Louie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship

I went to Feminin Pluriel again today and it went very well – only five students but I am hoping the numbers will grow as we get going again. But, even if I have only these five students, we will , hopefully, make great progress in the next four weeks.  After placement today, the driver dropped Harold and me off at the Rabat train station. We hurriedly found our train and one hour later stepped off in Casablanca.

Our first stop was the incredibly impressive Hassan II Mosque. This is the only mosque in Morocco which allows non-Muslims to enter so we knew that this was a “must see.” The mosque rises above the ocean on a rocky outcrop. It was built between 1987 and 1993 and is now the third largest mosque in the world (after Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia). The main hall holds an astonishing 25,000 people and 80,000 more in the courtyards and squares around it. The minaret is more than 650 high, is the highest building in the country, and is topped by a spectacular laser beam that shines towards Mecca. We were lucky to arrive in time to get an English tour.

The outside of the Hussan II Mosque

Inside the main hall

Prayer mats and the brown door faces Mecca

Our second stop was RICK’S CAFÉ!!!! Unfortunately, it was closed (open 12-3 for lunch 6-1 for dinner). Now, we know that the film Casablanca was filmed entirely in Hollywood, but there’s something mystical about Rick’s which was the setting of the 1942 Humphrey Bogart/Ingrid Bergman movie. We have determined that we will return for lunch one day during our time here.

Rick's Cafe

It was a short walk from there to the medina, the ancient walled city of Casablanca. Walking in a medina is always fascinating – there are so many shops, food stalls, homes, people, etc. to see.

A view down a street in the Medina

Beautiful olives, lemons, oranges, etc.

There were fresh strawberries everywhere.

We caught the 5 PM train back to Rabat and arrived hungry and ready for dinner. We are preparing our lessons for tomorrow and thinking about our upcoming weekend trip!