the ville nouvelle is just a road strip where new shops are lined up. i feel like i'm in baguio. they do not have malls. maybe because of the french influence, or maybe because they do not need a centralized airconed place coz their weather all year round is nice -- 10-30 deg celcius, no typhoons. the roads are full of cafes with all the chairs facing the road! so when you walk by the pavement, it's a given that a hundred eyes (of men) are going to oogle at you! but people don't care- they just keep on walkign and walking-- maybe that's why i did not see obese people!
now, 
by the entrance of the medina, there was a central plaza called the Grand Socco, with huge fountain, where people and doves flock together! it was a weekend when we visited, so this must be their weekend thing! beside that is the grand mosque. mosques for men are the ones with mineret (tall vetical structure), while for women, it is domes. later, a guy approached us. it must be the camera that gave us away as tourists... or our peculiar look! he offered to guide us for 20 moroccan dirhams per hour ($3).
typical moroccan cities have their own medinas and kasbah (tower). medina is the narrow- labyrinth-type paths creating a community, where the center of activities happen. it is both a 
residential and commercial place. kasbah is the tower of the medinas, the highest part which overlooks the port areas. walking around give me the feeling of being in one of the James Bond chase scenes. the narrow walk ways are clean, and there are no 'tambays'. there are free water faucets in most turns. the architecture is amazing. they were able to preserve the intrinsic morcoccan designs. we were shown also the places where the men, yes, the men sew the kaftans (ladies blouses)! so intricately designed, hand sewed, personally designed, that's why each one can be costly.
trade off is-- of course, he has to bring us to the other stores where we will just be 'shown' things-- carpets, kaftans, on top of riads (guest rooms within the medina), natural pharmacy, antique 
souks... all of which generously offered their moroccan mint tea while we were viewing their stuff. this showing around led us into coming out with our two hands full of souvenirs! haha! good salemen! i got a small carpet for $50, herbal medicines for $20 and moroccan slippers for $10!
