Casablanca

We flew from Valencia to Casablanca arriving there in the early evening. . It took time to get some local money and train tickets then we rushed to the platform in time to see the train pulling out. As the next two trains didn't come out was over 3 hours later that we arrived at our hotel. We had nothing planned for that evening so it didn't matter.

Next morning we went to the central market where locals go to buy their fruit, vegetables, spices, fish, pots and pans, meat and most other thing they might need for their daily life.  At 10:30 am it was still early and many stalls were still being set up. 

Fish stall very neatly displayed 

We walked from there to the Medina (old city). Within its walls the inhabitants can get most things they need.  At first we walked past stalls selling leather goods, trinkets, socks,, clothes both Moroccan style and western style.  I suspect these stalls are aimed at the tourist.  As we got further away from the gates it got busier and were amongst the locals buying their fruit and vegetables, spices, dried fruit, bread, fish and meat.  As we wandered the alleyways narrowed and after a few twists an turns we decided we had better backtrack before we got lost.

 Typical Medina street but they do get narrower than this.

Spice stall.  Wonderful aromas as you pass by here.

The Hassan II Mosque was our next stop.  This is huge, covering 2 hectares and was finished in 1992.  It is beautifully decorated.  We didn't want to wait 2 hours for the next tour so we continued on our way. 

Next we visited the Sacre Coeur cathedral.  It was built in 1930 and services stopped being held there in 1956.  It's a bit of a sorry sight but nothing inside we could appreciate the size of the building.  For a modest fee we climbed one of the towers and had a great view over Casablanca.

The view

from the tower of this cathedral

That evening we met our tour leader and the 14 other people who make up our Intrepid Travel group for the next 14 days.