Last day in Casablanca -> back to USA

























 

After hostel breakfast and meeting new friends, I walked towards Mahkama du Pacha: court house close to royal palace to take some photos, but I cannot get in either. “Mahkama du Pacha was constructed in the traditional style, brick by brick, using zellige (mosaic tilework), multi-foil arches, honycomb stuccowork, cedar timber and green tiles.”
I then strolled via the nearby new market before it woke up on Sunday morning. The new market Quartier Habous is a calmer, cleaner alternative to the Old Medina. “Habous was built in the style of a traditional Medina, using Moorish style and materials, but at the same time its French architects applied Modern urban planning concepts. In amongst the intricately moulded street arches, horseshoe arcades and whitewashed buildings are street cafes where you can watch the neighbourhood going about its business over a glass of mint tea and a pastry. Vendors are famously less pushy in the Quartier Habous and you can seek out leather goods, olives of all sizes and descriptions, traditional clothing, Moroccan sweets, tagines and spices.”
I then strolled via the central market (Marche Central) and Place des Nations Unies to take more photos. “Place des Nations Unies is a transport hub, plotted at the very beginning of the French Protectorate to link the new city with the Old Medina.”
My real shopping was in the old Medina to get sweets, walnuts, dry dates, dishes, pancakes, before the 45-min train ride to the CMN airport. The old Medina of scruffy intertwining streets holds less tourist appeal than its counterparts in Marrakesh and Fez, but merits a daytime visit for anyone who wants to more economically priced foods. The airport check-in actually took 2.5 hrs even though I have no checked luggage.
I bench-watched more than 10 movies during the 8-hr direct flight with Royal Air Maroc in to IAD (using 22,500 AA miles + $55). They served Morocco food and wine during the flight. Home, sweet home after over 2-month in west Europe and Morocco!

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