Morocco September 9 to 14

We arrived in Casablanca one day early around mid-morning on Thursday, September 9th and hung around the ship. Our cabin steward was Philip and he was leaving on vacation at the end of our stay in Morocco and going home to Ghana.

Grace and Philip in our cabin before he left on vacation.

The 2nd language of Morocco is French and we were delighted to see French everywhere. A language we love and can speak (a little). Morocco was a French Protectorate from 1912 to 1956.



Desmond and Leah Tutu,  a marvelous couple, with Grace and Ken



Notre Dame de Lourdes

 



Notre Dame de Lourdes



Grace at Hassin II Grand Mosque

The Hassin II Grand Mosque is built over the water as that is what the Koran says should be the case.  We stopped along the coast at a beautiful café in an area reminiscent of the French Riviera. We then went around to the south side of the mosque where we could look back at it over the bay. The mosque is dedicated to Hassan II who planned and built the mosque as a tribute to Casablanca. This is the 3rd largest mosque in the world. It was completed in 6 years in 1993. The roof slides open electrically.  The largest mosque is the one in Mecca.


Hassin II Grand Mosque from across the bay

 

Hassin II Grand Mosque

Rick’s café from the movie Casablanca did not exist until several years ago when a lady who was with the U. S. Embassy opened a Rick’s café to entice travelers to her bar. The movie plays continuously in the bar. It is a big hit. None of the original movie was filmed in Casablanca.

Rick's Cafe

We went to Mohammed V square to do some shopping. Mohammed V was the father of Hassan II. Hassan II was the father of Mohammed VI who is the current king. Both Hassan II and Mohammed VI are credited with improving the status of women. Now to get a divorce the husband must give half of his estate to his wife.



Current King Mohammed VI whose image graces all of the paper currency.

There are mini red taxis running all around the City which has a population of around 4 ½ million with another 1 ½ million generally in the city to work or to visit.

Petit Taxi

We drove along the Ain Diab Corniche and through the elite residential section called the ANFA. In 1943 there was a meeting with Winston Churchill, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and a high French official who we guess was Charles DeGaulle. The meeting was to plan the Normandy invasion. We went by homes where these men were housed and the place where they met.


On Saturday we stayed on the ship and Ken tried to catch up on his Spanish course.


On Sunday, September 12th we journeyed to Rabat – a 1 ½ hour drive. Although Rabat has a 1,000 year history it became a major city only in the 20th century when the French moved the capital from Fez to Rabat.

It is the cultural city of Casablanca where one may feel the historical grandeur and cultural diversity of Morocco.


Again Desmond and Leah Tutu were on our bus. We visited the royal palace. We were not allowed inside as many of the royal palace family live there. The King actually lives across the valley in Sale.
The highlight of our trip was the visit to the Mohammed V mausoleum. The pictures show the mausoleum and the horses in front, etc. Luckily the mausoleum was open.

Rabat Ramparts

Horse guards in front of the Mohammed V Mausoleum

Young boy helping guard man the mausoleum of King Mohammed V

Tour guide and Water Seller and Grace

We went to the Kasbah of the Oudaya and to the Chellah, which is a 14th century necropolis.


On Monday, September 13th we went to Marrakesh to see a number of things. First stop was a visit to Majorelle, which are the gardens that Ives St. Laurant owned until his death in January, 2008 (Robert would have loved this).

Ives St Laurent garden

Ives St Laurant garden

Ives St Laurant garden- Napoleon's Hat

Ives St Laurant ashes and Grace

Entrance to Ives St Laurant garden - our tour guide with arms over his head and Grace in the middle of the picture

Then on to a pharmacy which sells herbal remedies and food spices. The “professor” chemist is like a snake oil salesmen, but it was most enjoyable, a great show and we bought a lot of stuff including a hair remedy to restore hair to our balding boys.

Snake Oil Salesman

Next stop was the Bahia Palace, which was open and we saw the areas where the favorite wife lived. The king, we don’t remember which one, had 4 wives and a bunch of concubines. He must have been very busy.

Bahia Palace

Bahia Palace Favorite wife's area

Lastly we went to the tumultuous Jemaa el Fna Square where there are snake charmers (mainly cobras) and monkeys performing and a huge bazaar selling everything. We didn’t take any pictures of the snakes because Grace doesn’t like to see them, even in pictures.

Jemaa el Fna Market Square

We had lunch in a restaurant on the square – a great salad and wonderful couscous and beef.


By that time we were all ready for the 3-hour bus drive back to the ship in Casablanca.

On to Ghana.