Finally arrived in Morocco on 3 June. As it was hot when I left Dubai, I was wearing light clothes so the heat of Casablanca was easy to tolerate. Najib met me at the airport and even seemed happy to see me! Just kidding - after such a long time apart, it was great to be back together again. Before I left Australia, Dounia told Najib that I was turning into a little bombah (chocolate will do that), so I think he was expecting to see a big mama come rolling through the doors, because when he said "you haven't changed abit" it was with a kind of puzzled look and almost as if he wanted to say "but I thought you were meant to be fat?".

As in Australia, on the way from the airport to Rabat, we made the obligatory stop for coffee, or Moroccan tea, and hallowah (Moroccan sweet pastries ... which I can't eat as they are not gluten free!!). This stop is especially important given there is 100km between Casablanca and Rabat and talking all that time is thirsty work.

Arrived in Rabat around 2.00pm, just in time for lunch!! Unlike all the other times I have visited Morocco, this time I didn't need to get some sleep having had such a good nights rest in Dubai. It was amazing to see how tall all the nieces and nephews had grown since I had last seen them, a year and a half ago. They were all feeling stressed because it was the final two weeks of school and it was exam time, so they didn't really have too much time to chat with me.

Over the next couple of weeks, while waiting for the internet connection to the house, I got out and about, taking photos of Rabat. I was quite surprised at how orderly it had become, compared to my last trip. It was quite safe for me to cross the road when the green man came on telling me to "walk", as the drivers actually stopped at the red light. You may think this is a rather silly thing to write about, but it wasn't so long ago that traffic lights were just decorations that everyone ignored, so you literally risked your life each time you attempted to cross the road. At that time, it was only when there was a total blockage at an intersection (due to everyone wanting to have right of way first), that one could comfortably cross the road without fear, because all the following traffic couldn't move! Even in Morocco, a stationery vehicle cannot run you over!

Other changes include the new landscaping around the city, and the new Bouregreg Valley development project taking place in Rabat and its sister city, Sale, which sits on the opposite bank of the Bouregreg River. This is a US$2.0 billion development that has a number of stages, the first of which is expected to be finished by 2009. For those really interested, you can read more about it here:

Bouregreg Valley Development

And if you're thinking, "wow, that's impressive", it doesn't stop there. There is another US$3.4 billion being spent on developing an 11 kilometre stretch along the Atlantic Ocean side of Rabat (not to mention developments in Tanger and Marrakesh). You can read more about the Rabat development here:

Saphira Development, Rabat

So, it's all happening here in Morocco. In my photos of Rabat, you will find I have included some photos of the Bouregreg Valley development, which stretches all the way along the river from the valley to the sea. The photos I have taken are near the sea outlet, so it will be interesting to see how the place changes as the months go by. I usually take a walk along the river bank at least once a week, but I don't always take my camera with me. Will try to keep the camera handy so that I can record the changes that are happening.

So, what have I been doing with my time in Morocco. Well, the first 2 weeks Najib got me working on his invoices - and within moments I was thinking "this spreadsheet needs some formulas and links". So, that kept me out of mischief, automating the input of information etc. Once it was all done, he boasted about the new process to his friends and colleagues - so now one of his green grocer friends wants me to work on automating his spreadsheets as well! Maybe my charge-out fee could be free fruit for a year!

When I'm not doing administrative type stuff, I'm answering emails, or remembering to update this blog, or catching up with the news, or trying to increase my french vocabulary, or having free french lessons with my nieces and nephews (they really seem to enjoy correcting me, and never get tired of it .... tonight I think I was told about 8 times that it is "une belle voix' not "un bon voix". I think it will eventually sink in. (We were watching a singing competition - Morocco's equivalent of "Idol". And you would never guess that an Australian would appear on this show. With this competition, between the competitors singing, they feature different international singers - anything from rap and hip hop to classical arabic. Last night they had Tina Arena .... yes, Tina Arena. She has been living in France for many years now and speaks fluent French. Apparently she is quite a hit in France, so was singing her latest release, and the crowd knew every word, so I guess she must be a hit here as well!).

Hmmm, I just noticed the time (just after midnight). I think I'll post this now and get some shut-eye.

Until my next post, take care and all the best,
xxxx Zohra oooo