Casablanca

Casablanca was a tricky one. For a start, it's a big city! As with any big city, you should cherry pick what you do or, try to see. Being in the van meant we had to go on a site 23 kilometres outside of the city, a place called Camping International Oasis. 

It's level and mostly gravel. It was peaceful for the most part, save for dog barking, and the Police using it as a barracks, odd but, there you are.

The showers are a bit scruffy but, they don't smell, and they are good and powerful, and steaming hot!

One pain, well actually no, two. The first was the area for the grey waste and cassette empty are under a manhole type cover three quarters of the way down the site. 

The other pain was that none of the fresh water taps worked which meant that water had to be collected from a single tap on the other side of the reception building. We were told that the taps on the site would be working 'Maybe tomorrow' yeah right, we've all heard that one before.

If you are planning on staying here in your van, just check what the price is, before you set up. He overcharged us and I know it for a fact but, as we hadn't asked, we couldn't dispute the figures that he presented us with. Rachid is the man you'll deal with. He was a great help, I wouldn't deny it but, come settling up time, suddenly it was, charge for the van, cost per night per person, cost for electric and, cost for the showers. Ok, you got me this time Rachid but, that's not the way to secure future bookings.

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Back to Casablanca. If you visit on your way in to Morocco, you may well feel inclined to visit the Souk, the Medina, and everything else that Morocco has to throw at you. We were on our way back to Tangier some six weeks after we'd landed in Morocco and, nice as they are, once you've been to a souk and lost yourself in a medina, and are on your tenth tagine or serving of brochettes, it just doesn't have the same appeal.

Hassan 11 Mosque. Casablanca

So, we chose to have the guided tour of the Mosque. It was, I felt, a tad pricey at 120 dirham, or around 12 euros, each. Don't hesitate to do it though, it's amazing inside but, the tour just felt a bit rushed and in all honesty, we weren't much wiser when we came out, than when we went in. 

Elaborate prayer room

You can also take pictures inside which, apparently, wasn't permitted at one time. This is a great plus, it would be such a shame not to get some of the amazing sights that greet you, on film, as it were.

Balcony

The tour times are listed outside and, you won't be allowed in during prayer. The tours start once the mosque has emptied after prayer.

We were told by our guide that the mosque can hold 20,000 people inside and, up to another 80,000 in the surrounding areas. Busiest times are during Ramadan so, if you don't like crowds, plan your visit outside of Ramadan!

Sue with head covering.

What to wear. Just be respectful. Head wear is not a requirement for women, even inside the  mosque but, covered arms and legs is expected. It's also shoes off, while in the prayer room, and bags are provided to put them in.

I knew that, at some point after our visit to the Mosque, we would end up at the shopping Mall It's almost like I'm clairvoyant!