Weekend in Rabat!

Hello everyone, today's post will be the much anticipated 'trip to Rabat' blog!

Our first meal on Friday night!

I would like to preface this post by saying there is no way I will be able to capture all the beauty and hospitality we experienced while we were in Rabat with my friend Sultan and his Family. I will do my absolute best to share my experiences, but there will be gaps that only pictures can fill (hopefully).

I met Sultan my very first night in Morocco - as he is one of the International Student Ambassadors at my University here in Ifrane. We began talking right away and got to know each other - becoming fast friends! Then, before I knew it, he was welcoming my friends Alyssa, Raul, Taylor (other international students) and I into his home for the weekend! We were SO excited. When a Moroccan invites you into their home, you are in for a treat, I recommend it to anyone who comes to Morocco!

If you feel nervous or strange about it - don't! Inviting guests over is pretty common in Moroccan culture, as it turns out! Enjoying good company and conversations, sitting down for huge meals with some of the best food of your life and delicious tea and treats afterwards are just some of the benefits. You will be blown away by the amount of sheer hospitality and kindness!

Sultan and I at the beach

We were picked up from the train station by Sultan's brother Reda and his wife Nisrine, who both greeted us with Moroccan hellos (yes, the two cheek kisses) and warm smiles and questions about each of us. After about 20 minutes of driving, we arrived at their house - one of the most beautiful homes I have been in - where we were greeted with open arms by Sultan's Mother, Fatiha, who had prepared some amazing couscous, beef and vegetables for us to enjoy as soon as we arrived! Dinner was followed by a sweet and delicious dessert that I can't remember the name of...regardless, YUM! After dinner we enjoyed some tea in beautiful cups in their sitting room and talked about our trip to Morocco and experiences thus far. It was so nice to be around a family again, as I've been missing my own. Listening to their conversations and feeling the love in the house was so nice!

Post-meal tea time!

After this, we were comfortably set up in bedrooms and got ready for bed - I slept on an extra mattress they had brought up special - which ended up being one of the most comfortable beds I've ever slept in!

The next day, everyone woke up early and ready for the day! Breakfast was all spread out and ready when we came downstairs. Literally on silver platters... It was all so beautiful and tasted great! I love msemen with laughing cow cheese and raspberry jam spread on it. (For all those who don't know, msemen is a Moroccan flat breakfast bread that you fold to eat -- like a tortilla!) I also drank fresh orange juice and good coffee.

We spent the morning at the mall in Rabat and the commercial parts of "downtown" stocking up on the necessities we cannot always find in Ifrane. After this, we drove to a coastal city neighboring Rabat, called Temara. I found my happiness here, at the beach! Being next to the ocean in the sunlight with such amazing people around me was wonderful and I wish we could have stayed longer!

Deserts... :) 

But alas, we had to return for lunch (but I mean, how bad does that sound?) Lunch was delicious, of course. Sultan's mother told us she had prepared all very traditional Moroccan dishes for our visit -and she did not disappoint!

I will stop myself from trying to explain everything I ate, because it will not do anything justice! Instead, I will insert some pictures from some of our meals!

Oudaya is at the top of the wall

After lunch we visited Oudaya, a beautiful blue and white city in Rabat. I took so many pictures here, and just enjoyed looking and walking around inside the walls of the 'kasbah of the udayas'. We also drank some of the best mint tea I've had yet at a small cafe there, and walked around a garden with some live music playing! The view of the 'Plage de Rabat'  (Rabat beach) and the ocean from the large balcony at the end of the medina was breathtaking.

This was very special way to end the day-sightseeing, and I have to say, was probably my favorite stop of the trip.

We walked through the souk in Rabat - which was very cool and I WISH I could have spent more time (and some money) there! But we were more in the mood for walking and looking, though I am certain next time will different... :)

YUM!

Next, we visited the old medina of Rabat. This was a new experience because it was very crowded (even more so than Fes) and pretty intense to say the least. At one point, a man walking by actually groped my butt, and really caught me off guard. Now, before my parents have a heart attack, I have to say, I felt very safe the entire trip, especially because Sultan made sure to walk right behind me after hearing this, which also made me feel a lot better. I have chosen a group of great people who really watch my back! (Insert obvious joke here) Even with the butt grab, this was still a very cool adventure!

View from our morning walk!

The next day after taking an early morning walk around the neighborhood - which was so beautiful - I had one of those corny 'Sofia moments' where I thought "How lucky am I to be here?" Feeling so grateful these days! I mean, look where I am!

That afternoon, we visited the Ruins of Chellah, existing since pre-Islamic times holding Mauretania Tingit1ana and medieval ruins, now crumbling in its remains, but still so beautiful and a cool place to see! So, yes. We went to Rabat and enjoyed tourist locations, but had a wonderful

Ruins of Chellah

time nonetheless! After the visit to the Chellah ruins, it was time to return back to Sultan's home once more for a Sunday lunch of amazing tagine with beef and then fruit and sweet almond/nutty pastries for desert...That I again, cannot remember the name of. Fatiha also sent us home with some desert, much to my delight! :)

Breakfast!

I know (I hope) Sultan and his family will be reading this post, so I will say again, thank you so SO much for hosting us in your beautiful home and city for the weekend. Your generosity will not soon be forgotten, we had an amazing time! 

I hope everyone enjoyed this post and pictures! Stay tuned for more soon! 

Sofia, xoxo

P.S. More pictures down below!!