Casablanca. This city is different from any other large city in Morocco. Beautiful and striking in its own way, it rounds out the country's big city dynamic: Fes is culture, Rabat is government, Marrakesh is tourism and the "gateway" to the mountains and Sahara and Casablanca is business and commercialism. But there was something "off" about it that separated it from the other cities just as equally...
It's bigger than all of them but has the smallest old medina. Nestled between the port and central downtown, it looks like it was inserted after expansion rather than beginning the city's footprint centuries ago. But that wasn't it.
Unlike the others, business appears to overshadow everything else. Since most of the city is "new" and built for commerce, there wasn't a lot to see by means of culture save the former King's giant mosque, the Jewish Museum and the Art Show at the Ville de Arts. Though less significant than the landmarks in other cities, this wasn't what was "off" either...
The beach front offers rows of American and European-style fitness clubs along the Ain Diab coast, giving the city's youth a place to flaunt their newest clothes and see a movie. Though more European than any place else, this wasn't it either...
What was "off" with this city was that everything had the potential to be perfect, but none of it was. There was always something slightly askew just about everywhere. In all the places I visited, I was immediately struck with a scenic site or exquisite structure that needed capturing. But, inevitably, something in the shot - a bum, trash, rubble - required it to be cropped or re-shot.
Casa isn't the only city in Morocco to have these minor inconveniences. Like most places I've visited, a lack of public responsibility and a lower standard of communal upkeep have detracted from the country's scenery. For some odd reason though, I just seemed to notice it more this day.
More to come from this unique city in the future. Like Tangier (the true inspiration behind the movie Casablanca), I've only scratched the surface and look forward to digging deeper in due time.
It's bigger than all of them but has the smallest old medina. Nestled between the port and central downtown, it looks like it was inserted after expansion rather than beginning the city's footprint centuries ago. But that wasn't it.
United Nations Place at the Union of the "Old" and "New" Medinas
Unlike the others, business appears to overshadow everything else. Since most of the city is "new" and built for commerce, there wasn't a lot to see by means of culture save the former King's giant mosque, the Jewish Museum and the Art Show at the Ville de Arts. Though less significant than the landmarks in other cities, this wasn't what was "off" either...
Built from 1980 to 1993, this is the third largest Mosque in the world behind Mecca and Medina. Able to hold 25,000 Muslims inside and another 80,000 outside, the Mosque's Minaret is the tallest structure in the country and points a huge laser in the direction of Mecca after dusk.
After going through four cab drivers (none of whom knew the location of the museum), I had the Jewish Museum all to myself. Set in a small, southern quartier, the only Jewish Museum in the Islamic World highlighted the Synagogues, Mellahs, Cemeteries and Jewish Leaders across Morocco.
The Jameel Exhibit from 2009 was displayed at the Villa de Arts Museum. Works from more than ten artists included rings, type paper, a wall panel and a corner wall of photography. Again I am the only one inside it's renovated building,
The beach front offers rows of American and European-style fitness clubs along the Ain Diab coast, giving the city's youth a place to flaunt their newest clothes and see a movie. Though more European than any place else, this wasn't it either...
The beach at Ain Diab, fitness clubs, the Megarama cinema and the Hank Lighthouse
What was "off" with this city was that everything had the potential to be perfect, but none of it was. There was always something slightly askew just about everywhere. In all the places I visited, I was immediately struck with a scenic site or exquisite structure that needed capturing. But, inevitably, something in the shot - a bum, trash, rubble - required it to be cropped or re-shot.
Above: Kids playing soccer on the beach - not bad. Below: Same shot with less zoom...and more trash / rubble in the foreground
Above: The Hassan II Mosque, dominating Casa's skyline. Below: 10 feet to the left, the Mosque shares the shot with an unsuspecting - but friendly - local
Above: One of the Palm-lined boulevards in the new medina - quite trendy. Below: Inside the fountain - quite trashy.
Casa isn't the only city in Morocco to have these minor inconveniences. Like most places I've visited, a lack of public responsibility and a lower standard of communal upkeep have detracted from the country's scenery. For some odd reason though, I just seemed to notice it more this day.
More to come from this unique city in the future. Like Tangier (the true inspiration behind the movie Casablanca), I've only scratched the surface and look forward to digging deeper in due time.
All I have to say is that it's a lot better than Sadr City.
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