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After delayed flights and airport hassles we finally arrive in Casablanca, Morocco. From Casablanca we travel to Fes by train, then begin our trek over the High Atlas with visits to Meknes and Volubilis, then a stay at Erg Chebbi where we prepare for our desert camel safari. Following the Sahara safari we continue to Tenerhir and the Todra Gorge and Valley. We continue back across the Atlas mountains with a stop at Ouarzazate and an overnight stay in Ait Ben Haddou, then off to the Atlantic coastal town of Essaouira. After a couple of days in Essaouira we spent two nights in the bustling city of Marrakech before our return by train to Casablanca. Hope you enjoy this trip as much as we did.
After delayed flights and airport hassles we finally arrive in Casablanca, Morocco. From Casablanca we travel to Fes by train, then begin our trek over the High Atlas with visits to Meknes and Volubilis, then a stay at Erg Chebbi where we prepare for our desert camel safari. Following the Sahara safari we continue to Tenerhir and the Todra Gorge and Valley. We continue back across the Atlas mountains with a stop at Ouarzazate and an overnight stay in Ait Ben Haddou, then off to the Atlantic coastal town of Essaouira. After a couple of days in Essaouira we spent two nights in the bustling city of Marrakech before our return by train to Casablanca. Hope you enjoy this trip as much as we did.
2 Flying into Morocco gives us our first view of the romantic city of Casablanca.
3 We stay at the Hotel Suisse right on the Atlantic Coast. The hotel is two or three star which means clean and comfortable without too many ammenities, perfect for travelers.
4 On the first day we take a walk down the beach and notice that the waves are perfect for board surfing but there are no surfers, wow, somebody should be riding these waves!
5 Lovely beach with great waves but no surfers.
6 We have arrived at the end of Ramadan which means no food, drinking, smoking or sex during the daylight hours and most stores and shops are closed during the day. We find a small cafe which is open and enjoy our first glass of traditional mint tea.
7 On our first evening we scout the town out for a restaurant and find a cute cheap place and enjoy our first lamb tajine. A tajine is basically a stew usually seasoned with cumin and colored with saffron.
8 On our first full day in Casablanca we take a long walk down the boulevard adjacent to the beach and take pictures of passersby. We are on our way to visit the Hassan II mosque.
9 Just to correct a couple of errors: We are close to the Mediterranean but we are actually on the Atlantic and although the mosque is on Mohammed V Boulevard it is the Hassan II mosque.
10 The Hassan II Mosque is a mosque located in Casablanca, Morocco. Designed by the French architect Michel Pinseau and built by Bouygues, it is the second largest in the world (after the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca). It stands on a promontory looking out to the Atlantic, which can be seen through a gigantic glass floor with room for 25,000 worshippers. A further 80,000 can be accommodated in the mosques courtyard. Its minaret is the worlds tallest at 210 metres (689 ft).
11 Built on reclaimed land, almost half of the surface of the mosque lies over the Atlantic water. This was inspired by the verse of the Quran that states the throne of God was built on the water. Part of floor of this facility is glass so worshippers can kneel directly over the sea; above, spotlights shine at night from the top of the minaret toward Mecca.
12 The mosque displays strong Moorish influence and the architecture of the building is similar to that of the Alhambra and the Mezquita in Spain. This and the old Tin Mal Mosque are the only mosques in Morocco open to non-Muslims. Non-Muslims may view the interior on hour-long guided tours that depart several times daily.
13 After our visit to the Hassan II mosque we continue our walk inland through the back roads of Casablanca. Passing local homes and shops we are definitely off the beaten tourist path.
14 Each door way leads to a maze of local housing.
15 We continue our walk until we come to what looks like a small business area with kiosks selling all sorts of staples.
16 The leg and hoof of the cow seems to be this shops specialty, and the locals aren't used to seeing tourists.
17 As we continue our walk we are told there is a local indoor bizarre down this road. It is Saturday and it sounds like it may be a kind of a swap meet situation, if we can find it.
18 Voila! We find a big old concrete dome with stalls set up selling everything a Moroccan family would ever need.
19 This woman operates a lemonade stand with her family and allowed us to take her picture.
20 In the back of the dome carpets are laid down for daily prayers. It is still Ramadan.
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