Casablanca and beyond

So much to tell you. I’ll start with meeting Hassan (spelt his name wrong yesterday) then into the van and off to this place.

Built 1986 opened in 1993. 2/3rds of the building is over the sea. The architect was a French woman, Michelle somebody. The tower is in the front middle. Different to all other mosques that have the tower in one of the four corners of the building. Pretty impressive ah? Wait til you go inside!!

The walls are plaster, carved while still wet, ceiling of cedar, floor tiles marble.

If you look hard at the ceiling you can see a join in the middle. That’s where the ceiling separates and opens to the sky. Probably need some air in there cos it can take 20,000 people inside. On the Friday night of Ramadan it took 80,000 people inside and on that big square outside. Wonder it didn’t sink.

Each piece made by hand.

That’s one big mosaic. There are so many of them too.

It’s a fountain. They are off because they don’t want crazy tourists slipping over and breaking their hips. So the water flows over the edge and people sit around the base and wash their face, hands and feet. Then they go to pray. This ablution area had many many such fountains.

This mosque is the only mosque in Morocco that accepts non Muslim into the building. Such a privilege.

If you ever move to Casablanca buy in the Anfa area of the city. It’s full of very big houses and California palms.

An example of the French influence into the area. Art Deco.

At Mohammed V square we had to have our photo taken with these chaps. Their get up was explained but I didn’t listen.

Then back in the van. Did I tell you there is just Ken and I and our driver. Feel very special really. Driving along and it’s busy and noisy with tooting and cars going every which way! Usually towards us on the wrong side!!! Getting used to it. Saw this poor fella carting his worldly possessions, or someone else’s along the road.

After a visit to Rabat, where we had a gorgeous lunch sitting watching people paddle in the Atlantic Ocean, we drove 4 hours to Chefchaouen, the blue city.

Walked through the Medina ( old town) to our Riad ( small hotel).

This page was done while sitting for 4 hours in the van. Lots of little shapes of the countryside.

So that was yesterday and we have just got to our accommodation. I will try and send this to you, it didn’t go last night as there was next to no service.

Salem. Pamela