10 replies to this topic

[Donkeymog]

 

Today I am in Rabat, Morocco. I'm here for 10 days checking out a world music festival.

 

Ask any Rabat / Moroccan / North African questions here. Any requests for photos or recommendations for things to check out?

[kspr]

world music how? like music from all over, or that one niche genre that's always fully stocked at target?

was the in flight movie casablanca?

what is distinct about moroccan culture from the other muslim cultures of the region?

do you have a pocket recorder and enough memory to record some live music to share with us?

see any interesting buildings?

[SpazCat]

Will you be anywhere near Chellah? It's a old Roman city that's become overgrown.

 

Since I suggested a graveyard in a previous topic how about St Agatha’s Crypt & Catacombs? I have never been in actual catacombs and would totally enjoy using you for the experience.

 

To lighten things up how about the Archaeology Museum? The labels will all likely be in Arabic or French, but I'm sure that won't distract from the neatest of it all.

 

Pictures. Pictures! PICTURES!

[Donkeymog]

world music how? like music from all over, or that one niche genre that's always fully stocked at target?

 

Music from all over. I want to see the Iraqi Orchestra and this Persian band I've heard about. Have no idea how to spell their names though. Also Ricky Martin and Alicia Keys. We missed Justin Timberlake unfortunately.

 

was the in flight movie casablanca?

 

We had an awful Canadian comedy sketch show as in flight entertainment. It sucked. I still haven't watched Casablanca, I wanted to before I came but I didn't find the time.

 

what is distinct about moroccan culture from the other muslim cultures of the region?

 

It's super French. Quite Western compared to other Muslim cultures in North Africa (mostly comparing it to Egypt here). Shisha is banned, I think. Quite open relationships between men and women and not much head covering, though there is some.

 

do you have a pocket recorder and enough memory to record some live music to share with us?

 

Sadly not, I didn't even think of this. I'll embed some youtubes of good acts I find.

 

see any interesting buildings?

 

The medina (old market) is great. Really distinctive Arabic style fortified walls with a labyrinth of awesone little alleys. I have picture I will upload later when my battery isn't about to die.

 

More later.

[Donkeymog]

Will you be anywhere near Chellah? It's a old Roman city that's become overgrown.

 

Okay, I'm off to Chellah in an hour or two. I'll take lots of photos and maybe some video. Apparently there's a monastery overrun with cats. So that should be awesome.

 

Since I suggested a graveyard in a previous topic how about St Agatha’s Crypt & Catacombs? I have never been in actual catacombs and would totally enjoy using you for the experience.

 

I think this is actually in Rabat, Malta, not Rabat, Morocco. Google is being a bit weird about it.

 

To lighten things up how about the Archaeology Museum? The labels will all likely be in Arabic or French, but I'm sure that won't distract from the neatest of it all.

 

Archaeology museum? Sounds fun, I'll look into it.

 

Pictures. Pictures! PICTURES!

 

I'll post some here later, but in the meantime check out my girlfriend's Instagram. She tends to upload a lot of pictures of cats.

[SpazCat]

Your girlfriend takes nice pictures. I enjoy the amount of cat pictures she takes. I also like the pictures she takes of you! 

[Donkeymog]

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[SpazCat]

DAYM!

[Donkeymog]

Got to see Bixaga 70 on the African stage last night. Those guys are really fucking cool. Can't find much information about them on the Interwebs either.

 

 

Went to Casablanca today. That place is really nice. It reminded me of parts of the East Coast of Australia or how imagine the beach areas of California. Except it's got a massive fuck off mosque.

[Donkeymog]

Watched Robert Plant play in front of a hundred thousand Moroccans tonight. He was actually really good. The locals love it.

[Donkeymog]

It's my last night in Morocco. I've had an amazing time.

 

Tonight I went to see Alicia Keys play. She was nearly an hour late on stage and she sucked bad so I left. Took a ride over to African stage and watched Ebo Taylor tear it up:

 

 

Ate crepes by the riverside and partied with the locals. Simply awesome.

 

Of all the places I've been I'd recommend visiting Morocco the most. It's an incredible place. It's bustling but relaxed, the people are polite without being subdued. I'm really going to miss this place.