MY TRAVEL JOURNAL: My trip from Rabat, Morocco to Kabul, Afghanistan

1. MY TRAVEL JOURNAL: My trip from Rabat, Morocco to Kabul, Afghanistan By: Alejandro Mario Ramirez Rojas.

2. Introduction This is my travel journal about my trip to North Africa. I work for a news paper as a reporter and my boss tell me to investigate about North Africa´s most important places and hand in a report next week. Crazy things happen along the travel, and I hope as you read you would like to know more about my trip. I began in Morocco and I end my trip in Kabul.

3. Rabat, Morocco As the airplane arrived to Rabat's airport, I become more excited. I couldn´t wait to become my report about Morocco. I was at Morocco, and I arrived to my hotel, La Felouque. I left my things and I remember a friend tell me to visit the Mausoleum of Mohammed V. This one of the most renowned historical sites in Morocco.

4. Mausoleum of Mohammed V. I took this picture with my camera. Mohammed V was a sultan who ruled in the 1930´s. Here he was buried with his two sons, King Hassan II and Prince Abdallah. This building is consider a masterpiece from the Alaouite dynasty architecture.

5. Rabat, Morocco I made a tour around the capital city. The tour guide told me that Rabat was the third largest city of the kingdom of Morocco. The government is a monarchy, ruled by Mohammed VI, successor of Mohammed V.

6. Algeria “Welcome to Algeria!” I read from a big post as I was entering. Fortunately I met a friend, and he took me around the capital city, Algiers. Then he invited me to one of the best restaurants, “Le Tantra” It was a little bit expensive since we almost pay 200 dinars.

7. Algeria´s culture Most of the people in Algeria speak Arabic language. They love music as my friend say. He told me that foreign people look for Raïwhich is a form of folk music. I would like to return any day to Algeria since I like the way people treated me, especially my friend. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUDXj0F60dc (copy this webpage and see the video about the folk music dances.)

8. Algeria´s Political Life I forget to write in my report about their political life and thank God I did so in the last day I stayed in Algiers. The country´s currentpresident is: Abdelaziz Bouteflika. He is the head of the state. The prime ministeris the head of the goverment in Algeria. Also there are multi-political parties which look for the control of the country, separate or in coalition.

9. Tripoli, Libya After I visited Algeria I go through Tunisia, and then arrived to Tripoli, Libya. I had the opportunity to met a group of students from a university who come to visit the old city of Tripoli famous by the name Medina.

10. Medina The tour guide began talking. This city is located in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia. It is the second holiest city in Islam after Mecca. It is home of the three oldest mosques in Islam Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (The Prophet's Mosque), Quba Mosque (the first mosque in Islam's history), Masjid al-Qiblatain (the mosque where the qibla was switched to Mecca). This last one means that Muhammad the prophet, change the prayer direction (quibla)

11. Masjid al-Qiblatain I took a picture at night of the mosque. When the tour guide finishes, I was curious about what he said of Masjid al-Qibltain, a mosque. He tell me thatit was important for Muslims since Prophet Muhammad, led a prayer, were he commanded to change the direction of a prayerfrom Jerusalem to Mecca. (Allah revealed him all this, as the tour guide said.

12. El Cairo, Egypt Almost seven days out of home were killing me. I missed my family but a need to finish my travel. After I finish visiting Medina, I took an airplane to El Cairo, Egypt. Here two friends from my sister, Diana, were waiting for me on the airport.

13. The Pyramids of Giza Immediately I arrived, they took me to Giza by a bus, to see the famous Pyramids. We ask for a tour guide and he explain us all the mysteries of the Great Pyramid. This pyramid is one of Seven Wonders of the world, being the tallest manmade structure for over 3,800 years. I had the privilege to take a picture with my Kodak camera.

14. MORE ABOUT EL CAIRO! • As we rich the Nile, since it is almost in El Cairo, at the south Delta, I took some pictures of the city. • This is a street in El Cairo. As you could observed local restaurants, people were looking for the best one to eat. After I finish my day on the Pyramids, I return to El Cairo. I didn´t remember of the Nile River, and the two sisters suggest me to go, that it was really interested. I in my excitement, said to them “And what we are waiting for, let´s go”

15. Israel, Jerusalem After I finished my days visiting Egypt, I decided to continue my route to Israel. Jerusalem was an important city I ever like to knew. This was the moment and the time. I was sure of myself!

16. The Old City of East Jerusalem. The Old City of East Jerusalem. It represents the streets long time ago. As we arrived to Jerusalem, I remember my religion teacher who tell me that if I have the opportunity to visit Israel, to go to Jerusalem and visit the old city where Jesus leave. I give thank to God since I remember this!

17. The Old City I arrived and I enter in a group of people who where with a tour guide . This men was talking them about the Old City. I heard many interesting things as that the city covers almost 220 acres = 1 sq. kilometer. This city was built by the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent. (1520 – 1566) It took 4 years. (from 1537 to 1541.) It has 11 gates but only 7 are open. In the map you could see the important places around the old city.

18. The Jordan River Then I decided than seen I was near, I couldn´t forget the Jordan River. My religion teacher talk me a lot about this river like in 6th and 7th grade, but I do not remember very well. After I do my tour around the old city I immediately reach the river borders.

19. The River of the Rising Sun I was on a big boat with bunch of people and the tour guide, who stop the boat exactly in a point of the river. I didn´t know for what. The tour guide explain me that in this river, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. In this river He earned the title of “the anointed one” The Jordan River is a major water source that flows through the Jordan Rift Valley into the Dead Sea. I took a good picture with my camera.

20. Baghdad, Iraq This were the buses people use to do a city tour. I was very happy when I arrived Iraq since in the airplane I heard about the cities richness. I wanted really to learn about its culture and economy . For this I pay a tour guide to talk me and talk me about this topic. I arrived tired so I sleep in the hotel at Baghdad.

21. A wonderful tour guide around Iraq The tour guide talk me a lot about Baghdad. He tell me Baghdad was the capital city of Iraq and also the largest with an estimate population of 7 to 7.5 million people. Also its strategic location around the Tigris River makes it easier trade. It was a center for Islamic Word.

22. Economy This a picture of the machine use by Iraq to extract the oil. The city's principal economic activity is oil refining. (tour guide) Most of Iraq's other industries are in Baghdad, such as the making of carpets, leather, textiles, cement, and tobacco products and the distilling of arrack, a liquor.(tour guide)

23. Cultural Life! In Baghdad as in many other countries in the world people enjoyed watching a soccer game. I had the opportunity to visit the Al Shaab Stadium which was built in the year 1996. This is consider a cultural activity since they give an importance to sports.

24. Teheran, Iran I read some books about Iran to defend myself when I go, and they teach me a lot. For example: Teheran, is the capital of Iran (I.R.) and Tehran Province. With a population of 8,429,807 it is also Iran 's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the 21st largest city in the world.

25. AzadiTower (FreedomTower), In one of the books I read, this one about visiting interesting places, I see the Azadi Tower (Freedom Tower). I have the opportunity to go and look at it. The tower is a triumphal arch in white stone, standing 45 meters (148 feet) high. It includes a cultural centre with a library, a museum and art galleries that display works by contemporary artists. It is really amazing, I sincerely recommend you to visit it.

26. Kabul, Afghanistan After I finish my day been at the Azadi Tower in Tehran, Iraq I finish my trip in Kabul, Afghanistan. Here I had the opportunity to stay with some friends who I met. They who have three days more than me show me the most important places in all Kabul.

27. Gardens of Babur My friends took me by bus to the Gardens of Babur. The gardens of Babur is a picnic park with swimming pool. The park is also famous for the tomb of Moghul Emperor Babur, founder of the Moghul Empire. Babur show out these gardens in the 16th century and later Amir Abdul Rehman, made some changes. The top of the terrace in the garden, let you view and appreciate the beautiful city of Kabul.

28. Conclusion! I learned a lot writing this journal of my trip around North Africa. It really help me make a ABK (Activating Background Knowledge) I hope the person who read this could learn as I did.