Only a short ride by ship from the south of Spain, Morocco is a different world, with sights, sounds and scents that captured for centuries the imagination of adventure seekers. At the heart of all its cities lies a "medina", a labyrinth of narrow streets and alleys, off limits for car traffic, where the donkey and the bicycle are the only means of transportation. Medina is an Arab word that means "city" and, in present times, it is the name of the old islamic downtown, surrounded by defense walls. Every medina is a city in itself. A few elements are omnipresent: the mosque, the medersa (Islamic school) and the hamman (public bath). Houses are real close to each other creating the labyrinth of streets. The way to the inside is controlled by "bab" (gates) which are often very colorfully decorated. Along the stone paved ways are thousands of "souk" (markets) where all kinds of merchandise, including food and clothing are sold. Anything and everything can be found here. The street and houses of the medinas represent the pre-industrial culture. Houses extend a long way behind the heavy wooden doors. In the Islam tradition homes are private worlds, built to conceal. No windows facing the street, all views to the interior, the passer by is left with no chance to guess anything about the wealth of the owner. Every town has its own medina with its own personality. Some medinas are traditional Islamic cities, others show traces of French, Spanish or Portuguese cultural influence. In medinas the various ethnic groups always have reserved spaces or separate quarters. The most significant ethnic minority are the Jews, who live in quarters named "mellah" with their own municipal councils, schools and places of worship.