Friday 9th May in Casablanca Morocco

Casablanca

is the largest of all the cities in Morocco.  Any romantic connotations of it's name created by the iconic movie starring Ingrid Bergmann & Humphrey Bogart some 60 odd years ago, has been dispelled by the rampant explosion of buildings & their decaying facades.  A large new area by the sea called "The Corniche" has a very Western European feel to it, with large mansions, heaps of outdoor cafes & restaurants by the sea & various beach clubs lining the coast.  I ate the most delicious ice-cream at one of these outdoor cafes.  Casablanca has an old & new Medina & the largest mosque in Morocco called the Hassan II Mosque.  There is even an efficient tram that makes it's way through the centre of town.  That night we had dinner at a wonderful Moroccan restaurant whose decor & food was fantastic.  However, without being guided there, it would have been impossible to find as most of the smaller streets are unnamed.  Casablanca is a good starting point for our "Best of Morocco" tour.