Rabat

Rabat is the modern, cosmopolitan capital of Morocco. Once ensconced in our shockingly pink hotel we walked through the medina, through a huge cemetery which overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and down to the beach area. There is another huge cemetery across the river in Sale. It must have some significance. There is a surfing school and some young men were catching waves. The breakwaters are spectacular with huge rocks and chunks of concrete defending the beach and river against the ocean. Across the river is the twin city of Sale which is historically famous for pirates and such. Looking back from the beach a large walled casbah overlooks the ocean from the high ground. We have done a lot of exploring seeing the magnificent Tour Hassan and the extraordinary mausoleum of Mohammed V. The Chellah was also a treat. It was begun by the Romans and even though it is a ruin the fortified walls still stand. A treat inside was that there were storks with their giant nests scattered among the trees and ruins. I still have not been able to post pictures. Sorry, but we have been taking lots. By the way the calls to prayer start at about 5:30 am from a loud speaker right near our room. No alarm needed! Tomorrow we pick our visas for Mauritania and then we are off to exotic Casablanca.