Our last day in Casablanca, Morocco - King Hassan II Mosque and Rick's Cafe

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 It was so hard to believe that our whirlwind tour of Morocco was over. One more day, that was it, and then the long trip home. But let's not get ahead of ourselves and take the time to enjoy the beautiful sunny day we had in Casablanca. We had to leave Marrakech promptly in order to get to Casablanca for our tour of King Hassan II Mosque, the only active mosque non-Muslims can visit in Morocco. 


It is the largest active mosque in Africa and has a total capacity of 105,000 people, 25,000 inside and 80,000 in the outside areas. Construction began in 1986 and was completed in 1993, which is incredible given the size and the craftsmanship. It's on the sea and the exterior views are almost as beautiful as the interior. As we entered, we removed our shoes, and you could hear the collective gasps from our group as we looked around, above and below. There are so many facts and figures, and you can look them up (plus more information) on the mosque's website The Hassan II Mosque Foundation of Casablanca | - Hassan Mosque 2 (fmh2.ma); I was just in awe. The mosque was built by donations, large and small, from Moroccans as well as Arab countries. There was a period of time when craftsmen and builders were working 24 hours a day to complete the construction. The pace of our visit was quick but didn't feel rushed like some of our other stops; it felt like we had plenty of time to look, take photos and appreciate the experience. 



The retractable roof



The architectural style draws on Andalusian, Moorish, Islamic influences. There is symbolism in the materials used as well as the designs. 



This is the room where the men perform their ablutions before going to prayer. There are enough sinks and faucets for probably over a 100 people at a time to wash. 





There is a laser coming out of the minaret, pointing towards Mecca, but you can't really see it in this photo.

Our last night out was a dinner at Rick's Cafe based on Humphrey Bogart's hang out in Casablanca. The movie is run on a loop and there is a roulette wheel and movie posters and memorabilia on the walls. The food was delicious; honestly, though, our meals throughout were pretty spectacular. It was a wonderful way to end our visit.





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