"A Wise Passiveness"

To read my other posting about this mosque, click here.

God's House

The Hassan II mosque in Casablanca is an impressive and massive site. The woman who took us on the tour said the mosque cost $800 million "that we know about." Seriously.

What really struck me about the mosque was its intricacy, it was clear a lot of time and effort went into its conception and construction. The house of worship was built right on the Atlantic Ocean. It is so calming being there looking at the elaborate architecture while listening to the sound of the waves crashing into the barrier wall outside.

Click on the images to see the details.

School for the Faithful

Tucked inside the Marrakech medina is the Ben Youssef Medersa which a 16th-century Koranic school. At one point, it was the largest Islamic school in North Africa. It is now a museum. The school was originally built in the 14th century only to be rebuilt some 200 years later. As many as 900 students from Muslim countries all over the world reportedly once studied at the Ben Youssef Medersa with all of them cramming into the 132 rooms arranged around the courtyard. In the middle of the courtyard, there is a tiled water basin which is the subject of this photograph. Click on the picture to see a more detailed view.















The Ben Youssef Medersa is a place of serenity, reflection and comfort. The intricacy of the building is amazing but what really strikes you when you are there is the calmness you feel in a fast-paced city like Marrakech.

For my several other Morocco posts on this blog, you can click here, here, here, here, here, here, here, or here.

Another Day at Work

For my several other Morocco posts on this blog, you can click here, here, here, here, here, here, or here.

The Strength of Sand

What struck me about the Sahara was the sand. I mean, other than the fact that it is a desert. When you approach the dunes, they look soft... almost fluid. But once you get close, you realize that a lot of the sand has been packed by wind and hardened by the sun. The texture was actually a lot different than what I had expected. It was a surprising discovery.

Bedouin Parking Lot

Our Bedouin guide through the Sahara, Hassan, took us through the bazaar in Rissani. The market was outdoors and the overwhelming majority of vendors arrived with their goods by donkey. There was an area outside the bazaar where the vendors tied up all their donkeys. It was an open space with dozens and dozens of donkeys waiting in the hot desert sun. Hassan just laughed at the image, pointed and said, "Look! Bedouin parking lot!"

The Real Rissani

At the edge of the Sahara desert lies a small town called Rissani, about 222 miles east of Marrakech. It's where many tourists stay before a taking a jeep and camel excursion to the dunes. I had the opportunity to spend time and look around there before the dune trek. Rissani has a pretty sizable bazaar where people sell everything from clothes, to spices, to fresh vegetables. It is not a slick looking as the souks you'll find in the big cities but somehow it seems more real.

The Madness of Marrakech

Marrakech (or Marrakesh if you prefer) is one of the craziest places I have ever visited. It's not the capital of Morocco but it feels like it is. The bulk of the action in the city happens behind the walls of the ancient medina.

The square inside is called the Djemaa el Fna and it's where these pictures were taken. At night, food stands pop up and you can sit at the benches while people prepare food right there for you. That's why there are so many lights. There are people who play music, perform acrobatics and even snake charm in the center as well.

Climbing the Dune

Desert Crossing

I happened upon some camels being guided through the desert by their Bedouin herder. You can see just how hot it was. Later, we used camels as we ventured onto the dunes.

Kids in the Sahara

I took these pictures on my trip to Morocco. These kids are brother and sister and live in tents in the Sahara. Their parents make carpets in one of the tents to make money. The girl was happy to have her picture taken but the boy was a little more reticent. I said something silly to him and he immediately started laughing. Turns out, he was just a bit shy.