Island Hopping 2024: Morocco; Casablanca, Mosque, Rick’s American Café

 Driving back to Casablanca we visited the Mosque of Hassan II.  The King of Morocco is both the king governmental, and the sultan, religious.  During his reign King Hassan II built this great mosque.  It is both a mosque to be worshipped in, and the only mosque in the world that non-muslims are allowed to enter.  The mosque sits right on the seaside which adds to its beauty, but this place would look good no matter where it was situated.  Because it was an active mosque we were required to remove our shoes.  Ladies' elbows and knees were required to be covered but they were not required to cover their heads.  Our guide demonstrated how the chairs of knowledge were used, how and where the faithful prayed, and how they cleansed themselves before praying.

No images in the Mosque, just mosaic designs and verses from the Koran

Minaret

Our guides

Cleansing before prayer

Cleansing room

Our guide showing us how he prayed

Our guide sitting in the seat of knowledge, notice his feet are bare also

We then visited a few more Casablanca sights, the Roman Catholic Church (now a museum), the french gardens and the square of Mohammed V.  These three stops were a nod to the French Colonial period, even though as a rule the Moroccans do not think the French Colonial period as a good time for their country. 

Mohammed V Square

The old supreme court

One of the french general's houses and his statue

French Garden

Catholic Church

We finished off the day in Casablanca with a visit Rick’s Café, a rough replica of Rick’s American Café from the classic movie Casablanca.  I know this is touristy, like the Blarney Stone in Ireland, … but, like the Blarney Stone in Ireland, it was fun and well worth the stop. 

Sandy talking to a fellow tourist

Shocked!  Shocked, that there is gambling at Rick's Café

The maitre'd took my picture wearing a fez

I took his wearing my hat

Sam's Piano

Our group was then driven to Marrakech, where we checked into the hotel.  Sandy and I finished the day having an evening cocktail at the hotel patio bar and talking with fellow travelers.  It was a good ending to another good day in Morocco.