A Desecration in Rabat
Trip Start
Feb 16, 2006
1
6
17
Trip End
Feb 28, 2006
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Rabat,
Morocco
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Rabat -- 11:00 pm
I am truly enjoying this group of guys! They are taking everything in stride. Today started out rainy and rather chilly. It got worse and worse as we drove from Casablanca to Rabat, the Capital City of Morocco. Our guide, Mohammad, is a font of information about Morocco.
At breakfast I mentioned to him an editorial I had just read in the New York Times about how the King of Morocco, Mohammad VI, has actually encouraged a commission to look into the wrongdoings (persecutions, imprisonments, torture) of people during his father's reign, and that of his grandfather, and was actually trying to redress the wrongs through reparations, etc
01 Stork
. He took the time during the drive to go into a lot of detail about this young king, who has only been in power since 1999, and to sing his praises.The king has decided to tackle the project of eliminating all poverty in Morocco by 2007. We'll not be holding our breath on that one. He talked about the king's wife, and his young son. He never mentioned (and probably has never heard) the rumors that the king is gay, which was mentioned in a recent "Out" magazine travel issue and by other sources. Moroccans adore their king, at least publicly, and would never say anything negative about him.
Our first stop is the Royal Palace in Rabat, but it is raining so hard that we abandon the idea of walking a fair distance from the parking lot to the entrance just to get a look at the guards and the façade of the building. We next get our feet wet in Rabat at the Chella Necropolis, where we do brave the rain and huddle together under what few umbrellas we have to view the Roman ruins of Sala Colonia.
Next stop is lunch; I have a yummy tandouri chicken with lemon. When we emerge the rain has stopped, and there is evidence that the sky might clear
02 Mohammad V Mausoleum
. We check in at our hotel and rest for a bit (during which time I discover that I will have problems connecting my computer to the internet). At mid-afternoon we head out again, and visit the gorgeous Mohammed V Mausoleum.My favorite stop of the day is at the Kasbah of the Oudayas, a very large walled area with narrow twisting lanes, occasional gardens, ornate doorways and gates, colorful walls, and interesting costumes on display. We stop for coffee and sweets, which feature almond paste goodies in a great variety of shapes and textures.
Encouraged by the emerging sun, we go back to the Royal Palace for a successful visit. I really have to pee, so on the way back to the bus I go to the restroom that is at the back of the king's mosque - just across from the palace. Nobody is in the restroom, and I see a trough along the wall with faucets every few feet. I assume the faucets are simply to flush out the trough, so I proceed to urinate where I thought I was supposed to. Just as I am finishing the guide comes towards the door, and says I have just done the worst possible thing imaginable, as I have befouled the place where ablutions are performed before praying in the Mosque. I retreat to the bus, highly embarrassed, taking lots of ribbing from the guys - who had all had proper instructions before entering the bathroom during our first stop there in the rain
03 Grave Guard
. But since I hadn't been properly instructed, I trust that Allah will have mercy on me for my foul deed.The evening sees us enjoying drinks in the hotel's rooftop bar. My tour provider nervously informs me that our hotel in Marrakech is owned by a strict Moslem family, and there is no bar whatsoever on the property. It will be interesting to see how that goes down with the boys, who took our rainy day in such great spirits. What will they do without their "spirits?"
Dinner is a sumptuous buffet with wonderful meat and fish delicacies, and a dessert buffet to groan over later . . . which is what I am doing now.
Love to all,
Dan
Comments
Pissing where you're not supposed to!!!
Ha ha ha ha ha!!! That is hilarious! It's like going into a catholic church and pissing in the holy water! What a naughty Danny! ha ha ha! Thanks for the laugh!
Love and kisses,
Sonny