Homepage
Study
Teach
Travel
The Moroccan School System
Learn Moroccan Arabic
Mo' Rockin' My world
My time as a tgc fELLOW
Day 13
These men symbolically guard the entrance to the Hassan II Mausoleum.
The view as we approach the hillside fortress of Du Chellah
The entrance to Du Chellah. Du Chellah was a fortress first built by the Romans and modified by different peoples over centuries.
The inside of Du Chellah is more like a botanical garden than an ancient fortress.
Storks are everywhere inside the walls.
Let me know if anyone can translate these signs.
Old Islamic minaret inside the fortress
This was once a mosque inside the fortress.
Hi
No a bad place to have dinner on the last night in Morocco
View from on top of the restaurant.
Nifty
Live music
Amazing!
Early morning on our way home.
Found this in my classroom when I got home. Thanks to everyone who helped make it!
Day 12
Horses are a big deal in El Jadida. Nearby is a hippodrome that hosts international traditional horse raices
Pictures of the king of Morocco, Mohammed VI, can be found in almost every building in Morocco
Sunset in Rabat
Day 11
To the left is our host Mifdal and the far right is my travel buddy David on our last day in El Jadida. Cool guys
Last dinner in El Jadida at our host's apartment. The soup is called Harira and is usually served during Ramadan to break their fast.
The private school Lange Bleu in El Jadida
The school in El Jadiad where our host teacher works, Ibn Khaldoun
The students brought us this dish called Rfissa (pronounced fisa) and is traditionally served to celebrate a birth generally three days after
Day 10
Dusk over El Jadida
Our hotel at El Jadida
Campus of the university at El Jadida
Every class brought us some sort of spread often including breads, milk, and dates. Milk and dates are traditionally used to welcome guests), cookies and mint tea.
Day 9
El Jadida is a fishing community... fresh fish tastes pretty dang good
The old Portuguese cistern... gutters from all over the city feed into this here in order to store fresh water in-case of attack in the 16th centure
The library at Ibn Khaldoun
Day 8
The view of the ocean from the old Portuguese walls in El Jadida
Church of the assumption in El Jadida
This is how many Moroccans get their goods to shops
Our 3 hour cab ride from Marrakesh
El Jadia
Not a bad view to blog from
How ships would supply the fortress during high tide
The old Portuguese cannons still remain from the 1500's when they left
Day 7
Roasted 1/2 kilo of lamb served from a shop in the middle of the medina decorated with cooked sheep's head... one of the best meals I have ever had!
Me at the Medrassa Ben Youssef
The view from my hotel room in El Jadida...Not bad for the price.
Drive to Marrakesh.
Jemaa el-Fnaa- Arabic for Assembly of the Dead. This place was once used for executions now it hosts vendars and street performers.
Driving into Marrakesh
We had to take pictures so we would know how to get back to our Riad
One of the best meals I have ever had
The view for lunch
Our Riad
The Medrassa
Day 6
Hotel room in El Jadida...not bad.
Computer lab at host school: Ibn Khaldoun High School
Courtyard of Ibn Khaldoun High School in the morning
Mifdal's English class
Mifdal's English class
Couscous is a meal traditionally eaten only on Friday.
Plaster work at Mifdal's apartment done by hand by a craftsman
WOW!
More cool stuff in his apartment
Day 5
An amazing place to eat a traditional Moroccan food.
They had a really cool bathroom!
Dark alley + small door = really hard to find
The dark alley
Abi Dar Alghiffari- one of the first IB programs in Morocco
The courtyard
Us
Almost every Moroccan school in some way demonstrated their support for the Palestinian movement
Students here play soccer, volleyball, and basketball
IB English class
Neighborhood surrounding the school
The scenery reminds me a little of Indiana...minus the palm tree
The tiara is displayed over the streets in honor of the princess's birthday. These will stay up for several days
The view from the top of the Golden Tulip Hotel in Rabat
That is a train station :)
On our way to Jadida
Day 4
Day 3
Entrance to Moulay Youssef High School
Every government building must have the name displayed in Amazigh along side Arabic. Amazigh is the language of the Berbers who lived here long before the Arabs
View from the school's courtyard
Students know class is over by the ringing of this bell, has been used since 1914
Chemistry lab
The school is surrounded by walls, the schools 100th anniversary will be very soon, students/staff are not allowed to put things on walls because it is considered a historical site
The Udayas Kasbah
Some people still live inside the Kasbah
Day 2
Rabat from the top of our hotel
These pillars were originally planned to be pillars of a mosque but the building was never completed
Entrance to the mosque at Hassan II Mausoleum. Only Muslims may enter the mosque.
Hassan II Tower
Hassan II is interred in this building which is ceremonially guarded at each entrance. Hassan II was the former king of Morocco.
Guests are allowed to look down upon the casket but may not enter since it is part of the mosque
This is a place for the Imam to read the Koran
Cultural dinner at Dar Najil restaurant
Day 1
I love to travel because of all the exotic food I get to try...sign said it was the best in Chicago
Pastilla, my new favorite food of all time!
First time in Africa
Sampling of traditional Moroccan salads
Here's your sign
One thing I don't think I will try!
View from my hotel room
Walk along the river
The medina
Rabat at night