17/18 Sept Tues/ Wed - leaving Casablanca and on to Rabat and Tangier(Morocco)

17/18 Sept  Tues/Wed -   Leaving Casablanca and on to Rabat and Tangier, Morocco.

Casablanca

The best part about Casablanca was, for me, leaving it.  It was really quite grotty and there seemed to be more poor people in the city just 'waiting about' or with mats on the pavement trying to sell junk, than in the other places we visited.  I did like to see the long trams in action and the seaside where we stopped with McDonalds occupying a prime spot on the beach front.  We all tended to head for McDonalds for the "knowns" - toilet, cleanliness, free wi fi and particularly in Morocco, the need to be careful of what we eat and drank.

 The Big M by the sea

Main centre of Casablanca with trams - about 2 times the length of Melb trams

Still, even though some people on the tour thought I must have been a bit daft, when I went out for a walk by myself before dinner, I did not feel scared or unsafe.  When people approached me, I just ignored them, and kept on walking, and they left me alone. If there was any problem I have a small whistle from Snowgum on a chain around my neck that I figure I could blow on - providing I don't die of fright beforehand.

We visited the  ( outside) of the Hassan ll Mosque, the largest mosque in the country.

It was a very calm, peaceful  ( and a lot cooler from the hot sun) as one moved closer to the inner area.

Just next to this, young teenage boys jumped from the rocks into the water below and others just lazed in the sun.

As we left Casablanca the next day, we were driving past houses of the poor such as this:

Then we came across this: 

Mausoleum of Mohammed V

There would be at least 12 suited guards on duty at any time (as well as maintenance workers and cleaners. Inside, one guard in each corner of  the two levels of the mosque and outside, one at each of the four entrances.

 Right in the corner on top level is a guard  ( you can just make make him out right against the wall).  The man below is doing maintenance and the red cape shows one of the guards outside the building.

After I took the photo of the young man below I said " Thank you" and I almost fell over when he answered with a huge grin and "You're very welcome".

Next to this Mausoleum is the remains of what was going to be the " greatest mosque ever" that, for various reasons, did not eventuate. I found this quite interesting.

As a refresher, this is the tour map