Centre Ville

It's about time I start showing you around town. I'll start with Centre Ville--downtown Ifrane. It is within walking distance of the University, and the walk can be made quite pleasant by taking a shortcut through a park.

I think that tree in the foreground is a catalpa tree.

To the right of this path, which leads through the park, is the road going from the University to Centre Ville. To the left is more park, which we haven't yet explored. I have seen at least one pack of feral dogs out there and have been a bit reticent to explore too much.




 My favorite part of this park? The egrets (I think they are cattle egrets but need to confirm this).

The treetops in the park are filled with egrets and egret nests. Delightful!

One must be careful where one steps, as everything--including this trash can--is covered with, ahem, egret droppings.

The pond is lovely, too, although it is apparently a great source of consternation to the city, as it must be constantly drained and cleaned out.

Centre Ville is where one will find restaurants, banks, superettes (convenience stores) and the "green door''--apparently the place where one (presumably a non-Muslim) can buy alcohol (but not during Ramadan!).

No, you are not the first person to think the town is a bit like Disney World.

Notice the small Heineken sign above the door? That's the only hint that alcohol is sold here.

This is probably somebody's fancy pants summer home. Ifrane has a lot of these. This is not what a typical Moroccan's home looks like.

Centre Ville is also home to the "famous" lion statue, used both as a popular landmark for giving directions (as in, "walk a block past the lion" or "turn right at the lion") and as a photo opportunity. In fact, it was difficult to catch him alone. Immediately after I snapped this picture, a family came around the corner and started posing around the lion.


My favorite part of Centre Ville? The storks on top of the buildings.

They just plain make me happy.

I haven't had much experience in Moroccan towns yet, but I can make a few observations based on my limited experience. First of all, nothing is on a north-south-east-west grid. I still don't know which way is north, and several people have shown me. Second, it's better to rely on signs telling you which way to go for a given city or part of a city than it is to look for street signs. While walking around Centre Ville, I did see what I think was a street sign (only the second I've seen yet), but it was on a wall outside a home, hidden behind vines.

I've been told, too, that many streets are going through name changes from French to more Arabic/Moroccan names. Maybe that's related to the absence of street signs.

I guess it's time to head back to campus. I hope this post has given everyone a sense of downtown. Next up (I hope): the marche* and souk!

Pretend I'm in that car, driving back to campus.

*I'm not on a Mac anymore, so once again I don't know how to add diacritical marks. Darn it.