Blogs from Grand Casablanca, Morocco, Africa

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Africa » Morocco » Grand Casablanca » Casablanca May 8th 2022

En-route this morning we travel up to Casablanca, made famous by Humphrey Bogart in the film “Casablanca”. We will have the option of visiting the stunning Hassan II Mosque, which has the tallest minaret and the third largest mosque in the world, it can hold 25,000 worshippers at any one time. Overnight Casablanca (Breakfast & dinner included).“... read more
Hassan II Mosque – Casablanca, Morocco
Hassan II Mosque – Casablanca, Morocco
Hotel Restaurant – Casablanca, Morocco

Africa » Morocco » Grand Casablanca » Casablanca October 27th 2020

Saturday, October 19th Day 14 -- Our final day in sun-kissed Essaouira – the perfect weather here had been a wonderful gift which we had taken for granted. Regrettably, this day we will have little or no time to breathe in the fresh sea breezes or walk the charming, narrow lanes of its colorful medina. While I could easily have enjoyed more time in Essaouira, I also enjoy the anticipation that each day brings us more new discoveries and today to a much different city -- the city we'd only garnered a fleeting glimpse of before beginning our journey in Morocco 2 weeks earlier. We were truly coming full circle in the city of Casablanca. With our luggage packed and readied for pick up, we made our way down to the restaurant, The Fondouk, for our ... read more

Africa » Morocco » Grand Casablanca » Casablanca March 21st 2020

12 Mar 2020-21 Mar 2020 Casablanca, Morocco, a non-Schengen country, has always held a certain mystique for me since I watched the exploits of Buster Crabbe as the title character in the television series Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion in the late 1950’s. Early in my research, I found a tour that begins and ends in Madrid, Spain (my original starting point) and visits both Morocco and Portugal. That discovery whetted my Saharan appetite. Unfortunately, this tour was not offered until well after my planned arrival date, so I decided to reset my time zone disrupted, biologic clock in the warmth of this enchanting desert country before launching my European adventure and starting my Schengen counter. After a short stop in Illinois on the way east, I hopped on a non-stop flight at 7:20 PM ... read more
Hotel Azur - Casablanca Morocco
La table du Miami - Grilled Catch of the Day with Vegetables
Chweka Restaurant - Tajine de Poisson a la Marocaine

Africa » Morocco » Grand Casablanca » Casablanca June 29th 2019

Today was our final day in Morocco! We had to fly home from Casablanca (per our flight arrangements by Explorica), so we made the most of visiting this place, which at first glance was an ugly city with a traffic problem. However, it's famous for two things we were sure not to miss: the Hassan II mosque and Rick's Cafe. Hassan II was the former king (father of the current king, Mohammed V) and the mosque built in his honor in Casablanca has the tallest minaret in the world. It's also the only mosque open to non-Muslims. And what a stunning interior! Built in just 6 years, the intricate tiles, soaring pillars, and gaudy chandeliers commanded quiet and respect. We were told to remove our shoes for our tour, and I was surprised to discover a ... read more
Hassan II mosque
Inside
Fun with geometry

Africa » Morocco » Grand Casablanca » Casablanca April 7th 2019

This is my second day in Morocco, arriving in Casablanca a few days before my tour commences to acclimatise and get over jet lag. Firstly, the food is delicious and I love sitting in street cafes sipping sweet mint tea, watching the world pass by. I secretly wish I remember more French but it is slowly coming back to me. I don’t have the heart to barter and haggle - these people are poor. Casablanca is rich with vibrancy and beauty and I’m so glad I could start my holiday in this place. ... read more

Africa » Morocco » Grand Casablanca » Casablanca April 2nd 2019

The moon and the stars are not above us, the earth is on the other side of our feet… ~ Moroccan Proverb HE SAID... Today we were continuing to explore the white city of Casablanca. I woke early and used the quiet morning stillness to catch up on my travel writing. We headed down to breakfast at 8am and feasted on khobz (traditional round leavened bread) with cheese and harissa (chilli and garlic sauce); croissants, pastries and dates – which we enjoyed with numerous cups of tea and lime juice. We dropped our washing at a tiny hole-in-the-wall laundrette just along from our hotel, and with an air of naive optimism, we hoped we’d conveyed to the owner that we only wanted our clothes washed and not ironed. We didn’t share a language, and every time ... read more
ren's breakfast
place mohammed v
place mohammed v

Africa » Morocco » Grand Casablanca » Casablanca March 31st 2019

Believe what you see and lay aside what you hear… ~ Moroccan Proverb HE SAID... Today we were travelling from London to Casablanca. We left Romany’s house in West Harrow (London) around 2:30pm and caught an Uber to Heathrow Airport (Terminal 4). We settled at Caffe Nero and used our remaining currency to buy coffees, smoothies and a lemon sparkling tea. We sat and chatted with Romany, Kirsten and Jared until 4:45pm, then made our way through security. Ren got caught in a backlog of passengers who needed their bags checked, and while we waited at the security counter our gate lounge opened. It seemed an interminable wait before Ren’s bag was even opened, and the only mistake she had made was to leave her iPad in the bag (rather than take it out). When she ... read more
hassan ii mosque
hassan ii mosque
hassan ii mosque

Africa » Morocco » Grand Casablanca » Casablanca December 17th 2018

Well hello to you Morocco! After over 24 hours in the airport en route, I finally arrived - but my luggage didn't. This is the first trip where I carried all of my medications with me (I usually only take 2-3 days worth) and my electronics as well, so besides being in stinky clothes for a day or two more, life wasn't that bad. I was incredibly fortunate and was met at the airport by the Moroccan family of a Magnolia friend. They were so generous as to pick me up, take me to lunch for a traditional dish of chicken cooked in a tagine (more on this later), and take me to my hotel - their kindness was so appreciated. Kim and I met up later that night at our hotel and had a celebratory ... read more
View from our hotel
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Africa » Morocco » Grand Casablanca October 26th 2018

October 25th, 2018 It rained again when we left Agadir. It rained all over my dream of travelling to the Sahara; and after four days straight of constipation from the lack of raw veggies and eating too much bread, the time came. It couldn’t have happened at the apartment where it’s clean and comfortable. No. It had to happen at the bus depot where it was filthy and the toilet lacked a seat. Thank-you my moody bowels. Thank-you so very much. How up to date you are with me now. Lucky you. So, Hassan’s flu and an oncoming storm have stopped us in our tracks. We’ve been told by just about everyone that there isn’t a proper highway along which to travel to the city of Merzouga from Ouarzazate. It is a road that travels through ... read more

Africa » Morocco » Grand Casablanca » Casablanca September 25th 2018

Would you know we’re riding on the Marrakech Express, They’re taking me to Marrakech, All aboard the train, All aboard the train - Crosby, Stills & Nash Sorry I had to do it. That song is stuck in your head now right? We actually took the train in the opposite direction, from Marrakech to Casablanca, and here we are back at the Kenzi Basma for our last night in Morocco. We had a light breakfast at Riad Challa this morning, still both not feeling too great. Susan is much better than she was though, and I feel better than I did yesterday. We had some scrambled eggs, baguette and cheese, and yogurt. There was lots of fresh fruit but we thought it wise to skip it. There was a small buffet in the reception area, and ... read more
Riad Challa hallway
Riad breakfast
Marrakech street art




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