Scenes of Meknes, Morocco
Meknes, Morocco
Despite our short visit to Meknes in Morocco, we managed to cover quite a range of highlights. While the day was full-on, and we covered many of the main features of te city, I didn’t feel rushed at any time.
One of the intriguing tourist attractions in Morocco I’ve shown in the photo above. In many places we saw horse-drawn carriages. Hiring one of these for a tour is an excellent way of experiencing the city, but is seemed to me to be quite incongruous; not the sort of thing I expected there. On the other hand, we also saw many in the various Spanish cities we visited later on our tour. They appeared to be quite appropriate given the nature of Spanish culture, despite the fact that the two countries are neighbours with just a narrow strip of water between them.
The photo below shows a wool market in the heart of the city.
Meknes, Morocco
Meknes, Morocco
Shop in Meknes, Morocco
Inside a shop in Meknes, Morocco
On most days of our tour of Morocco we saw interesting and fascinating places. The scenery was often quite different to what we are used to here in Australia. I also found fascination in the small things, the ordinary and everyday common things to local eyes are often what is interesting to the visitor. In wandering the streets and laneways, the medinas and bazaars, the sights were just as arresting as the beautiful countryside.
Bou Inania Madrasa, Meknes, Morocco
No Comments »8th March, 2013; Category: Africa, Exotic Destinations, Historic places, Holidays, Morocco
Bou Inania Madrasa in Meknes, Morocco
During our time in Meknes, Morocco, we were given a guided tour of the Bou Inania Madrasa, an Islamic religious school. (There is another in Fes by the same name.)
This school was established in the 1350s and is a wonderful example of the architecture of the time. The guide who accompanied us on the whole tour of Morocco introduced us to a local guide who took us through the school pointing out all the features of this beautiful building. I – and most of the others in the tour group – enjoyed the beautiful building, but didn’t appreciate the heavy emphasis on the virtues of the Islamic faith.
Certainly, it was interesting to hear some of their beliefs but I felt he went far beyond good taste in his enthusiasm, and in the length of his explanations. It was almost fanaticism.
Despite my criticisms I must admit to the sheer beauty of this ancient building., as shown in today’s set of photos.
Bou Inania Madrasa in Meknes, Morocco
Bou Inania Madrasa in Meknes, Morocco
Bou Inania Madrasa in Meknes, Morocco
Bou Inania Madrasa in Meknes, Morocco
Is that a camel hanging there?
Street vendor in Meknes, Morocco
Street vendors like the one above in Meknes are a common sight in many towns and cities in Morocco. The visitor – and locals – usually do not have far to walk far to find what they need to buy.
And just around the corner was a compact shop selling just threads. The colourful display (see photo below) means that almost any colour was available.
By way of amazing contrast, nearby was a butcher shop, shown in the third photo today (see below). Yes – that is a camel’s head hanging there. Not sure how one would cook that to eat it – perhaps it was merely a ploy to attract customers and wasn’t for sale. I wasn’t game to ask our guide for fear of making an almighty blunder and cause some kind of offence.
It was just one more fascinating sight in this wonderful place called Magical Morocco.
Shop selling threads in Meknes, Morocco
Butchershop in Meknes Morocco
Scenes of Meknes, Morocco
Scenes of Meknes, Morocco
Like many Moroccan cities and towns, the visitor could easily become disoriented and even lost when meandering the streets and lanes of the ancient medinas. I was so pleased that we had local guides to help us through the confusing maze twisting and turning in all directions.
Scenes of Meknes, Morocco