Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Still in Rabat. King Mohammed V, the “father of Moroccan independence,” died in 1961. His son, Hassan II, was the father of the present king of Morocco, Mohammed VI. The mausoleum was commissioned by Hassan II. Its architect, surprisingly, was Vietnamese. Both of Mohammed two sons, Hassan II and Prince Abdallah, are also buried here. Photo: Side view of the mausoleum walking to the gate entrance.

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

The entrance, guarded by two guards on horseback. This is the guard on the left.

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

The guard on the right.

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

The front of the mausoleum.

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

The front entrance.

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

One of the guards.

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Close–up. He gets to be relieved every 1 1/2 hours.

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Inside the mausoleum with the sarcophagus of Mohammed V.

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Man in prayer at the back of the mausoleum.

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

The other side of the mausoleum.

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Fountain at the bottom of the steps up to the mausoleum.

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

One of several candelabras at the mausoleum.

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

The Hassan Tower on the mausoleum grounds, built in the late 12th century by Yaqub al–Mansur of the Almohad dynastry. He intended the tower plus a mosque to be the largest in the world. The tower was to be much higher and all that was constructed of the mosque were the columns. When he died in 1199, all construction stopped.

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Another view of the mausoleum. The buiding next to it is a museum.

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

One of doors to the museum.

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

The only reference I could find to explain what this building on the grounds is is that it is a horse stable for the royal horses.

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Pigeons roosting on the top of the building.

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Another view.

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Outside view of the Hassan Tower and the unfinished walls.

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

Seen from the Bus

From the bus, we could see Sale, Rabat’s bedroom community.

Seen from the Bus

Seen from the Bus

A new development on a waterway. There is much construction going on in Morocco.

Seen from the Bus

Seen from the Bus

I think you can go out in one of these boats for a water cruise.

Seen from the Bus

Oudaia Kasbah

The beautiful city wall around the Oudaia Kasbah, built 1147–1248. A kasbah, with its high walls giving protection, is similar to a fortified castle. It is usually rectangular in shape with towers at its four corners. Today, many hotels have been built to resemble kasbahs.

Oudaia Kasbah

Oudaia Kasbah

Gate in the kasbah’s wall to the Andalusian Garden. The garden is laid out in Moorish style, the style used by the Moors in Spain.

Oudaia Kasbah

Andalusian Garden

They are selling Moroccan nougat here. I bought some after someone else offered me a piece of it to try. When you are eating it, you will think you are in heaven.

Andalusian Garden

Andalusian Garden

Entering the garden.

Andalusian Garden

Andalusian Garden

The ancient water wheel in the photo was used for irrigation. The building is the palace of Moulay Ismail (1672–1727), which was renovated in 1995. It is now a museum of folk art and crafts (Musee des Oudaia).

Andalusian Garden

Andalusian Garden

Walking through the garden.

Andalusian Garden

Andalusian Garden

Another view of the garden. Many different kinds of fruit trees are here.

Andalusian Garden

On the Way to Meknes

Buildings seen from the bus.

On the Way to Meknes

Lunch Stop

We stopped for lunch on the road. There were hot dishes available. This photo shows fish. I think this is tangine de dorade aux legumes for 50 dirhams (Dhs). One Dhs equals 12 cents U.S., so this would cost $6.00.

Lunch Stop

Lunch Stop

Or you could choose your meat and have it cooked to order.

Lunch Stop

Lunch Stop

Most of the menus we saw in Morocco were in French. Most Moroccans speak both French and Arabic. I speak or read neither, so I used tourist sign language or a blank stare when I didn’t have a clue what was being said to me. But I knew what brochettes were and ordered some.

Lunch Stop

Lunch Stop

Harira is a Moroccan soup: $7.83.

Lunch Stop

Lunch Stop

What I ordered. Beef brochettes plus rice and French pastry. Other things the French left in Morocco were their pastries (so good) and French bread.

Lunch Stop

Back on the Road

Back on the road, past many farms.

Back on the Road

Back on the Road

Past farm houses.

Back on the Road

On the Road

This is a close–up of what looks like a quonset hut. It is just the shape that hay is stored, covered by plastic to keep out animals and insects.

On the Road

Rest Stop

We usually stopped every two hours for a rest stop. We were greeted by a sign saying “bonjour.”

Rest Stop

Rest Stop

This rest stop was selling exotic snacks.

Rest Stop

Rest Stop

Also, these and a number of other exotic American brands.

Rest Stop

On the Road

On the road. The Moroccan landscape reminded me much of the landscape of California. I felt at home.

On the Road

On the Road

More of the landscape.

On the Road

On the Road

And more.

On the Road