Day 190 25th January
Rabat
Day off the bike. I met up with Jasper and Craig while I was having coffee. We went for brekkie of ham and cheese omelette, with ham and cheese croissant with coffee, and orange panache (a strange set breakfast.)
I walked through the medina looking at the souk and mosques, and watched silk spinning . I was nearly decapitated at one point by the silk strung from nail to nail 100 yards apart.
Walking through the medina, investigating the souk, overlooked by the mosque
Took photos at the marina with fishermen and a restaurant boat and fish feeding. The fishermen took no notice of the signs.
The fishermen took no notice!
Took a photo of the Kasbah of theUdayas. With the washing on display over the battlements.
Kasbah of the Udayas
Walked to the beach and saw an incredibly large cemetery overlooking the sea front.
Cemetery overlooking the seafront
The beach was busy, there were big waves breaking and lots of surfers. I went for a paddle and sunbathed, and watched some kick boxers sparring on the beach. One of them took a big hit to the mouth in a mismatch and was bleeding.
The guy that hit him was then called into action in a Baywatch moment as a rescue boat got stuck in the sand, in what I thought was an exercise but turned out to be a rescue.
Launching a rescue boat
If ever I’m lost at sea I don’t want these guys trying to save me. When they returned with the casualty they left him in the boat while they lifted it onto a trailer and drove it up the beach, until a doctor came to look at him. The casualty was not in a good way.
Then I walked back into town through the medina, found London Road market where I had a freshly fried fish sandwich and considered getting my hair cut at David Beckham’s barbers.
David Beckham Barbers – he gets everywhere
As ever the market was colourful with fresh fruit and spices. I decided not to take a shower at the Douche of the Ocean.
I’m not surprised Brian didn’t fancy a shower
On the way back to the hostel grabbed a tea from a street seller for 1 dirham.
I met Craig and Jasper and we went for dinner at a Syrian restaurant, the first time I had eaten Syrian food. The waitress was Moroccan but her husband was Syrian and we spoke about our trips.We went on to a small bar for a few drinks and agreed to cycle together tomorrow.
Jasper has cycled from Holland to NZ and covered 35,000 km and Craig has cycled all over the world; I may have my work cut out to keep up.
There was only time for 3 beers as the hostel would be closed and locked at midnight, and not open until 8 next morning. It felt as though we were under a curfew.