Tag Archives: dar Bouazza

Casablanca

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26/11/24

Using gps my city app we clocked up 12 km walking the city. We did both the old city and most of the new city walks. J achieved 22,000 steps compared to my 16,000. He’s a smaller stride, of course!

We used a small car park near the big mosque … 7.5 hours and only €1. Yet our first drink stop was tourist prices at €6 for two milky coffees.

Casa is definitely worth a visit and we nearly didn’t bother. Interesting architecture as new is art deco. The first French governor decided to transform Casablanca into a premier city so massive building works, which are still going on now. As we drove in we passsed housing / business / leisure development after development… all promising the perfect life. And ready customers as folk flea the dry barren hinterland. It would be interesting to see the demographic of city v country 20 years ago and now. J read that the European & African Investment Banks are heavily backing all the apartment block and road construction. J had dealings with the former in his bridge days … tough cookies and only invest for a good return.

The Mohammed II mosque is the largest in Africa and depending on the internet source, the 2nd / 5th / 17th largest in the world. Either way, it can accommodate over 208,000 people. Mohammed paid some. Domestic and international gifts and then “forced” public subscription for the rest. Despite only being finished in 1993, the rebars in the concrete corroded within 5 years and it had to undergo restoration – $50m. All materials are Moroccan, except Italian pillars and Murano chandeliers. We couldn’t even walk around the outside. A local explained that poor Moroccans from the country had been smoking in the grounds. This disrespect meant visitors could only get close when it is opened for prayer.

My fave pic! It was built on former water slide site and rises out of the sea.
Of course we had to pose at Rick’s Cafe. Actually the brain child of an ex USA foreign office official and opened 2004. Their web site has a whole video on the dress code … flip flops and sandals are a NO.
Lots of art deco buildings, needing different levels of renovation
The new market where we had lunch
A mosque and medina wall … it’s not all new
The catholic cathedral, redeployed as a sports / arts / activity space. Fairly ugly frontage but I couldn’t get over the size of it when we saw the side view from the neighbouring park.
Skate, roller blade and pars cours park. Not a single child with a helmet, knee or elbow pads. Not seen a single bicycle helmet or lights either.
Trafalgar Square equivalent, except London had banned the pigeons! There is always a mad bird lady.

27-28/11/24 – To Exchange or not to Exchange

… that is definitely the question. We are in the process of selling our Devon house. A chain of 3. All wanted the deals done for a pre Christmas move. But our buyer’s solicitor didn’t get / understand the memo. But we sat tight not wanting to commit to accommodation or moving too far from Marrakesh airport in case I needed to fly to the UK to clear the house. I needed to be back in Marrakesh as Kerstin arrives on 10th and family on 13th to help me into official middle age … 60! The time window passed so I got on with planning the next 2 weeks.

Two no drive days … we pottered. Walked the sea front. Ate ice cream. Hand washing. Even got the Pilates mat out – me, and running shoes -J.

The rocky / sandy coast at Dar Bouazza

North towards Casablanca

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25/11/24 – El Jadida

Salt pans and lots of agriculture as we left Oualidia. Incredibly lush. We didn’t see the oyster beds though; we’d have had to do a little boat trip.

Spontaneous stop in the centre of El Jadida. Built by the Portuguese who destroyed it as they left. Lovely walls we could walk atop. Sadly the underground cistern has been closed a while. I think part of the roof fell in. And I suspect will be closed a good while longer. They were only discovered in 1916 when a shop keeper broke through a wall.

The town had a nice feel.

One of the entrance gates and the side of the cistern
We could walk the walls
Spot the palm tree that isn’t a palm tree! So much for making it blend in!

Once on the motorway, doing 70 mph, with a full load, our mpg averaged 62! More than twice what Jez would have been!!

I’d read about a campsite just S of Casablanca in Dar Bouazza. It’s basically a market garden with a small camping area. Yoga lessons 3 x a week too. I thought the ground would be too hard, but we were directed to a corner. A bit wedged inbetween existing campers, one of whom didn’t look too thrilled. But the pegs went in easily and we’ve our own private garden off to the side. Facilites are basic, but at least it’s an European loo!