Traveling through completely unfamiliar territory is inevitably like drinking from a fire hydrant. There are depths of culture to plumb, ancient stories to sift through, and pockets of communities that are nuanced and complex. I continued to return to a single question as we made our way through Morocco: why haven’t I studied any of this?
Of course, I could have been a more proactive traveler and actually done the research beforehand. Isn’t that what we always tell ourselves? The amount of time we would have had “in advance” is, in retrospect, seemingly infinite. But the holidays had encroached upon us, I had worked until the night before our early morning flight from LAX, and there was no going back. There was nothing I could do but try to overcome the guilt of my own ignorance before touching ground in Casablanca, and go with the flow.
We only had a day in Casablanca, and it seemed to be enough. We strolled down its somewhat calm streets in the morning, and took photos with men wearing the traditional clothing of water bearers who lived in the Sahara, selling sips to sojourning caravans.
Thankfully, much of what is beautiful about Morocco need not be explained: art is everywhere, hospitality is the norm, and this is a nation of makers. Casablanca is known as Morocco’s industrial capital, so it’s less of a draw for those of us into the old stories and artisanal goods. But it has one big strength: the Hassan II Mosque.
Hassan II Mosque
I’m grateful for the construction for this relatively new mosque. Most mosques in Morocco are closed to non-Muslims, so this is the only one we were allowed to enter. King Hassan II bequeathed it to the Moroccan people as a symbol of pride and success, and its construction involved importing rare materials from all around the world.
The mosque is so huge that it is quite difficult to photograph, but that didn’t keep me from trying! My favorite part was the level underground, where the Arab baths (hammam) were. Women and men wash themselves separately before entering the mosque. Our tour guide was emphatic about the fact that most hammams are not so beautiful, but this was stunning.
Beyond Casablanca
If you’re traveling to Morocco, it’s unlikely you’ll spend much time in Casablanca. Other than the mosque– which I believe is worth the stop alone– there isn’t as rich a history there. If you choose to visit “Rick’s Cafe” (created after the movie), let me know what it’s like on the inside. We decided it wasn’t worth it, despite our love for the movie.
From Casablanca, our journey continued toward Fez. We stopped at palaces, tombs, a small seaside village, Roman ruins and town squares– all of which overwhelmed us with beauty. There is so much I didn’t know, and still don’t know, about Morocco: the people who have moved in and out of its territory, the story behind its architectural style, the reason why the air seems to buzz with a unique energy.
These ruins were originally constructed by the Merinids in the 14th century, atop rediscovered Roman ruins! We continued onwards to view a beautiful tomb, and then to Meknes where we enjoyed the scenes outside its stunning gate.
A small town within the Kasbah des Oudaias served as a sweet respite on our long journey. This town’s lovely views draw visitors from near and far, and is known for its striking similarity to Chefchaoen, a famous Moroccan town in the north with blue walls and majestic atmosphere. We’ve bookmarked Chefchaouen for our next trip to Morocco!
Our last two stops on our way to Fes were the Royal Stables and the town of Volubilis. The stables were built to accommodate 12,000 horses, all belonging to Moulay Ismail, a powerful ruler of Meknes. Volubilis, on the other hand, is even older. Built by the Romans, its oddly Western feel seems out of place, but certainly sparkled at golden hour.
Centuries and civilizations seemed to whiz past us as we made it to Fez after seven hours of driving. This is probably what time travel would feel like, if it were possible: a whirlwind that, while exhilarating, is somewhat unnatural to the human spirit.
Ultimately, we travel to see, and perhaps to see as much as we can– but not unlike most destinations, Morocco merits slow, extended travel for anyone who is able to stay longer. I can’t wait to share more in-depth experiences from the remainder of our trip.
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Love this post! Followed most of your Casa recommendations! Thank youuu!! Check it out here: http://tayaramuse.com/2018/10/03/how-to-spend-a-layover-in-casablanca/
Yes, well Casablanca is more industrial and modern– and most people enjoy seeing old Morocco!
Thanks for reading, Anna!! yes– this mosque is definitely a flagship job!
Thank you, Jess! That sounds like the perfect itinerary– we were in Andalusia for just a few days before heading to Morocco, and you can definitely connect the historical and architectural stories!
Wow, these photos are beautiful. I have wanted to visit Morocco for a long time (and combine it with a trip to Spain and Portugal). The architecture and design is just stunning. Love how you have captured the patterned tiles.
Jess
x
beautiful architecture! I’ve seen some of the mosque’s tiles on Pinterest and had no idea where they come from! Well now I know!
Beautiful pictures! Kind of sad there’s not much in Casablanca… Rick’s Cafe would be neat to visit, but probably super touristy!
Seriously stunning photos!!! Does it get any prettier?
Thank you so much! Well then you would love Morocco- the architecture is so varied and fascinating.
Thanks Kaelene! I think you’d really enjoy exploring there! Perhaps one day you two can make your way to Morocco. 🙂
Thanks for reading, Rachel! And haha I love the movie too!
Thanks for reading, Emma! The tile is pretty amazing. 🙂
This is right up my alley – I am obsessed with great architecture and this architecture makes my heart sing — love it ! Great post and pictures.
Such stunning pictures. This is a part of the world that I know so little about, I would love to visit and learn more about the culture!
Wow, the architecture and ruins are stunning! Never thought much about visiting here, but I do love the movie Casablanca 🙂
Absolutely breathtaking! I’m such a sucker for some beautiful tile. This architecture is amazing!
Emma | Seeking the South
That’s amazing, Gina, though I must say 17 hours is quite long. We could hardly stand the 7+ hour car rides during this trip! Still, definitely going back! Let me know if you wrote any posts or shared any photos!
Yes I went to Chefchaouen for a weekend when I was in Spain! It took us 17 hours to get there by ferry though, so our time was a little cut short. It was BEAUTIFUL. Now you have a reason to go back next time!
It really was! I’m looking forward to sharing more of the rest of our trip– this was actually the least interesting part!
Thank you Brittany! Glad you enjoyed this. 😉 I’ll be vicariously re-exploring Morocco with my photos too!
Yes! I’m still looking for good books on the topic– something that’s not a travel guide book since I don’t see myself going back any time soon!
Have you been to Chefchaouen Gina?!? I’m so sad we couldn’t make it there, but our trip was so packed already. I’ll have to go back o Andalusia and drop down to Chefchaouen next time! 😉
Thank you! We took many– these were the best ones!
I think you’d be able to get some gorgeous photos of this place, Melanie! It’s really fun to be able to have all the time we needed to get our photos– and it’s definitely not as crowded as the most famous cathedrals in Europe!
And you’re right– thankfully we had a guide with us the whole time who could answer questions on the fly. I’d love to read some literature on it still, though, even if it’s a bit of a retroactive education! 😉
Simply stunning!! I had the same feeling when I went to Morocco for a short trip – why didn’t I study or learn more about the culture before studying abroad. There is such a unique vibe to the Moroccan culture – I can’t wait to visit again! And definitely bookmark Chefchaouen – it’s wonderful!
Beautiful! I’m ashamed to say that I don’t know very much about this part of the world either. I love studying older cultures and civilizations, so I should dive into this!
These shots are SO gorgeous, Daisy!! What an amazing and unique destination, and so rich in history. Thanks for sharing with us! It’s fun to vicariously live out my travel dreams through you. 🙂
What a breathtaking place! I can’t wait to read about it more
I really hope I can visit this Mosque one day! I remember seeing it in a documentary on the largest religious buildings a few years back and ever since then I have been interested to visit! 🙂 By the way, before every single trip I take I have the highest intentions to learn everything about the culture, food and history of the place that I am visiting, but it almost never works out that way – I do make sure to read the chapters in question in my guidebook, but I hardly ever manage to do a ton of other reading on top of it. But I think half of the fun of travel is to learn things while you travel! 🙂
You took very beautiful pictures 🙂