“…you'll regret it. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life.”-Rick, Casablanca, 1942
Rick’s Cafe, no it is not the same one from the movie Casablanca, but it was a great experience to walk in as if you were on set.
I remember the first time I was introduced to director and actor Humphrey Bogart. I was 13, and my history teacher was showing us 40’s films and music such as Bogart’s Casablanca and Don’t Fence Me In by Gene Autry. Movies and music from the 40s inspired me, and even as a teenager I knew that one day I wanted to visit Africa, and especially Casablanca in Morocco.
Casablanca is the largest city in Morocco and contains one of the largest ports in North Africa. It is also one of the largest financial hubs in Africa. For all you history nerds like me, Casablanca has a long and ancient history, dating back to the Romans, so you will find no shortage of things to learn and do in Casablanca! An incredibly important part of Casablanca and Moroccan culture are their connections to religion. Today, with over 99.9% of the population of Morocco practicing Islam, mosques are incredibly important cultural centers.
One of the most pious mosque’s in the world is the Hassan II Mosque located in Casablanca. In1961, King Hassan II requested for the best of the country's artisans to submit proposals to honor King Mohammed V’s death, asking it "reflect the fervor and veneration with which this illustrious man was regarded." In 1980, during his birthday celebrations, Hassan II made clear his desire of creating a single landmark monument in Casablanca:
I wish Casablanca to be endowed with a large, fine building of which it can be proud until the end of time ... I want to build this mosque on the water, because God's throne is on the water. Therefore, the faithful who go there to pray, to praise the creator on firm soil, can contemplate God's sky and ocean.
The building took 7 years to complete, 1,400 men working during the day, 1,100 working through the night. All in all, over 10,000 artists and craftsman participated in the beautification of the mosque. King Hassan II wanted this mosque to be the most ambitious structure ever built in Morocco, and it is quite remarkable. Not only is the architecture beautiful, the mosque is also situated right next to the Atlantic Ocean. Check out some photos from my tour below!
The minaret (the lighthouse like structure in this photo) is the tallest religious structure in the world. It has a laser beam fitted at the top, which is operated in the evening, and is oriented towards the holy city of Mecca.
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