Our first two full days in Rabat were spent in orientations for the Thaqafat Association. This NGO connects volunteers with local organizations, and they connected our group with a children's center in Rabat's sister city of Salé and a primary school. We spent the morning and afternoon talking about the local culture and history, then skipped over to Dar Naji again for lunch.
We noticed the elaborate apparatus used to cook the tajines- each clay pot had its own little batch of coals that stretched out in a bronzed tree structure.
We sat outside on the covered patio, and saw more of the intricate lanterns that Morocco is known for.
I tried the beef and vegetable tajine, which was just as good as the ones the night before.
More views of the cool table settings.. complete with the bread that you break small pieces of and scoop up the stew with your hands. We went back to the NGO for the afternoon and learned more about Morocco and then met our host families for the first time! I stayed with another girl in my group with a mother and her daughter in the medina, where our mom spoiled us with more tajines and baked goodies.
A view of the Bab el Had square, which is also the entrance to the medina (the oldest part of the city). We followed the wall to the left and used another arch farther down to reach our apartment. The next day started with more orientations, and then the NGO leaders took our group on a walking tour of the city. We started by strolling past the medina, where the bustling alleyways were starting to look more familiar. Starting at the end of the medina, Avenue Mohammed V street. We passed the Parliament building, where palm trees scraped the skies and the rich stone colors stood out against the street.
We continued down the busy street, and saw the palace at the end of the road.
Stopping at a Syrian restaurant for lunch, we cooled off with these mint lemonades..
After which we went back for more orientations and a group dinner at the German Institute.