Picasa Web Albums - jackson bleu - CHELLAH: 28...

Gmail Calendar Documents Photos Sites Groups Search More »

New Features | Help | Sign in

jackson bleu's Gallery

a demonstration on Mohammad V Blvd. (on my camera it is a movie, I don't know if it will play as such since it was an accident - I didn't know my camera would do that!

some of the demonstrators having a lie-down

and in movement

entering Chellah (see what the rains have done!)

the grounds that have grown up in the ruins; there are fig, olive, orange, and banana trees

a wall to hold in the water

the beginning of the ruins of the Roman city

most of the houses were built on a hill; you can see the walls of the fort there in the distance

ruins of the Jupiter TEmple maybe... or that may be it at the bottom of the hill

the storks have made this a nesting and breeding ground; they are on every high surface

two storks in their nest situated at the highest point on the minaret

DSC01595.JPG

joined by a friend

here you see the ruins of the stone road running through the fort; with the houses to the left and the mosque to the right

entering the lower section off the walkway from the entrance; the triple arched entrance is known as the Arc de Triomphe

this doorway leads to another section where there are tombs of several saints

in the Roman city, the forum, then built over in the 13th century by the Merenid sultan Abou al-Hassan Ali

some interlopers making use of the stork's nest for a rest stop

ascending to the far wall built by Ali to surround the city as a defensive wall

the river is in the distance there

DSC01610.JPG

there is a flock of chickens with two roosters; this chap and his friend kept calling to each other; like the rest of this country, I had no idea what they were saying...

I love the colours!

Inside is the Pool of the Nymph that was graced by marble statues in every niche when time was present

just ONE of the resident cats

another doorway back into the forum

those are some very relaxed cats and chickens eh?

DSC01626.JPG

Now we know where the Romans are!

She and the elder gentleman that is out of the shot were very excited over my few words of Moroccan

This is bassin aux anguilles' that attracts infertile women who bring peeled boiled eggs for the eels that dwell in the murky waters of the pool

the women continue to use the pool now

returning to the forum and the tomb of Abou al-Hassan Ali and his wife

there are the remains of student's cells and scalloped pools inside

I think this is the mihrab (prayer niche) but I am not certain

I was fascinated by how narrow this doorway and walkway are

This is the tomb of Ali and his wife

note the zellij ornamentation that is still intact here and other places around the city

more of the gardens and there are pools at the end on the right

looking back from the tomb

one of the pools in the garden

close up of the walls

everywhere inside you see the defensive walls that surround the city

here you can see the zellij that was on the inner walls

it is amazing how long this has lasted exposed to the elements

you can see another inside wall here with the decoration that has survived

I know, I know, I am taking too many shots of these guys, but they are so cool

note how intact the highest tower remains

many of the doorways remain intact and stable; there are no barriers so you can walk anywhere

a view toward the orange grove from what was 'inside'

you can see the quality of the zellij

how well constructed did this have to be to have survived since the 13th century with no preservation

I think this is the Temple of Jupiter or it may have been the Mosque?

still with the arches

looking back toward the entrance from the front

this doorway is so lovely

looking over the ruins of the Roman city from the medersa

OR this is the blocked-off mihrab (prayer niche)

The Pool of the Nymph; is part of a system of water distribution; when in present day marble statues graced every niche.

the defensive walls

as you can see the pathways have not been marked nor barriers erected; this is the path from the Pool of the Nymph through another 'room' to the outside

you climb and walk at your own risk

a house? overlooking the gardens

here you can clearly see the Roman influence

and the leavings of toppled columns

a view of the river from one of the hills

another base column

I wonder what that that table? shelf? bed? was used for?

the walkway leading between some of the structures and going to the highest hill is still mostly intact

looking from the wall back toward the minaret

leading to an outside entrance through the walls

it is closed off now

I was fascinated by the symmetry of the rocks and how well they fit together; this is from the original Roman city

here's one Roman who is only half the man he was. I know! but I could not resist!

really lovely white marble

note the sandal

these look like they were cells or small houses

left in the Roman city

the roadway leading back toward the entrance

it was nearing sunset and the nightly flight of the large hunter birds toward the west

how much fun would that be?

I was VERY pleased to note several of these! It is not something that one sees yet about the city.

one of the walkways near the entrance, most of the ruins are gone here

I thought the shape of these trees was interesting eh?

and the winter rains are bringing forth the flowers

a local school group seeing the ruins (just like anywhere in the world)

the viewing platform could REALLY use some work

but I braved it to get these shots for you.

this overlooks the ruins and the river beyond

sheep grazing on the grounds outside just as they did when the city was new I expect

looking toward the walls of the New City

taking that road to the right leads to Marjane and then the Oudays; going through the arches takes you through the city and past the government offices, The Ministries. I thought it best not to take photographs there.

jackson bleu
photos

©2011 Google Terms - Privacy Policy - Developer - Blog - Google Home