Rabat

This weekend we packed our bags and set out for the capital! It wasn't exactly D.C., but it was much larger and more glamorous than Meknes. So many palm trees! 

We took the train Friday night (my first time on a train ever) and arrived right after Iftar. We checked into our hotel and headed to the river for dinner at La Dhow, a restaurant on a ship. The ship is docked right next to a night-time carnival. The food was excellent and I had the largest meal I've eaten since Ramadan. Plus, there were mega mojitos (serving five people)!

Our hotel was not looking so hot from the outside. We were located in the old medina and the only sign for the hotel was a canopy over an alleyway. At the end of the alley there were three doors, so obviously we knocked on all of them and angered two Moroccans before the correct door was opened. The hotel was lovely and since we were the only people staying that night, our room was upgraded to what we can only assume was the honeymoon suite. We make this assumption because there was no door on the shower...or the bathroom. 

In the morning we lounged around in our hotel room until the bell boy called to kick us out, it was just too magnificent. Then we went to the Mohamed VI Modern Art Museum. In addition to two floors of modern art, there was a Medieval Morocco exhibit that thrilled us all (especially our history PhD candidate.) 

 This is a bowl that has people sitting on camels all around the rim, I thought it was pretty neat.

 I am absolutely fascinated by the intricate designs from this era!

 Since the National Archives were closed the day we visited, this exhibit had a few consolation prizes in terms of old Arabic books!!!!

 I only took a picture of this because it was supposed to be a lion...I don't see it.

 I'm sorry, but these designs kick Roman architecture's butt.

 Showing my Tribe Pride with this griffin!

 I am a huge sucker for Astrolabes. History behind these: once the civilizations in Morocco became Islamic, they needed to know the time of day so they could know when to pray...hence the astrolabe!

 This is like the medieval Moroccan equivalent of a pulpit!

After touring the museum extensively, we went to check out the royal palace and ended up lounging on the grass under a tree instead (it was nearly 100 degrees.) Then we went to the Hassan Tower (a tower of what was supposed to be the largest mosque ever built, but the tower and mosque were never completed). The tower is inside of this huge impressive compound with the mausoleum of dead kings and as we approached we heard the call to prayer. We asked to guards on horses if we could go in but they replied, "It is reserved for the king," which we take to mean that we were within 50 feet of the king, separated by a wall! So instead of touring the compound, we sat under a tree nearby and listened to the beautiful voices of the prayer. 

After that it was time to catch the train back to Meknes and Sunday was spent catching up on homework. 

Thanks for all the memories, Rabat!