Balima Rabat

... 1755. What’s left of the minaret and the stubs of some 200 re-erected columns on the original plaza were listed in 1995 as a tentative UN World Heritage site.


Sultan Yacoub al-Mansour (1160-1199) was one of history’s greatest builders. Among his many civil and architectural achievements, he ordered construction of the mosque La Koutoubia in Marrakesh and the Giralda tower in ...

... really worked with kids before (or even played with kids except when I was one) and I was nervous about it - had no idea if I'd be any good at it. I discovered a new side of myself on this trip, and that I can be good with kids! It was so rewarding to leave the hospital each day feeling like I did something that actually mattered. I haven't felt that way in so long - I am going to miss that.

The programs have been winding down ...

... it must've hurt like the dickens and he was probably scared too. I helped one of the nurses clean up afterwards. At first, I waited because I thought they might bring in some kind of antiseptic or something, but they didn't. She just came in with a wad of cotton balls and started wiping it up. I figured if that was all there was to it, I'd just grab some kleenexes and help get it wiped up. No hazardous waste protocols, rubber gloves or ...

... rice, rolls - once again not starving. Yay cook group over for another week, so glad we don't have to do it in the cold. Oliver's foot has blown up so were quite lucky in being able to obtain him some ice from the shop. Once again not sure what's wrong just all swollen and sore. Right pain as we are currently driving to a gorge which is meant to be beautiful for trekking. He won't be a happy lad having ...

... the grounds, through the park below the tower before working our way amongst the garden of pillars that fills the square between the mausoleum and the tower.  After visiting the mausoleum, we stood below the Hassan tower as it's loudspeakers began to announce the evening call to prayer over the city.  Every call to prayer we have heard is always different, and the sounds from the Hassan tower seemed incredibly sad, as if it mourned the fall of the sun and ...

... even the white head scarves of Saudi dress. Little girls tripped along in front of their mothers in long, shimmering robes in bright colors or intricately laced djlebbas and head scarves. And all this was taking place in one of those strange malls I've found unexpectedly tucked away around the streets of Rabat, a mix of the eclectic stalls typical in the old medina souq and the Western mall, where one can find anything from Nikes to wall ...

... fi haqiqah's"-to convince my father that I really wanted to try Ramadan, but afterwards they seemed to get great enjoyment from my decision- the entire family came with big smiles to deliver me my first date. I love being able to share their traditions with them, and there is something really wonderfully reflective and purifying about the discipline of Ramadan, even though I'm not doing it for religious reasons. But, after just a couple days of ...