Casablanca is not the political capital of Morocco, Rabat is, but it is the largest and the economic centre for shipping. Of Morocco’s almost forty million population, almost four million live in Casablanca’s urban area. Its population growth is party because of the port and partly because of colonialism.
At the time we were visiting, they were dredging the sand from the bottom of the harbour. The minaret of the Hassan II mosque can be seen rising above the city between the cranes of the dredging vessel.
Probably the first thought connected with Casablanca is the 1942 Warner Brothers movie staring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Rick’s Cafe is still there near the dock. The bus slowed down as we passed the place which has recently been refurbished. I was sitting on the wrong side of the bus to get a picture of the front of the building but here is a picture I was able to take with my cell phone of a building on the corner as we passed. Sorry, this not Rick’s Cafe.
During the time when Morocco was a French Protectorate, between 1912 and 1956, a Catholic Cathedral of the Sacred Heart was built as a sanctuary. It was built in 1930 but was never officially a cathedral because it was never the seat of a bishop of the catholic church. Most of the country is Islamic (99% Sunni) but the one percent build churches to worship. The church was finished in 1953 and was deconsecrated in 1956 when Morocco gained independence. Now it is used to host cultural events and, when open for tours, provides a great vantage point to view Casablanca.
Many of the city’s official offices are located near the Mohammed V Square (Pigeon Fountain) so here is another video looking around the square.
The original people of Morocco are Berbers. They live primarily in the mountain ranges in the centre of the country. Here is one proclaiming his heritage near the fountain. ( videos can be viewed full screen by clicking on the bottom right corner of the video player)
We only visited a tiny part of Casablanca from the dock on the right [18] and [6], passed Rick’s Cafe [3], to the mosque at [5] and [7], out to the beach on the left [8] and back with a stop at the square in the center of the map [7].
Back at the dock we walk past one of the Marrakech ferry ships. Our ship docked next to the container ship dock. Can you guess which tugboat we would call Goliath?
Because my only reference for Casablanca was the movie, I didn’t envision the place that way. Your pictures are beautiful. Thank you for sharing your experiences there and the history. I especially was intrigued by the cathedral that was turned into an event space.
How interesting that Rick’s Cafe is a real place! Thanks for sharing your pictures. Almost makes me feel like I was there.