Casablanca - day 2 in the White City

 A big day today - clean clothes for half the crew and a day of exploring Casablanca, followed by a typical Moroccan dinner.

Aldo was hugely pleased to get out of that dark suitcase and survey the view from our fourth floor window this morning.

At 8.45 am Driss arrived with the coach, our driver Ali and our asssistant to both, Mohammed. First stop was Notre Dame de Lourdes Catholic Church but there was a Mass in progress so we continued on to the Old Medina or old city of Casablanca. Driss was wearing the traditional and commonly worn dress of Moroccan Muslims, the hooded gown called a djellaba, and the slippers. He gives us very full and very interesting details about all facets of life in Morocco. 

We walked through the market area which was quiet as it was early Sunday morning and stall holders were just setting up. The Medina in Casablanca is much more open than medinas I have experienced in other old cities.

Some verses from the Koran, seen in a book shop window.

On to the Quartiere Habous where the European-influenced architecture is a feature. French art deco was especially popular from the 1920s and some buildings combine art deco and the Moroccan indigenous style. There are many beautiful buildings, many built between 1920s and 1956 to house the growing population in Casablanca.

Casablanca is Morocco's economic hub and has a population of 6 million people

A detour into the fish market was an introduction to the vast seafood available from the Atlantic Ocean and its importance in the food supply for Casablanca's people.

The next stop was the Hassan II Mosque, completed in 1993. It is the largest mosque in Africa and the 3rd largest in the world. As with many mosques, the quality of the craftsmanship is amazing. In this one the features are the ornately painted cedar wood ceilings, the decorative tiling, the intricate plaster carving, the marble and its location right on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean covering 9 hectares.

From the entry court-yard we put on our head scarves to show our respect for the traditions of the Muslim faith.

Having our own Muslim guide meant we gained many insights into the faith, living that faith in the modern world, education, ablutions and much, much more.

                                  

                                         

Yes, lots of photos but how can you choose which to leave out?

Next we went down stairs where the ablution halls house 45 marble fountains with 600 water outlets. What a beautifully designed area.

A drive along the seafront, La Corniche, brought us to a lunch break then we returned towards the modern city past both very poor living quarters and also the most affluent area.

A surprise was in store when we returned to Notre Dame, the African choir seen in the park yesterday were singing.

One glance at the photos below will tell you that the stained glass walls are especially impressive in this church. So much detail, so much colour.

We had an 8 pm dinner engagement for a typical Moroccan dinner at a restaurant, the wall and ceiling decoration another fine example of the craftsmanship in this region.

Bread is very important to the people of Morocco and they have the best of both worlds here. From the traditional breads passed down from the Berbers through to the best of French baking. With two types of bread our first course comprised about eight different plates of vegetables prepared with spices. Eggplant, celeriac,  beetroot, cucumber with rosewater, capsicum, carrot ...

Tagine is a quintessential Moroccan dish and ours was a delicious chicken with lemon and olives.

Oh, the dessert ... a gorgeous concoction of crispy filo pastry, an almond flavoured custard  with roasted finely cut almonds giving a crunch and topped with a slice of apple. Must find this recipe!

Sweet mint tea is the drink of Morocco and is offered as a sign of welcome. It is served with flair and was very refreshing.

Just when we thought the evening was over the belly dancer arrived. We had three volunteers who thankfully stepped up to represent those of us with no coordination or nerves for trying belly dancing.

We came home via the scenic route, past the Hassan II mosque and Rick's Cafe.

                              

For those interested in the weather, both days so far have had a top of 20 degrees.