Tarifa was the last city we visited in Europe. We went to the port, shared our journey with border guards, and crossed the border. We waved goodbye to Europe and arrived in Africa — specifically, Morocco.
The first day of Africa Stage we spent it in Morocco’s capital, Rabat. At first glance, it feels less like Africa—more like a mix of the Middle East and Eastern Europe. The city is clean, with good roads, nice cars, and lots of new buildings. The population is growing quickly, nearly two percent each year.
We started our day with a walk around Rabat’s center. First, we visited the mausoleum of Mohammed V, the king who made major reforms in Morocco. Then we explored the old city market, which was very interesting. After that, we checked out the ocean shore with its beach and surfers. Everything looked lovely.
After soaking in the Moroccan vibe, we decided to grab a snack. We wanted something truly Moroccan, so we found an authentic restaurant called “Ziryab.” It’s hard to find without a map. The place is very Moroccan, from the decor to the waiters’ outfits and the music. The menu had three set lunch options with appetizers, main dishes, and dessert. Since Moroccans usually eat in groups, most dishes are for 2-4 people. We ordered the smallest option, which turned out to be a mistake. For appetizers, we got eight different dishes, ranging from fried brains and liver to pumpkin puree with honey and olives with nuts. There was so much food that we almost couldn’t finish it! Everything was delicious.
The next day we traveled to Marrakech through Casablanca. Our main goal in the city was to visit the Hassan II Mosque. This is the third largest mosque in the world, holding up to 105,000 worshippers. The minaret stands at 210 meters tall. The construction involved 2,500 builders and 10,000 artists and decorators. Most materials came from different parts of Morocco, but the white granite for the columns and the 50-ton glass chandeliers were imported from Italy. Six thousand traditional Moroccan artisans worked for five years to create the mosaics, marble floors, stone columns, and other decorations for the mosque.
We arrived in Marrakech by 6 p.m. While Rabat is mostly white, Marrakech is known for its ocher colors. The city felt quite European, with many modern buildings, shops, restaurants, and cars.
After dinner, we explored the main attraction of Marrakech—the market! It’s hard to describe in words; you won’t find anything like it in Europe. We spent an hour and a half there.
The first day of Africa Stage we spent it in Morocco’s capital, Rabat. At first glance, it feels less like Africa—more like a mix of the Middle East and Eastern Europe. The city is clean, with good roads, nice cars, and lots of new buildings. The population is growing quickly, nearly two percent each year.
We started our day with a walk around Rabat’s center. First, we visited the mausoleum of Mohammed V, the king who made major reforms in Morocco. Then we explored the old city market, which was very interesting. After that, we checked out the ocean shore with its beach and surfers. Everything looked lovely.
After soaking in the Moroccan vibe, we decided to grab a snack. We wanted something truly Moroccan, so we found an authentic restaurant called “Ziryab.” It’s hard to find without a map. The place is very Moroccan, from the decor to the waiters’ outfits and the music. The menu had three set lunch options with appetizers, main dishes, and dessert. Since Moroccans usually eat in groups, most dishes are for 2-4 people. We ordered the smallest option, which turned out to be a mistake. For appetizers, we got eight different dishes, ranging from fried brains and liver to pumpkin puree with honey and olives with nuts. There was so much food that we almost couldn’t finish it! Everything was delicious.
The next day we traveled to Marrakech through Casablanca. Our main goal in the city was to visit the Hassan II Mosque. This is the third largest mosque in the world, holding up to 105,000 worshippers. The minaret stands at 210 meters tall. The construction involved 2,500 builders and 10,000 artists and decorators. Most materials came from different parts of Morocco, but the white granite for the columns and the 50-ton glass chandeliers were imported from Italy. Six thousand traditional Moroccan artisans worked for five years to create the mosaics, marble floors, stone columns, and other decorations for the mosque.
We arrived in Marrakech by 6 p.m. While Rabat is mostly white, Marrakech is known for its ocher colors. The city felt quite European, with many modern buildings, shops, restaurants, and cars.
After dinner, we explored the main attraction of Marrakech—the market! It’s hard to describe in words; you won’t find anything like it in Europe. We spent an hour and a half there.
