Visit to Souissi District in Rabat
- beachmontabroad
- Jul 21, 2017
- 2 min read
Our visit to the administrative office of the Souissi district, with President Adil El-Atrassi (center) and Vice President Aicha Ouaa (right).
There are six different districts within the city of Rabat, each with a president and vice president to represent the people and handle local administrative concerns. We were lucky enough to meet with Adil El-Atrassi, the president of the Souissi district, and his vice president, Aicha Ouaa, through a connection of Moroccan-American community organizer Rachid Moukhabir in Revere.
Mr. El-Atrassi welcomed us to his office at the Rabat City Municipal building.
We enjoyed a formal visit to the Rabat City Municipal building and shared Moroccan mint tea in Mr. El-Atrassi’s office. Mr. El-Atrassi and Ms. Ouaa were elected in 2015 and represent the younger, up-and-coming generation of Moroccan politicians.
Chatting about local politics and sharing some mint tea and sweets.
Inside the official meeting chambers at the Rabat City Municipal building.
Putting on our best serious faces in the Rabat City Municipal meeting chambers.
The beautiful ceiling with handmade details at the Rabat City Municpal building.
Later in the day, Mr. El-Atrassi invited us to lunch at his family’s farm-restaurant located in a rural section of Rabat. We had some great landscape views on our way from the busy city center and were able to visit with some of the animals on the farm before our lunch. During the school year, Moroccan students visit the farm to learn about animals and agriculture.
Our view of the rural area outside Rabat's city center.
Visiting with the animals on the farm.
At the farm, we enjoyed a traditional Friday couscous with lamb, eggs, raisins and peanuts. It was so delicious! Friday is a holy day in Islam and many Moroccans leave work in the middle of the day to attend prayer at a mosque and then share a homemade couscous meal with their families before heading back to work. We were honored to participate in this tradition. Thank you, Mr. El-Atrassi!
Our beautiful table set up in the garden of the farm-restaurant.
Our first Friday couscous in Morocco did not disappoint! The tender lamb meat is hidden underneath the mound of sweet raisin-tomato sauce. Peanuts are sprinkled on top for a little crunch.
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