Ville Nouvelle, the new district

Every major city has a medina, which represents the old town. When the French came to the country and wanted to expand the cities, there was no room for expansion within the existing city walls, so they started building outside. The result was that today there are many cities with both a medina and ville nouvelle. The medina represents the old Morocco, where there were no cars. In most streets in a medina, there is only room for a horse-drawn carriage. The streets are narrow and confusing. Ville nouvelle looks more like a neighborhood in Europe with long, wide roads. Palm trees and flowers lining the roads. Trendy cafes and restaurants. No sheep heads and severed legs or decapitated chickens lying on the roadside for sale. In short, it's a more modern area, which also makes it less interesting for tourists to see - but a much-needed break from the vendors and children of the medina who all want your attention and money in one way or another. Friday is a Muslim holiday and many shops are closed in the medina, so it's not the best day to visit. However, we don't feel the holiday in the city anymore. It is possible to find bars in the ville nouvelle, we found one along the main street, Muhammed V. There were tables inside and outside. If you wanted to drink alcohol outside you had to pay extra. Morocco prefers that no one drinks in public. We bought a 1/2 bottle of wine, which we shared...inside. I was the only girl in this bar at all. Muslim men and women don't drink. Well, some men do, but women are definitely not welcome in such a place. There are also only toilets for men :o)