Casablanca, Morocco

海边的清真寺 －－ 卡萨布兰卡

选择来到摩洛哥旅行，是因为卡萨布兰卡在这里。向往来到卡萨布兰卡这座城市，是因为《卡萨布兰卡》这部老片子。许久许久以前看过的，那首老歌还会常常去听，可是影片情节已大都不记得了，依稀还有些印象的是，是曾经被感动着流泪，影片中的旧式罗曼帝克。

眼前的卡萨布兰卡，已是一个走向国际化的大都市，想在卡萨布兰卡重温一下《卡萨布兰卡》这部影片，可是当地朋友更愿意谈及的是，摩洛哥与中国的友好关系以及互促的经济发展。

情非所愿，无可奈何之下，在朋友陪伴下去参观了那座海边的清真寺。

去过中东一些国家，清真寺自然也见过不少了。可是第一眼看见 Hassan II Mosque，还是被它的壮观镇惊了。
从出租车走出来，远远望去，在广场的另一端，是月亮星星尖顶的清真寺，而后面，就是久违了的海。而在另一边，白色的灯塔在不远处的小山丘上。

当地的朋友告诉我，这座清真寺花费了五六年的时间才竣工，造价不菲，至今还在不断维修之中，是靠提高摩洛哥国税来筹集的修建费用。所以可以说这座清真寺是摩洛哥全国人民出资建造的。这似乎也是Hassan II，这位前任国王留下的最大的“丰功伟绩“了。

包上头巾，走进寺里，并不是这儿清真寺的要求，只是个人的一个习惯，做为对一个宗教信仰的尊重，就好像我会穿上莎丽走进印度庙里一样。寺中简单点说，可以就用富丽堂皇四个字来形容。

（唉，太累了，不想写了，以下用图片来介绍，宋啊！你什么时候才能把照片全部传给我？我等到花儿也谢了！！！！！）

（唉，太累了，不想写了，以下用图片来介绍...）



海滩


走出清真寺，依旧是蓝天，白云，大海。


大门


吊顶


local market: spice shop


sunset (on the train from Casa to Marrakech)

Fes, Morocco

Met a funny taxi driver with poor driving skills and totally don't know the direction at all. reverse whole way until end of road, drive at opposite side of one way traffic, a few times I was worried he was going to crash the car next to us. I couldn't wait anymore to ask him whether this is his first day of driving, i tried to ask him in a polite way, "are you from Fes?" then he answered, "no, I am from Casablanka."


Royal palace in Fes: there are Royal palaces for the king in every city in Morocco. All are rich decorated. the front door of Fes Royal palace is painted in golden color and decorated with mossaic.




The blue gate: entry to Medina (old city). we almost lost in the big souk which like a Labyrinth. some of the road is so narrow that we have to squeeze in/out like a fish.


Tannerie (the place dyed leather):I was told the locals use pigeon shit to soft goat skin, that is where the strong odour from. not so sure how true it is, some of the book says the smell is from the animal urine in dyeing tank, some believes animal urine can make color stays longer and brighter on leather.


Nijerim square and Nijerim fountain, one of the must-see in Fes. but why it is a must-see?


A mosque in praying time


handcraft men

Chefchaouen, Morocco

the small hillstation is totally painted in white and blue. Walking in Chefchuan is like walking along the sky, while clouds passing by.

Don't know who's brilliant idea first to start paint the town in cold colors, compare to dull muddy pinkish Marrakech, Chefchuan is a peaceful and lazy town. Indeed people are friendly here. An old man was trying to sell the hat to me, instead of chasing behind and trying to make tourist annoyed, his selling strategy is siting in another tea house which is near to the restaurant we were having lunch, enjoyed the sun and tea, at meanwhile smiling at us and wave his hats.





Notice: Chefchuan is near to Tangier so near to Spain. a lot of people travel here for drugs as well. we were been offered drugs a few times.