Exploring the Medina

 Our guide Nagib met us at 9:30 and we set off to see the centuries pass by.  We started with the 11th and then 12th at the famous Koutoubia mosque.

To the right is the original only in ruins from the 11th and torn down in the 12th by the next dynasty to make a bigger one.  Jealousy knows no bounds.
 
Crossing over to the 12th century Saadin Medina, a Medina within the Medina.  We visit the tombs of the King, wives and children.  Bodies are in shrouds, laid on their right side looking at Mecca.  If a tomb is not aligned this was it means a non-muslim.





On to El Nadi palace 15th century which was taken over by the French in early 1900s when Morocco became a protectorate.
A four part garden, so plants of each season, so colourful flowers are year round.
Hand carved plaster on the post, not added after.

Cedar ceiling, coloured with natural elements.


Amazing craftsmanship.



Wandering through the souks, markets and dedicated craft lanes was amazing.  

Street of writers for the illiterate for letter or form filling or documents.

Berber music and instruments.

Spice shop.

The ingredients for Ras El Hanout.


The chief administrator of the brass street.

Blacksmith ironwork shop.

Hand and foot lathe.
Snake charmer in Djemaa el-Fna, the huge main square in the centre of the Medina.

Roof top spot for happy hour.

Another roof top for the famous Tanjia
Chez Lamine Hadj Mustafa.

These pots are filled with servings of lamb or beef, preserved lemons and garlic. Set over a low BBQ of charcoal for four to five hours.  
Absolutely delicious.


For two.

Many roof top restaurants but very few serve alcohol being Muslim.

Early evening in the Djemaa el-Fna.






A bit of any early night, cooking lessons tomorrow.



Comments

  1. GABI21 October 2023 at 10:58

    Oh Wow. The food looks so yummy !! I've taken a tagine cooking class and loved the spices used.
    I'm afraid you lost Jim with the snake charmer. LOL

    ReplyDelete

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