Casablanca is around 3 hours from Marrakesh by train so armed with a first class ticket costing about £15 and  a good book I made the journey, however not much of the book was read as the North African scenery is stunning. On arrival in Casablanca you are greeted with chaos, do not let this worry you, the Fiat Uno “Mini Taxis” are also a surprise as luggage is thrown into a roof basket and you head off hoping for the best. The city is Morocco’s largest situated on the Atlantic coast, and home to the busy port. The culture is very mixed and although Arabic is the first language of Morocco I found that French was the language of Casablanca.
What to see
A walk along the sea promenade can be very enjoyable with many bars, beach clubs and restaurants along the way; However be mindful if you look like a tourist you may be approached by street vendors many of whom are children. From the boardwalk you are able to see Marabout De Sidi Abderrahmane, a small island that you can walk across to at low tide. On the Island there is the tomb of Sidi Abderrhamane Thaalibi the founder of Algiers and considered a saint in Morocco. From the promenade you can not fail to miss the stunning Green and cream mosque. Hassan II Mosque was designed by French architect Michel Pinseau and is the 3rd Largest in the world. It costs around £8 to go into the Mosque and you need to pre-book, ladies should take a pashmina to make sure that bare shoulders are covered. The Old Medina is worth a look, however it is the most expensive in Morocco and much smaller in comparison to the souks of Marrakesh. I discovered that unlike the markets of Marrakesh the souk that I visited was fixed price, so haggling was inappropriate, unlike Marrakesh.
The best way to see Casablanca is to book a guide for the day, hotel concierge can organise this for you, however if you approach a ‘grand’ taxi driver directly you can save around £20, paying around £40 all in including a tip
Where to Eat
Rick’s Café- A Gin joint of sorts, heavily paying homage to the film, the resident pianist must play “ As time goes by” at least 5 times a day. Great food and drink, a visit is a must.
http://www.rickscafe.ma/
A Ma Bretagne- Stunning French cuisine, based on the coast. The local seafood is not to be missed. http://www.amabretagne.com/
Bissat at the Regency Hyatt- Gorgeous setting often with entertainment and traditional Moroccan fayre. Was recommended the monkfish tagine and it didn’t disappoint. http://casablanca.regency.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/entertainment/restaurants/index.jsp#4127
Where to Stay
The Hyatt Regency is a stunning new 5* Hotel and with a Louis Vuitton store on-site I thought that this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
How to get there
For a 48 hour minibreak fly direct from Heathrow with BMI
|
