Rabat

First sights after arriving in Rabat. Arrived uneventfully but exhausted in Rabat, Morocco on Tuesday, June 6th in the mid-afternoon. I did not check luggage and waited for my traveling companions to collect theirs. No losses. Went through security and customs VERY easily. My colleague Sam and I hit the cash machine before going outside. I took out 2000 dirhams---about $200. There were drivers waiting with NOVA signs and we were whisked quickly into waiting vehicles---a minivan and Volkswagen station-wagon. Surprisingly there was no real hullaballo as you exited the airport terminal----no cabbies shouting----nobody trying to grab your luggage and "help". You get a very distinct impression that this place(or at least Rabat) has a bit of calmness to it. Traffic is slightly hectic---more on that later----some use of horns and ignoring of lane dividers but nothing approaching India, Russia, Nicaragua, Croatia etc. The tension you feel in other places is not prevalent. Due to our late arrival(plane was delayed leaving Paris as well), we missed our appointment with the American Ambassador and were taken directly to the Moroccan DFP(department of vocational training) headquarters. It is still hard to get used to the fuss one experiences on these missions. the entire DFP office was waiting for us----lots of hand shaking---and we were ushered into a conference room, given water and delicious mint tea. A 1/2 hour meeting commenced with Mr. Jamal Eddine Elaloua, the Secretary General of the DFP.

There is Bougainvillaea everywhere. I love this exotic flower.