I was determined to conquer Sale, Morocco and see what it had to offer. The information given on even Tripadvisor is vague and maps are useless. My first place to visit would be the Medersa. After getting off the tram from Rabat and walking through the first opening in the red earthen wall, I arrived at a city intersection that looked important. The locals do not speak English and I don't speak French or Arabic, so asking directions was futile. There was a map of Sale on a large sign in Arabic - no help to me. After walking around a little, I happen to see the back side of the sign and it was in French - success! Found where the Merdesa was and started my trek. Getting to the Merdesa was amazing. You passed a huge cemetery that went all the way down to the ocean. The waves are huge in front of this part of Sale where the Bou Regreg and the Atlantic meet. Walking along the great red wall, you have views of Rabat and the Kasbah. There are no signs to indicate where the Merdesa is, but after walking about a mile from the tram you can see a complex on the right that looks like a religious center.

There is a large mosque that believers only may visit, but around back is the small Medersa with an old man asking if I came to see the Medersa. There were no other tourists. I paid 10 Dirhams ($1.00) and I was told I could go anywhere and take many photos if I wanted to. They turned on the lights for me and the spectacular craftsmanship came alive. A Medersa is a school for young boys to study the Quran. They were given a small dorm room that was shared by as many as eight boys. You can visit on theses on the top floors. If you can manage all the curving, narrow stairs and small doorways and can make it to the roof, you are rewarded with spectacular views of Sale, Rabat and the Atlantic. How nice to visit such a beautiful place and not have bus loads of tourists bustling around so you can't get any decent photos. It was like they opened just for me.

Glad I took the road less travelled.

this medersa is not in the same good state as are its namesake medersas bou inania in Meknès and Fès. It could do with a renovation. Nonetheless it is a very beautiful building. The work of the craftsman is still astonishing and the feel of this rather small medersa, that seems to be empty of tourists for the most time, is very quiet and nearly meditative. Seeing the rooms (or cells) of the students was interesting. The view from the roof on Salé and Rabat should not be missed.

This is one of the best examples of this type of building that we have seen in Morocco. Not the largest, but full of beautiful detail. It is a place of quiet reflection and more than worth the effort to find it.