From Casablanca to Marrakech

We didn’t have a lot of sleep last night, but as usual we were excited to get out and see Casablanca. The city is located on the Atlantic Ocean and is the major city of Morocco. It reminds you of Nice or Cannes. It has a definite French influence in the architecture and language. Although Arabic is the National Language most people speak French in this previous French Protectorate. The streets are named in French. It is not a particularly pretty city.

The infrastructure of Morocco is far superior to India. Clean well paved streets, no honking, little graffiti. After meeting our guide Ishmael, we started the day by going to the fish and vegetable market. The food looks beautiful especially the olives and preserved lemons. Serious Moroccan food is possible here!

We then drove to The Hassan II Mosque. Andrea had told us about it, but you got to see it to believe it. It is the 3^rd largest Mosque in the world. It is of recent construction and was complete in only 6 years by 2500 workers and 10,000 craftsmen. It is set against the ocean and is built to last.

After that on to lunch at Rick’s Café - I didn’t see Ingred Bergman she must have returned to Paris.

We then drove South heading to Marrakech. It is about a 3 ½ hour drive through desert reminding me of the American Southwest (hold the cactus). Driving into Marrakech is like driving into Santa Fe. Flat land new construction surrounding an old town. They have strict zoning and everything is dessert brown. We finally arrived at the old city, which has a giant square full of performers, snake charmers, tame monkeys and delicious smelling street food and lots of noise and activity.

We then entered into a old beautiful hotel which will be our home for the next 4 days as we explore Marrakech and the surrounding areas. Drinks by the pool dinner (with a belly dancer) concluded our 1^st real day in Morocco. Haven’t shopped anywhere yet. People are getting itchy.