We think we’re all fixed up again now.  Callum went to Fez to collect Fergus, so we had a full house last night, as Yusuf also had some (about 20) friends round.  They all come to admire the view from the terrace, and they’re always impressed.   And now it’s warm at night too, then really hot during the day, so perhaps we’ve moved from winter to spring now.

By way of complete contrast, Callum, Yusuf and I had lunch in this crazy food place at the back of the market, totally local, you’d never find a tourist in there, but Yusuf’s been here for 8 months and speaks Arabic so we were treated to a unique experience.  It’s rough and ready, but the food is freshly made, very tasty and incredibly cheap.

Where the locals eat

Mothers Day boat trip

All the picnickers

Went back to Dar Naji in the evening, and managed to get a photo in the fab Berber tent out the back.

Me in the tea tent

Been quiet since then, just pottering about on the terrace, reading, going for lunch, having tea and cake, going for dinner – doesn’t sound too hard, does it?

Went back to Dar Naji for lunch, doing that tourist thing where you go somewhere that you know, and snapped a couple of photos which give some idea but don’t really capture the atmosphere of the place.

Dar Naji entrance

Oudaya Museum

Dar Naji wash basin

Also wandered into a carpet factory and was made to sit – I do mean made to sit – with three of the women who were having lunch.  I was then given a hunk of bread and taught how to eat with 2 fingers and a thumb, right hand only.  It’s way more difficult that you would think, mostly because you have to get your fingers in the food, and that’s what we’ve been brought up not to do. Then I had a cup of Moroccan tea, never use a spoon, pour one glass, from a great height to oxygenate the tea, pour the tea back in the pot, repeat, then serve.  After that one of them took me to sit beside her at the loom while she started back to work.

Walked across town to visit Hassan II Tower and Mausoleum, quite spectacular buildings and there’s a guard at each of the four doorways, and inside at each corner.  Where they get them I don’t know, but each one is more handsome than the last. I suppose it’s good for the tourist image of Moroccans.

Had a bar-b-cue at night, yes, on our tiny terrace.  I stayed out of the way completely as this really is man’s work, isn’t it?  We had about 15 people at one point, I was beginning to wonder if the terrace would hold up.  But only 5 women (including me), and only 2 Moroccan women.  You really don’t see a lot of women around in the evening, lots and lots of men of all ages but only a few women, and they’re mainly older and not out just to have fun.  I suppose that will change in time.

Hassan II Mausoleum

Terrace Party Antics

Enjoyed shopping for domestic stuff yesterday in the medina, my only hope of getting out was to keep going either forward or right, as it’s bounded by a rectangular wall, so you have to come out eventually.  And what is the French for brush and dust pan anyway?  I find miming is a good communicator but obviously I’m not very good at it as I was offered a toilet brush first.

We have a tiny, tiny shop just about 50 yds from our door, and then there are lots of wee shops about 100 yds further on – that’s local shopping indeed, and it’s great.  You just go for what you need right now – bread fresh for breakfast, and a big jug of freshly squeezed orange juice, all for £1.30.

View from terrace, Rabat

Our white door and blue shutters

One entrance to Oudaya

Today was a bit of domestic day, washing, cleaning, so just hoping the washing’s still on the line tomorrow morning, as it’s not dry yet, and I didn’t bring many clothes pegs.  Ah well, if it’s all gone, we’ll just have to go shopping…

The internet’s not fast enough at the moment to upload photos, but hopefully soon I will be able to share one of two little gems.

My first impressions are of colourful tiles, rich red-brown walls with beautiful arches, square mosque towers and friendly people.