An Unplanned Year

Day 1

So we arrived in Casablanca, Morocco after two flights. Spent day 1 walking to the train station to buy tickets for later this month-no joy, system down. Or maybe the trainlines are, it wasn’t exactly clear –  problem for another day. We then went to the ancient medina and central market before meeting our tour group and heading out for dinner in the medina.

Overnight at Casblanca.

Day 2

Started with a visit to the Hassan II Mosquée, a mosque built over water and the only mosque that non-muslims are allowed to enter. It was stunning. Marble, cedar, intricate painted geometric patterns and a huge open area for prayers, as well as the massive ablutions room where over 1000 people can wash at once!

We then headed to Rabat, the capital, a very different city to Casablanca. There we visited Mausoleum Mohammad V and the Kasbah des Oudaïas before finishing our day in Meknes. There was a football match on between Casablanca and Meknes, the game day atmosphere was noisy and fun! Dinner was in a family home and we spent the night in a Riad in the Medina.

Our tour is supposed to head to Chefchahouen tomorrow, but there have been landslides following weeks of rain, so that may not happen. We will find out if roads are open.

Overnight at Meknes.

Day 3

We started our day with a walk around the medina in Meknes, then went to view the Bab Mansour gate, Mausolee Moulay Ismael and the Thursday Gate. There are 42km of city walls in Meknes!

After Meknes we went to Volubilis, the site of ruins of a Roman city that was here from 100BC – 400AD. There were some beautiful mosaics still intact!

We then drove to Chefchaouen, passing flooded fields, swollen rivers and subsided roads to get here. (Hopefully we can get back out in a few days!)

Overnight at Chefchaouen.

Fun fact: police cars in Morocco have flashing red and green lights not red and blue!