The best way to combat jet lag is to ignore it. Completely. Carry on your day as though you’ve nothing wrong with you. And when that doesn’t work, you suck it up, put your shoes on, pick a destination and get going. It’s a good thing there are so many interesting and exciting adventures in the world to keep us motivated and awake!
The Hassan II Mosque is one of Casablanca’s “must-see” landmarks. As soon as we saw it in the distance, we knew we were in for something special. It was gorgeous! It is unique for many reasons: it was so new – finished in 1993 – a baby building compared to what we’re used to seeing, it has a retractable roof, it was built half on land and half on water, it is the largest mosque in Africa and one of the largest in the world. Truly a sight to behold.
We opted to not join a tour group – well, I guess it was kind of opted for us – we were late and they had already left. By the time we finally heard an English guide, we were enjoying absorbing the atmosphere on our own so we didn’t feel the need to join in. There is something to be said about being in the moment and letting fate choose your destiny.
Which is how we ended up starving for a few hours. We did not plan on the fact that Ramadan started the day we got here – and will continue until we leave. This means that 99% of the restaurants and cafes are closed during daylight hours. By 3:00pm we were ready to eat the leather off our shoes so we broke down and bought a bag of chips. Which we devoured. In record time. And there was absolutely zero guilt.
Walking along the promenade is a feast for the senses. You can hear the waves crashing, feel the spray of the water, watch the fishermen, taste the salty air, see boats in the water and playgrounds in the sand. It was also windy – very windy.
Overall? Our first day in Morocco was a huge success. Casablanca is everything you expect it to be – white buildings, Muslim flair, European influence. Yet it is much different than anticipated – green palm trees lining the boulevards, quiet streets (because of Ramadan), construction crazy. We’re loving it completely. THIS much!
Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have to go cheer on Canada’s Women’s hockey team so they can kick the US’s butt in the Gold Medal match at the 2026 Olympics!!
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