Casablanca, Morocco

After taking a ferry across the Gibraltar Strait from Tarifa, Spain to Tangier, Morocco, we rode a train down to Casablanca. The city is large and bustling, and traffic laws are more like sugguestions. We took a few adrenaline-pumping taxi rides, visited the Hassan II Mosque and the Morocco Mall, walked around a street market, and walked through downtown at night to find a restaurant.

The Hassan II Mosque is the largest Mosque in Africa. It has a capacity of 25,000 people inside the building and 80,000 outside, and its minaret (this tower) is 689 feet tall.

The Hassan II Mosque is built out into the Atlantic Ocean.

Looking out from Hassan II Mosque into Casablanca.

The Atlantic Ocean

Pictured: Nicole

Entrance

Doors to the Ocean

Second Floor

Light

The ceiling retracts to allow airflow when 20,000 people are gathered to pray.

Chair

Door Handles

Down below the main level is this area, where worshippers can visit if needed before entering the mosque.

Symmetry

Doors

Courtyard

Offices

We visited the Morocco Mall on our last day in Casablanca. To enter, everyone must walk through a metal detector, and bags must pass through an xray scanner. Attractions include this giant fish tank, a giant christmas tree, and a food court where we ate Pizza Hut.

The Casablanca Train Station, which is quite lovely.

On the train to Marrakech!