Getting Some Culture in Casablanca

Day 2 in Morocco, we head to Casablanca for the day. Casablanca is more of a commercial city than a touristy spot. I always assumed the movie Casablanca was filmed there but it wasn't. We did go by Rick's Cafe, which was designed to recreate Rick's Bar from the movie. Unfortunately the cafe was closed for the afternoon break when we stopped by so we couldn't go in. Of all the gin joints in all the world, this one had to be closed!

The highlight of the Casablanca visit for me was a tour of the Hassan II Mosque, completed in 1993 after only 6 years of construction. King Hassan II commissioned it to be built to provide a landmark monument for Casablanca. It is one of the largest mosques in the world and has the highest religious minaret in the world. The minaret is the tower from which Muslims are called to prayer. The mosque is partly built over the waters of the Atlantic ocean.

Our group in front of Hassan II Mosque

Top of the minaret

Mosques are not typically open to non-Muslim visitors but this mosque seems to encourage visits by offering guided tours. It is a truly spectacular work of art and engineering. It is built from local materials such as marble, granite, and cedar from Morocco. Copper, titanium, and ornate mosaic tile are also used. It is a mixture of traditional and modern. The only imported materials are white marble for the columns and glass for the beautiful chandeliers from Venice, Italy. 10,000 artisans and craftsmen labored to produce the intricate embellishments of the building.

The mosque can accommodate 25,000 worshippers but it has never been completely filled. I am reminded of the saying: "If you build it they will come". But is "they" the worshippers or the tourists??

Interior of mosque

Detail of the beautiful tile

We watched the huge electronically-controlled doors silently close for prayer while we were there.

Large doors

The automated retractable roof slides open in 2 to 3 minutes when the weather is nice. The elaborate ceiling is made of cedar to withstand the damp salty air from the ocean.

Looking up at sliding ceiling

There are separate entrances and prayer areas for men and women. Muslims are called to prayer 5 times a day. Before praying, they must wash themselves. Abundant fountains are provided both outside and inside below the ground floor with water for cleansing.

Fountains for washing before prayer

I learned from our guide why shoes must be removed before entering a mosque. It is simply to keep the carpets clean, that's it. We were provided plastic bags to carry our shoes with us on the tour. If you ever go, wear socks as our bare feet were quite cold on the marble floor.

Proving that it is indeed a small world, the girls reunited with a local Moroccan boy that Monica had met when he was a foreign exchange student in her American high school two years ago. They had kept up through Facebook and it was one of those "if you're ever in Casablanca, look me up...." promises that actually got fulfilled. We also had lunch with Mustapha, Chris's Moroccan former work buddy who now lives in Casablanca. We all enjoyed hearing his insights into the local culture and customs.

Our day trip ended happily with a pleasant drive back to Marrakech. It wasn't the "Marrakesh Express" but our driver did a good job getting us back safely. Always pleasant when you leave the driving to someone else!