True, sunsets are gorgeous. Libation in hand, quiet evenings, good company: it’s a wonderful time. Meanwhile, sunrises, though often gorgeous, depends upon timing. Sunrise at Merzouga Dunes is 6:59 am. This is a reasonable time to get a cup of coffee and watch the sun come up.
”Morning’s Glory” was a bit weak. However, the early camel trains coming over the hill and heading west made the rise worth it.
After breakfast, we board our 4×4 vans, camels still chewing in their sleep I suppose, and caravan across the barren desert to meet our bus.
This morning, I am moving – slowly. Food has little appeal. I head for our bus. The day’s itinerary leaves no room for laggards. The drive will be long but broken up by several interesting stops. As Bette said: “Fasten your seat belts, it’s going to be a bumpy night.”
There always seems to be a tour day of sit-and-ride. This is it.
I generally love these days. With professional drivers, I enjoy sitting back and watching the scenery roll past my window. I make a point to never sit in front, my rationale being an aversion to crashing through a windshield. We drive south for some 250 miles.
Today, I couldn’t be happier about it.
It had to be something I ate. Whatever, I and the porcelain throne became acquainted throughout the night. I feel like a camel being driven hard across the desert.
I do pop my head up on occasion in order to see my surroundings. Thankfully, the entire day is spent in travel.
Here, within a Mediterranean country, I consider myself a breakfast person. My breakfast usually includes olives, cheese, amlou (a delicious spread of honey, almonds and argan oil), croissants, maybe a baghrir (a pancake like bite drizzled with honey and butter) and coffee.
Our morning destination lies about 58 miles northwest of Fès. We explore the fascinating archeological site of Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Fez/Fès, the oldest of Morocco’s imperial cities, becomes the most impressive. The medieval city was founded in 789 BCE by Idris I, the first ruler of the Idrisid dynasty. His son, Idris II, expanded the city in 808 BCE, turning it into a major political, religious, and cultural center of Morocco.
Walls surrounding the old city of Fès.
Over the centuries, Fès flourished with waves of Arab, Andalusian, and Berber influences, making it the rich and diverse city it is today. Locals regard Fès as the religious capital of Morocco. Serving as the spiritual and intellectual heart of the country, the city has earned designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
We depart Casablanca for the 54-mile drive northeast to the city of Rabat. It is sunny and warm; the ocean is a brilliant blue and I relax. We are a group of 16 in a comfortable 32-person bus. Our Moroccan driver is Hassan. I go along for the ride.
The Imperial City of Rabat
Rabat, Morocco’s capital and seventh-largest city, has a metropolitan population of over 1.2 million. Strategically located on the Ocean at the Bou Regreg River, the Almohads founded the city in the 12th century. These people represented a Berber Muslim dynasty who ruled over North Africa and Al-Andalus (Andalusia) from the 12th to the 13th century. In 1170, the Almohads established a naval base in Rabat, meaning “stronghold of victory.”
Let’s first clarify the facts. No one filmed the iconic film Casablanca in Casablanca. Rick’s Café never existed. Whispered rumors were that Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart didn’t even like each other much. The only thing not fictional about the film was that in 1942, World War 2 was raging across Europe and North Africa.
