old.
I was given a handmade button by a local burber women who was sewing with other women beside the bakery. All locals make their own bread and have it cooked in a community oven by a baker.
The people here are generous and friendly.