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Casablanca, Morocco (October 2007)

When people think of Casablanca, it conjures up thoughts of Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in the 1942 classic Hollywood movie “Casablanca.” Nothing could be further from the truth, though. There is a bar in Casablanca called “Rick’s Café” which is a big tourist trap! The city is further away from Hollywood romanticism than any other in city in Morocco. Casablanca is a huge modern metropolis, with modern day traffic jams and with little ethnic interest. It does have the second biggest mosque in the world, a nice corniche (entertainment section) with a beach and a small medina (but not even close to the scale of Fès or Marrakech). The center of Casablanca can be impressive; however, outside the the center of the city, there is lots of extreme poverty. No other place in the Morocco has a bigger difference between the haves and the have-nots.
Casablanca, Morocco cover page.
Casablanca, Morocco cover page.		 Map of Morocco with the star indicating Casablanca.
Map of Morocco with the star indicating Casablanca.		 View of the Hassan II Mosque, which is by far the most impressive monument in Casablanca.
View of the Hassan II Mosque, which is by far the most impressive monument in Casablanca.		 Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is the largest in Morocco and second largest in the world, after the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca.
Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is the largest in Morocco and second largest in the world, after the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca.
Work started on it in 1986 in hopes of completing it for the 60th birthday of the former Moroccan king, Hassan II, in 1989.
Work started on it in 1986 in hopes of completing it for the 60th birthday of the former Moroccan king, Hassan II, in 1989.		 The building was not inaugurated, though, until 1993.
The building was not inaugurated, though, until 1993.		 It was built on reclaimed land. Almost half of the surface of the mosque lies over what used to be the Atlantic Ocean.
It was built on reclaimed land. Almost half of the surface of the mosque lies over what used to be the Atlantic Ocean.		 This was inspired by the verse of the Qur'an that states, the throne of God was built on the water.
This was inspired by the verse of the Qur'an that states, "the throne of God was built on the water."
Close-up of the minaret. Most of the materials used in its construction were taken from around Morocco.
Close-up of the minaret. Most of the materials used in its construction were taken from around Morocco.		 View of the Hassan II Mosque at night with a green spotlight projecting from it.
View of the Hassan II Mosque at night with a green spotlight projecting from it.		 This beach is on the corniche, the entertainment area of Casablanca with beaches, nightlife, bars, restaurants and hotels.
This beach is on the corniche, the entertainment area of Casablanca with beaches, nightlife, bars, restaurants and hotels.		 The Atlantic Ocean beaches of Casablanca are excellent with good sand and surf.
The Atlantic Ocean beaches of Casablanca are excellent with good sand and surf.
A beach shot along Casablanca's corniche with hotels in the background.
A beach shot along Casablanca's corniche with hotels in the background.		 Parts of the coastline along the corniche are very rocky.
Parts of the coastline along the corniche are very rocky.		 View of the Marabu (tomb) of Sidi Abdherrahman, on a small island off of the corniche of Casablanca.
View of the Marabu (tomb) of Sidi Abdherrahman, on a small island off of the corniche of Casablanca.		 Not much is known about the man Sidi Abdherrahman. He was sanctified under the reign of Mohamed V.
Not much is known about the man Sidi Abdherrahman. He was sanctified under the reign of Mohamed V.
While walking along the corniche, I spotted this Moroccan man taking a nap on the rocks.
While walking along the corniche, I spotted this Moroccan man taking a nap on the rocks.		 The hotel where I stayed was in the small medina in Casablanca where these tourist shops are located.
The hotel where I stayed was in the small medina in Casablanca where these tourist shops are located.		 I was playing with my digital camera and took some photos of the neon signs in the Casablanca skyline at night.
I was playing with my digital camera and took some photos of the neon signs in the Casablanca skyline at night.		 Another neon sign in the Casablanca skyline at night.
Another neon sign in the Casablanca skyline at night.
From my hotel roof, I took this at night with a telephoto lens of a typical (men only) Casablanca cafe scene; hence, it's fuzzy.
From my hotel roof, I took this at night with a telephoto lens of a typical (men only) Casablanca cafe scene; hence, it's fuzzy.		 I stayed in Hotel Central located in Casablanca's medina. It is very reasonably priced.
I stayed in Hotel Central located in Casablanca's medina. It is very reasonably priced.		 The entrance of the Hotel Central. The staff there was very accommodating. It was a good choice.
The entrance of the Hotel Central. The staff there was very accommodating. It was a good choice.

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