A Return to the nation’s capital today via a very smart motorway, which was also very cheap to use. The only small issue was the occasional man, woman or child that decided to cross it on foot or even just park on the hard shoulder 🙄
We decided to approach Rabat from Salé, the adjoining city, this time thinking that the drive in might be easier, but it was exactly the same – three lane superhighways dotted with mini roundabouts that the three lanes definitely don’t fit in to. The traffic is made worse by the very slow police checks every mile or so.
Rabat is so pristine compared to other Moroccan cities. No litter, neatly mown grass and again, police everywhere.
We parked up near the kasbah which stands above the mouth of the river and is actually quite small inside, but still very beautiful. It has some good views over the city and out to sea from its ancient terrace too.
The kasbah leads on to a formal Andalusian Garden in the grounds of the old palace. It is like a peaceful, tropical oasis in the midst of the city.
Crossed over the road next and walked all the way through the medina, where the souk is remarkably clean and calm compared to others with the exception of fish preparation 🤣
We came out almost opposite the Hassan Mosque and Tower and walked around to the heavily guarded entrance, thinking we’d go in and have another look at the spectacular Mausoleum of Mohammed V.
“Not today” said one of the guards on the gate. “You can go in tomorrow”.
“Pouquoi? “ (Why) says Guy
“Parce que.”(Because) the man replied, causing his two colleagues to laugh!
Looking through the gate, they were measuring and rolling out a red carpet, so we supposed that someone very important was due to arrive. Turns out, it was only the King himself!
As we walked back along the promenade, the men were busy testing out the giant, battery operated, children’s sit and ride toys that are allowed free roam of the waterfront whilst playing mechanical sounding nursery rhymes on a loop. So glad we’d already decided not to stay the night!
We had a little campsite earmarked about 50 minutes further down the coast, just north of Casablanca. The coast road out, was a big, wide, palm tree lined boulevard with a promenade and neat grassy parkland that ran for about twenty miles! It was unbelievable.
As we approached Mohammedia, the traffic got silly again, with four young lads on two motorbikes weaving in and out the traffic whilst filming themselves. This was followed by a bit of a Docker race on a roundabout – amazing that the police never ‘see’ this stuff!
What a relief to get to Camping L’Océan Bleu and hopefully a quiet night. Last night, an over enthusiastic muezzin threw in several extra verses of the call to prayer at around 5am then followed it with an amplified coughing fit. 🤣
