Hotel Diwan Casablanca

... can fit in the balcony. All the materials used to build the mosque are local, with the exception of the chandeliers and white pillars, which were brought in from Venice. After lunch we toured an orthodontic business, as well as Casablanca Technologies. We were very impressed with everything we saw today. We stay very busy during the day, but do get some time at night to chill out a ...

... ticked all the boxes. On this trip showers are a luxury and it's a case of take them when they are available because there will be times when it will be a week or two between showers. Our hotel of choice seemed to be in the red light part of town with several bars and movie cinemas in the area.


After settling in we headed through the Medina (old part of town) and promptly got lost ...

... plaza. Construction began in 1986 and the doors opened in 1993. It is the Islamic megamosque. The mosque is covered with intricate tile, plaster, and metalwork all completed by Moroccan masters. I was impressed by the support the country offers to its artists. There seem to always be major work projects going on that will employ the artistic class. Right next to the mosque was a madrasah and museum complex under construction. It reminded me of the cathedrals built during ...

... in the kitchen. When we returned to our rooms, everything was on the floor and a mess. Luckily Rachel was in the room when the stabilizers were turned off so our computers were fine. I put a sea sick patch on the first night we were back on the ship because I felt so bad and I am glad I did because I have not felt sea sick at all with it on. However, some of my friends, including my roommate, tried to ...

... to Australia one-day but had heard we have sharks. It appears the governments advertising blitz to deter boat people a few years back has had some effect perhaps. We assured her that very few people actually get eaten!As we travelled through the countryside, change was gradual. The landscape between Essouria and Marrakech is flat, and closer to Marrakech, dominated by the Atlas mountains which are covered with snow it appeared. It would have ...

... guide, Mr. AzZiz (sp?) had acquired 2 helpers just to be able to help guide us all through the streets and keep us together. We made it to the Bahia Palace which was very plain on the outside, but highly decorated on the inside which is apparently typically for a muslim home. We saw several planted courtyards and many rooms and our guide spoke to us about the representation in the walls and ceilings as well as how the homes were designed to be integrated ...

... the TV and happily discovered the English movie channel where Pirates of the Caribbean was playing... i settled in for a movie arvo - felt like i was at home on a rainy Saturday on the couch...! It was time to head out later for food so i picked somewhere close and walked around the corner to the Taverne du Dauphin. The menu was all in French but I recognised the word calamari and tomato and thats what i got ...

... the airport to the meeting. I hadn't realised that our competetion was there too and we shared the bus. Still, we got on very well and Wicat won the contract in the end. I loved Casablanca, although it seems to be becoming more European. Kevin Padden was mugged there.

... moved to the embassy in Rabat. Since Mauritania required each of us to present ourselves in person for the visa this situation necessitated quickly returning to Rabat. So, so much for spending a day or two in Casablanca. Before heading back to Rabat, though, we did find the time for a quick stop at Casa's premiere attraction, the Hassan II Mosque, one of the few working mosques open to non-Muslims to ...

Beach at Sale - nice view of Atlantic & Rabat across the river Rabat - one side modern, the other the medina & market (both open & covered) inside the old town walls. Lovely gardens near town centre. Along coast towards Casablance - back road - slum areas opposite the ocean Rejoined main road - nearly ran out of petrol Mohammedia - very posh beach resort near Casablanca - lovely streets ...