A Canter around Casablanca
I stayed in the Sofitel. It was a nice hotel (though very purple) and a good base close to the city. The food there was decent and it was comfortable and clean. It also has an indoor pool so I made the most of being able to go for a swim each morning.
After settling in, I decided I should explore Casablanca. It’s actually Morocco’s largest city, and its economic/business centre. It’s right on the waterfront and home to Morocco’s main port, and I thought it’d be a waste (and Hannah would be annoyed) if I didn’t go and see some of the sites. Even though it was 28 degrees and all I wanted was to sit and relax.
First up, a 30 minute walk to Hassan II Mosque, the second largest functioning mosque in Africa. It’s absolutely huge and really detailed in its design. I wanted to do a tour but I’d missed the time slot.
However, perhaps even better, there is a Hammam underneath the mosque so I decided to book in for the experience. I was a little apprehensive going it alone but figured I’d regret it if I didn’t try. Pre Hannah MTH would have had an absolute fit at the thought of going to an underground hammam below a mosque (I’m not sure he even knew what a hammam was!) in a city he’d never been to, alone.
But post Hannah MTH figured he’s navigated literally dozens of countries alone, been in a few hammams and knows the etiquette, knows a few Arabic and French words, and felt like a massage was exactly what he needed. The massage was nice but shorter than advertised, though the hammam itself was pretty cool, with traditional design and tiles. Overall I’d give it a 7/10.
After that relaxation, it was time to tackle the Medina. I didn’t feel at all unsafe, but it did feel like an assault on my senses and afterwards I just wanted to sit in a dark room alone with no stimulation! My highlight though was the olive market as I do love a good olive, and bought quite a few.
After another 30 minute stint, I arrived at The Sacred Heart Cathedral which was another impressive building. It was built in 1930, but after Morocco gained independence it ceased its religious function as a Catholic church in the 1950s. It’s now a cultural centre open to visitors. I had a quick mooch around to get in from the sun.
After another 30 minute stint, I arrived at The Sacred Heart Cathedral which was another impressive building. It was built in 1930, but after Morocco gained independence it ceased its religious function as a Catholic church in the 1950s. It’s now a cultural centre open to visitors. I had a quick mooch around to get in from the sun.
I continued my stroll through the Arab League Park and enjoyed some of the street art along the way. The city is quite big to explore on foot and in the heat of the day and with 1.5hrs walking I was getting pretty overheated. Overheated being the polite word for a massive sweaty mess.
After walking through the park, I continued on to the impressive Square Muhammad V. The architecture is really impressive and I sat by the fountain with a drink to give myself, and anyone near me, respite from my sweating.
I then continued on to the Royal Palace, of which I took a photo but got seriously told off by a Moroccan security guard and responded with an eye roll and a curt ‘bad tourist, delete photo’. Of course I did immediately, not fancying Moroccan arrest as a travel tale I wished to acquire.
On to one of the highlights of Casablanca, the Makhama of Pacha. It’s a courthouse but you can visit inside and even I have to say it is beautiful! I had it largely to myself (other than a few pigeons) which was a nice surprise.
Finally, I finished my walk at the Quartier Habous, developed when Morocco was under French rule. A nice spot for a bit of dinner, plus some good value authentic shops and full of nice architecture, it was a great place to stop for the day.
My overall impression of Casablanca was that it was a nice city, but I wouldn’t choose to go back and visit again. I’ve been to a lot of Moroccan cities now and I think Marrakech is by far my favourite. I don’t think there is loads to see and do in Casablanca, and my day of wandering covered off most of the main sites. There were a couple of museums I’d have liked to visit but I couldn’t spare the time.
