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1995

Marocco - Cairo to Capetown

Bec
2004-09-20 16:05:32

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Casablanca
The old walled city, called Medina, spreads northward behind this clock tower on Place des Nations Unies in the center of Casa.

I was glad to come back to Morocco where I had spent three wonderful weeks touring with a friend thirty years ago. This time I was alone but I had good memories! I stayed at the Hotel Périgord not far from here for 8 US$.

The huge new Hassan II Mosque overlooks the Atlantic Ocean just north of the medina. Completed in 1993, it is said to be the largest in the world but I know several others that make the same claim. Largest or not it is at least a testimony of the quality of Moroccan craftsmanship and of Hassan II's wealth and power.

This tower in the "Habous" district is very characteristic of 12th century Almohad architecture. Almost identical towers can be found in Marrakesh, the Koutoubia, in Rabat, the Hassan tower and in Sevilla, the Giralda.

Marrakesh is too touristy to my taste but I decided to go there just for old times sake!

The Place Djemaa el Fna had the same kebab stands, water peddlers, snake charmers, musicians and folkloric dancers as thirty years ago. They must have been the children of those I had seen...

Essaouira
Essaouira, on the Atlantic coast, was new to me and I loved it. This is the north gate near the bus station.

Essaouira was founded in the 16th century by the Portuguese like most of Morocco's Atlantic towns but most of these fortifications were built in the 18th by the Alaouite dynasty.

Essaouira's main street, called Rue Zerktouni here in the east, becomes Avenue de l'Istiqlal in the center and Avenue Oqba ben Nafii at its western end.

From here I moved up the coast to another fortified town, Safi.

Safi
Originally built by the Portuguese in the 16th century the "Qasr el Bahr" fort was later added to by the Moors.

Square at the entrance to the Medina. My next stop was El Djadida 150 kms further up the coast.

El Djadida
North east bastion on the land side of the city walls.

I got here around noon, I found a nice room at the Hotel du Magreb for only 4 US$ and went sightseeing.
El Djadida was founded in 1513 by the Portuguese who managed to hold on to it until it Sultan Sidi Mohammed ben Abdallah took it by blowing up its walls in 1769. The ramparts were rebuilt in 1820 but this fresh water reserve cistern remained as the Portuguese had built it in the 16th century.

Azemour
I am only showing photos of Azemour's ramparts for there wasn't much to see inside.

Now, my African trip was over and I flew back directly to Montreal from Casablanca.

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