September 9, 2002 – Rabat – Meknès

 

 

 

After a last picture of the colorful hall of the hotel, really kitsch with a night watchman not yet awakened.

 

I walk to the train station to catch the train for Meknes at 8:15. The train is a good way to enjoy the view on the landscape. After staying close to the coast we turn to the inside of the country leaving flat landscapes for more undulating ones. We finally arrive in Meknes just before 11am. The train station is located in the new city (ville nouvelle) but the medina is easy accessible just by walking. I find a cheap room in one of the cheapest hotel there. Ther is no bathroom in it but the hammam is located just next to the hotel so it will be an opportunity to go there. The receptionist is very nice with me and shows me one of the rooms that will cost me 30 DH.

 

I start the visit of the city with Bab El Mansour, one of the numerous doors of Meknes. A little further I visit Koubat As Soufara, silos which were transformed in an underground prison. The proportions are huge and I wouldn’t be a prisoner there, it is very humid and almost completely dark.

 

From Koubat As Soufara, I just walk to the nearest door, bab Er Rih, to visit Moulay Ismael mausoleum, one of the rare Muslim monuments that infidels can visit in Morocco. The mausoleum has a great architecture with beautiful colors, blue, green, yellow and white that are the four colors of the imperial cities of Fes, Meknes, Marrakech and Rabat. We can go inside but the prayer room with Moulay Ismael tomb is closed to us.

 

Then I walk along the wall of the Royal city. The walls should be 20m high and they bring a nice shadow on the street. I am on my way to Heri Es Souani, a huge storeroom for wheat grains built by Moulay Ismael with thick walls (4m) that enable to preserve a constant temperature inside the storeroom in order to avoid moisture. The first part of the complex is well illuminated and in some rooms (don’t forget to bring a flashlight!!) you can see wells to cool the atmosphere. The second part of the complex was a huge stable for horses, more than 10 000 horses can be put there!!! Today the vegetation rules the place but the alleys are very photogenic and the columns are impressive.

 

 

I go back toward the medina and I begin to wander in the souks, there is a lot of people there.

 

Then, after a sandwich taken in a little restaurant near Bab El mansour, I return to my hotel room where I fall instantly asleep, I will wake up again at 11pm just to fall asleep another time. I was so tired.

 

Main expenses of the day:

Train Rabat – Meknes: 55.50 DH

Hôtel de Paris: 30 DH

Koubat As Soufara entrance: 10 DH

Heri es Souani entrance: 10 DH

Drinks (water, soft drinks, tea…) + evening meal: 20 DH

 

 

 

 

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D1 : Luxembourg – Paris – Casablanca

D2 : Casablanca – Rabat

D3 : Rabat – Meknes

D4 : Meknes – Volubilis – Meknes

D5 : Meknes - Fes

D6 : Fes

D7 : Merzouga

D8 : Merzouga – Tinehrir

D9 : Tinehrir – Ouarzazate – Marrakesh

D10 : Marrakesh

D11 : Marrakesh – Imlil

D12 : Imlil – Toubkal refuge

D13 : Refuge – 4167m –Tizi Ouanoums

D14 : Tizi Ouanoums – Amsouzert

D15 : Amsouzert – Azib Likemt

D16 : Azib Likemt – Tacheddirt

D17 : Tacheddirt – Imlil – Marrakesh

D18 : Marrakesh – Essaouira

D19 : Essaouira – El Jadida – Tangier

D20 : Tangier

D21 : Tangier – Chefchaouen

D22 : Chefchaouen – Casablanca

D23 : Casablanca – Paris – Luxembourg

 

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Last update : december 2002

Contact : pindavid@hotmail.com