Centre La Foret Casablanca

... seems to permeate the area. As we pass each shop we will be greeted by a merchant that offers to sell us something that we need. They are persistent, but we keep moving on by the shops. By now the variety of the items seem to not be as exotic but more common place. The items are not really changing; we are just becoming accustomed to them. As we walk we pass a bell man. He is dressed in a large brimmed hat that has tassels hanging from the brim. He has small ...

Casablanca combines modern city with ancient city. The modern part is full of live and has a wide business district to cope with the industrial part of the country. Bu then you meet the artistic and cultural Casablanca. For example visiting the Royal Palace from outside of course it gives you an idea of the fastous monarchy of the morrocan royal family. The Palace is ...

... leader, Abdul, was a lovely young Moroccan man.\

The only thing we did in Casablanca, other than dinner, was visit the Hassan II mosque. It is the third largest mosque in the world. It was very beautiful... and huge... elaborately decorated... and had a huge price tag to enter. Ultimately I felt it was lovely but a bit... empty. I mean, why have such a gorgeous hammam that nobody ever uses?

Anyway, we escaped Casablanca before lunch to make our way to Rabat, the capital...

We survived our first day in Casablanca! After we got settled into the Ibis, we went on a hunt for a bank to exchange some money, then we all took short naps. We met Jalal, Mohammad and Rafi at 4:30, and then took us on a city tour. Jalal is a tax consultant, Mohammad is retired for the Air Force and has spent some time in the US and Rafi is a surgeon. When he said he was a surgeon, he ...

We took the evening train from Rabat, south down the coast, to Morocco's largest city, Casablanca. The cities name spurs images of beautiful beaches, romantic cafes, and a great culture...in person the images aren't so grand. This city of 4million is very concrete, busy, and dirty. In addition, it seems everyone and their dog will try to rip you off. Walking out of the train station we had lots of interest from taxi drivers, all offering a ...

... told us if we thought someone was following us to turn around and scream STOP while pointing to him to make a scene and draw attention to us. It looked kind of ridiculous but it made sense and if I am being followed I will be taking his loud advice. After the safety meeting we had open mic night. A lot of people sang and played the guitar and my favorite act was a rewritten version of Jordan Sparks "No ...

... time, as the traffic is horrible, but Mariam pointed out things along the way and started to tell us about Morocco in general. On the drive to Marrakesh, we kept seeing Berber villages. Of course I was sitting on the wrong side to take pictures, but I'll be getting some from my companions when we all get back home. Morocco is made up of 60% Berbers, 20 % Arabs from somewhere else, and 20% from other parts of Africa. I was much intrigued by these Berbers, so I ...

... however we're not sure Humphrey Bogart has ever actually been to Morocco because Casablanca the movie was not shot in Morocco.  The movie did, however, receive some fantastic free press in 1942 due to a major allied landing at Casablanca which coincided with the movies release (coincidence or hollywood plan... or military plan?!?).  Anyway, back to the mosque. The Hassan II mosque was built 1987 and 1993, involving thousands of craftsman and ...

... but then again this is Morocco...of course the road was dangerous. In this square abounds acrobats, jugglers, fortune tellers, snake chalmers and others all eager to make a living......it has rows of food stalls serving quick but very tasty food. Since I was here the area has canged dramatically. Old buildings surrounding the square have ben demolished or atleast dramatically refitted......modern structures blend in.....rather too well.....in a rather planned ...

... we were happy, at least temporarily, to lunch in a fantastic seafood restaurant. Leviticus 11:9-12 says: 9 These shall ye eat of all that are in ...