We are currently in Morocco and spent yesterday exploring Casablanca – the economic hub of the country.
It has a bustling port, futuristic high-rise buildings and a colossal mosque – the third-largest Islamic place of worship in the world!
It is also a city of cats. They may roam free but are well cared for. Muslims believe we have two guardian angels throughout our lives. They sit on either shoulder and record our good and bad deeds, ready for a celestial ‘weighing-up’ when we meet our maker.
Our guide Mohammed told us that dogs barking frighten the angels away. True or not, we didn’t spot many of ‘man’s best friends’ on our journey around this lively city.
Casablanca – like the rest of Morocco – shows plenty of evidence of the country’s African, European and Middle Eastern roots.
Perhaps the most unusual evidence of this and peculiar only to Casablanca is the Hassan 11 Mosque I mentioned earlier.
Only completed in 1993 and featuring the world’s tallest minaret at 689 feet, it rests – like most of Venice – on piles, in this case driven into the Atlantic Ocean.
It’s said to symbolise a connection between land and sea and spirituality. Inside, hand-carved and decorated marble and wooden walls and ceilings showcase the finest Moroccan artistry.
The prayer hall can hold 25,000 supplicants. Men and women are separated on two levels.
On the floor below, 41 fountains let worshippers cleanse themselves before prayer.
Though most of the citizens are Muslim, the city has an active Catholic church and Synagogue.
This coastal metropolis has a fresh sea air, but today we travel inland to Fes – the oldest of Morocco’s imperial cities- located between the fertile lands of the Sais and the forests of the Middle Atlas.
Such lovely puss-cats Richard, we saw dozens of nice cats in Rhodes Old Town last week, most of them looked in good condition.
Spotted you and Darren waiting at the bus-stop on the London Road the other day, presumably you were en route to the airport – enjoy Morocco and happy travels!