My Thrid week has started

It's hard to believe that two weeks have gone by.

Today is Tuesday of the third week. It's been very hot...93 yesterday and 95 today. Plus it's humid here, so it feels a lot hotter. It's unusual for it to be this hot in Rabat at this time of year.

Over the weekend 3 of my students to me on a walking tour of "downtown" Rabat and the Medina.

All the major cities in Morocco are divided into two areas: the Ville Nouvelle - "new city" and the Medina "old city". The Ville Nouvelle area of the city is a legacy from French colonial days. The French didn't want to mix the cultures and religions, so they built outside of the Medina. There are some good examples of French style architecture to see in Rabat, although apparently Casablanca is the place to go to really see French colonial architecture. Unfortunately, most of the building were constructed between 1912 - 1938 and many are now is disrepair. The Ville Nouvelle is also where you find the up-scale hotels and shops.

The Medina or "old town" is distinctly Moroccan in architecture and layout. This is where the typical Moroccan shops for everything from fresh fish to underwear . And it's where you find some great bargains on hand-made leather goods, silver jewelry, wood items, etc. Not only do people shop here, but many live inside the Medina as well. There are hotels in them too, but you would have to be a pretty adventurous soul to stay in one. At least the ones I've seen in the Rabat Medina. In Marrakech (and Fes too), however, there are many Riads - very old homes renovated and turned into guest houses - in the Medina that can be very luxurious.

The Medinas are always walled and are layed out like a big maze of walkways and narrow alley-ways. The Rabat Medina was constructed in the 17th Century. Medinas in Marrakech & Fes are much older and A LOT bigger. You can wander through the Rabat Medina and find your way out fairly easily. In the Marrakech Medina, you had better hire a guide, or you may never make it out!

The tour was great. I certainly learned a lot, and it was another great opportunity for me for cultural, religious and historical exchanges with them.

i will post photos soon.