Wow. We arrived in Rabat yesterday and the vibe change from Casablanca was tremendous. Where Casablanca was noisy, crowded and cacophonous, Rabat is immaculate, uncrowded, quiet and sublime.

Morocco’s capital city is a showcase for the world – and Morocco – to see. The King lives here, and everything appears focused on beauty and nature. Rabat reminds me of Washington, DC – our nation’s showplace.

We meandered around the city yesterday, taking in the old casbah, the Medina and the Challah, a Medieval fort and necropolis dating back to ancient Roman days. It forms one of four UNESCO heritage sites in Rabat. Amazing site that is perfectly preserved and protected. Here are some shots of the Casbah, the Medina and the Challah:

After Rabat, we drove to Chefchaouen, high up in the Atlas Mountains. It is truly another world, with many of its buildings painted blue back in the 1930’s to welcome Jews fleeing Europe. The color is said to represent sea, sky and freedom, and it elevates your mood while walking around and exploring.

A side note – I love street photography and taking photos of individuals, but here in Morocco, people are extremely uncomfortable having their photos taken. That’s something I’ve experienced elsewhere, and you have to respect it, but the result is that unfortunately I’m not able to share some of the amazing faces, outfits and expressions we’re seeing. C’est la vie….

We’re off to the ancient Roman city of Volubilus, then Meknes and Fes. They’re all close to each other, about three hours south of Chefchaouen, and the drive should be beautiful. Looking forward to more great scenery and people.