Casablanca

Landed safely in Casablanca. Our local guide, Ismail, met us at the airport and we boarded a deluxe, air-conditioned coach. After a brief stop at our hotel, Le Meridian, we headed out for our first photography session at the Central Market, with its busy commerce (fish, meats, flowers and crafts) and bright colors. I realized that Islamic people do not like to be photographed and that it’s necessary to ask permission and it’s often denied. A challenge for photographers. Next we visited the exterior of the King Hassan II Mosque. Rising up on a point above the Atlantic Ocean, the mosque is the largest religious monument in the world after Mecca. It was completed in 1993, after 6,000 Moroccan craftsmen worked on it day and night for five years. The mosque is three times the size of St. Paul’s Cathedral. Then we had lunch at a lovely seaside restaurant followed by a bus tour of Casablanca. We also saw a beautiful California style neighborhood where the rich live. Casabalnca is oriented to international trade and influenced by Western influences. The afternoon was free and since I had just arrived that morning I took the opportunity to rest and get organized. We met a 6 pm for a group overview and then went to Rick’s Café for dinner. Of course the restaurant was not there in the era the movie was made. In fact none of the movie was even shot in that city. I’m exhausted and looking forward to a good nights sleep. BTW there are rose petals in my toilet.