The First Day of the Main Tour

We met in one of the hotel meeting rooms to meet the new people who joined us in Rabat for the main trip. Mostafa also explained our itinerary and logisitics. One rule: no discussion of American politics Apparently two people almost came to blows in a political ”discussion.” We’re on vacation. Let’s leave that behind.

A new couple from our group has been on 58 OAT trips! They continue to be quite fit and the fellow, an Army veteran, still flies a plane . His wife is Native American. I don’t have their names yet.

We got on the bus and did a driving/ walking tour of Rabat. The first stop was the Royal Palace

After seeing the Royal Palace, we visit many ancient monuments, such as the Chellah and the Hassan Tower, where guards protect the remnants of a royal maussoleum. . We go to the casbah to see the beautiful views of the Atlantic.

The new opera house and new roads show that the city of Rabat is progressing nicely into the 21st century. The opera house, known as the Grand Theatre of Rabat, was designed by Zaha Hadid Rchitects, who also designed the coffee shop at the Serpentine in Kensington Gardens, which we visited last week. Her style is very distinctive.

We had lunch near our hotel and spent a bit of time at the contemporary museum near by Our Welcome Dinner was served in a beautiful restaurant in the medina.

I apologize for the scantiness of this post. I would love to expound in depth about these monuments if you have the time and inclination, google them for more details. We are currently in a beautiful, traditional riad in Fes and thogh the architecture is magnificdnt, it is difficult to see and the internet keeps fading on me.

I am feeling much better. Thanks for your concern.

I leave you with this Moroccan cat, who is helping out in the kitchen.