A Blue Kind of Day

We left Fes (our favorite city in Morocco) for a return to Casablanca. We drove to Rabat (the capital of Morocco) and visited the Archeological Museum. Although Morocco has a long story to tell from Pre-historic man to Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, and Arabs who came to this land, I must admit sadly that this museum doesn’t tell the story. Oh well.

We arrived in Rabat just as the noon prayers were starting. Friday is the Muslim Sabbath and the Mosques were over-flowing onto the streets where people were praying in front of the mosque.

In Rabat we went to the Kasbah des Oudaias. I always have wanted to say meet me at the Kasbah. Now I have been there. Actually a Kasbah is a fort. It contains a beautiful little seaside village where every one of the homes is painted blue and white. I have never been to the Greek Isles but now I can pretend I was.

Arriving in Casablanca we walked from our hotel to a shopping street. Walking through a covered arcade, very much like any shopping center in the US, we were surprised to see one of the main arcades was blocked off with a blue curtain. Prayer mats were on the floor and people were praying in front of their shops. A half hour later when we returned through the shopping arcade the blue curtain had been drawn back, tied against the wall, the prayer rugs were removed and pedestrians returned to walking through the arcade.

We had a final dinner with our guide Ishmael. He was the first Muslim that many of us had really interacted with over an extended period of time. We peppered him with questions about Morocco, Islam, Arabs, and African Culture. He was a joy to be with. We all hope that some day we can return the favor to him, in America or back here in Morocco, Inshalla.