Oct 3. Casablanca.

Casablanca means White House. Very modern, busy city. Traffic is like NYC. Our driver did a U turn with the bus in the middle of a busy street. I could not believe it.



The school girls wear lab coats for a uniform.


It appeared that King Hassan 2 was coming to the area. Every 1/4 mile and closer there was a military guard and flags everywhere on the roads and in the city.





Woman carrying a baby on her back.


Grand Mosque of Hassan II. Third latest mosque. It can hold 120,000 Inside and outside of it. One day last year for Ramadan there was 200,000 the guide said. It is the only mosque in Morocco open to the public. We had an English speaking tour. Built from 1987 - 1993. 2500 workers and 10,000 craftsmen. But they built nothing for a disabled person. No elevators, lifts. Toilets in bottom level. Women must prayer upstairs during busy times. Otherwise, they pray in corners on the main floor. Just like orthodox Jewish women. Unequal and put down. We were told by two different men that women do not need to pray at the mosque. They need to be home carrying for the children and doing house chores. Or, the mosque is really for men.



It is half built on water.














Second floor for women


Has a moveable roof.


Ceiling


Doors. Open disappear into the wall.


Lights


Lights


Chandelier





Walls


This is the hall for ritual washing before you go in for prayer. 41 fountains. You need to wash you lips three times, nose 3x, and etc. Many people wash at home before they come here for prayer instead.





There are two traditional Hammams for bathing. BUT they have never been used and are just open for tours.


The group resting.


A berry I have never seen or eaten. Called Woodbury, not as sweet as strawberry.


A visit to a fish market. Oyster eating.


Swordfish


Lobsters


Oysters


New subway only one year old.


New apartments, looks like Paris


We left for the airport four hours early and needed every minute of it. Mass of people. No an organized system. Many security checks. We finally got thought it all. We had a form to get a tax refund for the purchase of the necklace. We went to one place and were sent to anouther. Fattah was still with us helping us find what we needed. We get to the bank with the form filled out by the saleswoman stating the refund we to be in US dollars. He gives us a combination of Euros and Moroccan durems. We look at it and he says, that is it!. So we figure, save the Euros for a future trip to Europe. And spend the Moroccan money in the duty free area. They will not take THEIR money. We found a news/ candy store and spent every bit of the money on candy there. Seven hour plane flight. The stewards could have been nice and it seems like there we not many on the plane. It took 1 1/2 hours to get through customs and get luggage. 1 1/2 hours for the taxi ride to Eve's house. Long day and the jet lag began.