Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world...

Yes, I'm in Casablanca!

Today is my first official day in Morocco and I started off with a half-day tour of the city. My Intrepid tour starts tonight and I didn’t want to waste my day in Casablanca.  Parts of the city are very run down and dirty, for example the old Medina, but other areas built since the time of French occupation were beautiful.  The expansive boulevards are modelled on those of Marseille and many of the buildings are in the style of those found in Paris.

First stop was the Hassan II mosque.  Now, I have seen many impressive places of worship during my visits to France, but NOTHING compares to this.  The mosque was designed by a non-Muslim French architect called Michel Pinceau and two thirds of it is built over the sea.  Almost all of the materials to construct the mosque came from Morocco, except two marble pillars and the chandeliers (which come from Italy).  From 1987, 2500 workers and 10000 artisans worked around the clock to finish the construction in six years.  The prayer hall can hold 25000 people (20000 men in the main prayer hall and 5000 women in the women’s gallery).  The area outside can accommodate an extra 80000 worshippers.  During hotter months, the ceiling can be opened (as it was today during my visit).  The minaret (tower) has two laser beams that shine out in the direction of Mecca.  Everything was exquisite to say the very least.

Next we drove along the Atlantic Coast, the first bit of it was vacant land that has been purchased by international investors and in the future there will be huge high rises along this section of coast just like in Dubai.  From here we had a view of the Mosque from across the water.

We then walked along the esplanade past some of the restaurants and nightclubs that become a hive of activity at night.

We also visited the Catholic cathedral, Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes which was, quite frankly, a little bit underwhelming after coming from the mosque.

Up until this bit I was really enjoying the tour.  My guide was very knowledgeable and we conversed in both French and English on topics of religion and culture.  I was the only one and had the expert guidance of my guide and driver.  Then things departed from the script a bit.  We didn’t go to the Royal Palace gardens as described on my tour literature… instead my guide left me alone in a carpet store where an imposing gentleman named “Sammy” started to do the hard sell.  I remained resolute and told him I was not interested in a carpet.  Then he tried to sell me some jewellery… still no success for Sammy.  Finally he whisked me off to an argan oil shop where I was lathered with products.  I did make a small purchase here because the proceeds of the sales go to help women (so they say) and it did feel awfully nice on my skin.  Sammy was happy that he got a sale too… and no doubt my guide will get a small kickback.  I never felt unsafe because my car and guide were always in view... it was just more of an annoyance, but I guess par for the course in a country like Morocco.

My tour ended at a traditional Moroccan restaurant where I ate an incredible chicken couscous, washed down with a fresh orange juice all for a measly $15.  I won’t be needing dinner tonight, that’s for sure.

After lunch I headed back to my hotel in a “petit taxi” and am having a little relax before my Intrepid tour commences tonight.  No doubt I  need to prepare myself for more Sammy-style encounters… but at least I'll have other travellers with me.