We wake up in RABAT, Morocco's Capital, to a major 'Downpour'
Like the desert of Arizona .. RAIN matters. It's an "Event".
With minimal English, smiling people are saying .. " Rain .. good " !
They slosh around .. mind set on 'enjoying' getting 'soaked' ..
( not knowing that this early November dampness would, within a couple weeks,
lead to serious flooding in several parts of the country ..
causing sad loss of life for 30 - some people )
By afternoon we take advantage of the sky's "patch of blue"
. . striking out to find Rabat's . . most famous landmark and . . burial grounds . .
Marble Mausoleum
The present king's Father ( Hassan II ) and . .
Grandfather ( Mohammed V ) . .
have been laid to rest here . .
Mohammed V reigned during the transition to ' Home Rule ' in 1956
. . when Morocco gained 'Independence' from France . . after 44 years
Armed Guards
flank entrances on each side of the Mausoleum . .
Visitors GALLERY
( above ) gives Walk - Around View from every angle . . People are quiet
On - duty Cleric sits on furry carpet . . could be checking his emails
(or) who knows . . he may be sending - receiving a blog !
From the Mausoleum, we see the Landmark T O W E R with height of 144 feet
a reminder of Sultan Yacoub al - Mansour who died . . before . .
it reached its' intended 196 ft tall . . ( during the time of the Almohads )
The tower's design matches Seville's GIRALDA
and the KOUTOUBIA in Marrakesh
The Field of PILLARS ( above ) . . are 'Remains' of the MOSQUE
. . destroyed by earthquake . . in the mid 1700s
This abandoned project would have been the 2nd largest mosque of its time
( after "Samarra" . . . in Iraq )
Mohammed V Avenue stretches from the Old Medina in the north . .
to the Royal Palace of the current king in the south ( marked by the Tower )
Entrance to the Royal Palace ( for 'royals' only ) . .
Visitors Enter about 1/2 mile to the left along the Wall . . Then Leave through this Gate
The Royal Avenue is lined with long - lived FICUS TREES
equally spaced and trimmed like a hedge
Royal Park surrounds the Palace . .
Gardeners hard at work clearing debris from recent storm
( Vegetation in Morocco is much like Arizona ) :
Palms . Bougainvillea . Hibiscus . Sago . Oleander . Bird of Paradise
Jasmine . Roses . Agave Weberi . Lantana . Honeysuckle
Inside the Royal Walls are . . Fountains . Mosque
a "City - Within - A - City"
Each major metropolis seems to have its own palace residence
to accommodate the king's visits
The Palace itself goes on and on . . single level.
No 'Guided' Tours. Visitors are free to walk all around the outdoor areas.
Many Guards are visible. There is No Charge to get in. Passports must be shown.
Each visitor is documented in the registry.
Not shown are 3 Sets of Bleachers . side by side . one very plain . one highly decorated.
Maybe for royal announcements . . possibly seating for 3 levels of society.
We leave Rabat by Train to get to Casablanca.
This Rabat Station ( in the Royal City ) has 3 levels
places to eat . many amenities . a busy place . a couple blocks from the Palace
. right on Mohammed V Avenue
In 1 Hour ( $3.75 + per ticket ) we will have completed . . the 8 - Shaped Loop
through Morocco and southern Spain.
We now return . . to where we began . . six weeks ago
Rusty and Wrinkles sign off realizing as the song says . . "Time IS going by" . .
We'll close this journey with one last look at . . CASABLANCA"
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