It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.


Thursday, December 16, 2010

Morocco, the cities

Looking for Bogart

Casablanca is big (3.2 million inhabitants) and very French. 

 
The architecture blends French and Muslim styles, characterized by elaborate doorways with Art-deco doors. Some remnants of its Berber origins remain.


The Old Medina (the part of town pre-dating the French protectorate is very touristy. 


But it has some great signage...

The other souk (market) in Habous is more interesting.


We met a lot of nice cats.


Casablanca is home to the Hassan II Mosque, which sits on a promontory facing the Atlantic. It has room for 25,000 worshippers. And can accommodate 80,000 more in the courtyard. Its minaret is the world's tallest (210 metres).




Taxis are easy to spot— they’re all red and small— they all have a ”Petit taxi” sign on top.


and then there are the trucks and the motorcycles...

We ate a lot: traditional Morrocan stew baked slowly in a tagine


fancy tourist restaurant


 Lunch at Rick's
Nope... no Bogart here.
 Marakech: no hippies or funny smells, but plenty of tourists
 
...but it was all about the souk.


 



 














Rabat is the capital.

Busy, modern,commercial.


But with a great souk.




Interesting history with old fortifications.




Even more interesting dwellings.

 

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