Casablanca is remarkable for how unlike it was from other Moroccan cities. And remarkable for how unremarkable it is given the mythical status it enjoys among movie buffs. It almost dares you to find anything memorable to do. But it did give us a normal day in a chaotic, traffic heavy city with widely varying neighbourhoods - the crowded, litter strewn area near the port, the elegant white houses, the new upscale constructions along the Atlantic waterfront by Boulevard de la Corniche. We did walk quite a bit trying to get a feel of the city's architecture - hotels, banks, government buildings, cinemas. 

The Hassan II mosque does make an impression with its sheer size and great location by the ocean . It is the third largest mosque in the world and can accommodate 25,000 worshippers inside and 80,000 outside in the courtyards. The 210m high minaret is the tallest building in the country. It has a centrally heated floor made of glass so believers can pray while watching the Atlantic ocean washing the rocks below. It is one of only two mosques in Morocco that can be visited by non-Muslims but only on a guided tour. We opted to admire the structure from the outside and did not take the guided tour.

We did not see anything remotely connected to the Bogart-Bergman film in the modern city of Casablanca. We don't know if the city's residents are even aware of their city's fame. One guidebook says it all : if you want to visit the city of Bergman and Bogart, go to Tangier!


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