Akkari

Akkari, a quartier populaire, has become my second home in Rabat after our ridiculously overcrowded apartment in the nouveau ville. Akkari is situated outside the imperial walls of Rabat, and is termed a quartier populaire because of its smaller winding streets, and general character. The population is less well-off, and you don't see nearly as many cars off the main thoroughfare. You wouldn't exactly define Akkari as touristy in a western sense - ie: it doesn't fit into our romanticized image of Fez, Marrakesh, etc - but it definitely has a character of its own. As I've been spending more and more time here, I've managed to meet lots of the local kids through the reseau office, and it's a really great feeling to be able to walk down the main street and run into a kid that you worked with the day before. The shops are still pretty traditional, you have your average shops that specialize in odd individual products, like motors of dubious quality, or the cushion/pillow shop, which makes them while you wait. There's also plenty of hole in the wall places that sell pretty much the same things - bread, yogurt, bottled water, candy, and other relatively basic food (no supermarket by a long shot).
The best part about Akkari's less-than central location is that I am ridiculously close to the Atlantic, it's literally out the door, to the left, and down about 60-70 meters. There isn't a beach, it's more cliffs and craggy rocks, but it's quite the sight nonetheless. Nothing beats the guy with the snorkel and the scuba suit who tromps by the office everyday with his spear and his day's catch. One of these days, I'm going to venture down there and attempt to swim without being dashed on the rocks... wish me luck :/