As we flew from San Diego to Detroit to Paris we knew we would meet up with the Virginia Goldbergs in Paris. Tired and a bit gritty from uncounted hours of travel we found them at the gate as we prepared to board the last flying leg of the trip to Casablanca. It took us a bit of time to clear border formalities gather our luggage and find our bus to Rabat, but woon we were on our way to the hotel in Rabat where the Los Angeles Goldbergs greeted us in the lobby of Le Diwan an Accor Hotel. 10 months of planning came to fruition at that moment. Among us we had stomach bugs back pain and assorted other travel maladies, but we were together and prepared to travel on with our guide and leader Malek.

After a typical OAT briefing along witih introductions so Malek could get to know us we set out to see some of the sites of Rabat including the Royal Palace. Following lunch at an outdoor cafe we stocked at a liquor store to stock up for 5 days when alcoholic beverages will not be available. Malek also picked up sim cards for those of us planning to use them in our phones. This cost us an hour as we struggled through the incomprehensible instructions, made more so by being only in French and Arabic. Eventually most of the phones were working. I set off on brisk walk with Rohma, Josh and Dan leaving the others to rest and prepare for the evening. 

Althoug dinner wasn’t until later Malek had us on the bus at 5:30 to tour the Blue and While Quarter. Some readers may know that those are the colors of Israel. Indeed this was a former Jewish quarter and teh walls are BLue to shoulder height and white above. We then went to the Casbah, in this case a military structure built to defend the mouth of the river. We arrived with perfect timing to witness a glorious sunset over the Atlantic. Thank you Malek for getting us there.