Casablanca - 12 May

After breakfast we were on our way again, heading to Casablanca for our last night in Morocco. First stop was the Majorelle Gardens and YSL museum which was originally designed in 1924 bt French artist Jacwues Majorelle. After taking up residence in Marrakech, Majorelle transformed the property's existing garden into a tropical paradise, surrounded by vivid cobalt blue buildings with verdant exotic groves, lily covered pools and enormous sculptural cactuses (or cacti?). I'm not a huge cactus fan, but the gardens really were beautifully set out and a pleasure to wander around.

We initially went through the museum in the gardens but photos were not permitted. It was very interesting and showed the different cultures that have merged over history for the Morroco of today. Some of the silver jewellery was amazing, so ornate, probably really heavy,and all made by hand. In the adjoininh gift shop many of the items were YSL inspired and suitably expensive! In 1966, Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge made their first trip to Morocco.They immediately fell in love with the country and agreed to buy a small house in the medina: Dar el-Hanch (the Snake's House). Saint Laurent would go on to travel to Morocco a few times a year to design his collections. He is definitely revered here. After leaving the gardens we walked a short distance fown the street to the YSL museum. I'm not much of a fan of many of his designs, but the bead work and embroidery on many of the items on display was outstanding. Again, no photos, so you just have to take my word for it.

Back on the road again with a 2 1/2 hour drive to Casablanca ahead of us. We had one stop along the way for what Ahmed calls a technical break so that Samad could go to the loo! The service station we pulled into had rows of pottery and ceramic stall holders which if we had more time and dirham, I reckon Julie and I could have done some damage!

We continued to see little vans on the side of the road, that were mobile coffee vans. Also fruit stands where you simply pulled over and had your cuppa and fruit by the side of the road... in the dust! Also there had been toll booths throughout our travels. They are jointly private and government owned so I'm unclear of who pays for it and who makes the money out of it. We reach Casablanca and head towards the ocean. The rich and powerful have built some amazing homes here. We had lunch at a restaurant that overlooked the Atlantic Ocean. Took 15 minutes before we got a menu and the waiter didn's speak English which proved a bit problem because even pointing at the words on the menu, he would write down the next thing in the menu. He had to cross out what I wanted (chicken skewers) twice, and poor Julie tried to order the ehiting, only to eventually be told that there was none. As she had already been ready to walk out of the place, she just have up and ordered the same as me. We eventually got what we ordered and the chicken was really good, but Moroccans should stop serving french fries as they have no idea on how to cook them without being limp and soggy!

With lunch finally over we have a photo stop at the monumentally huge mosque that cost billions of dollars and took 7 years to build.

The public housing buildings have lovely murals on the side of them, but that's the best thing about them. It is planned for them to be demolished within 30 years, in time for the world cup to be played here. We passed the stadium on the way here from Marrakech, that holds 45-50 thousand that needs to be increased for the Cup! Im wondering where the public housing tenants will be displaced to, all because of sport! Our last photo stop was in front of Rick's cafe, which I specifically asked to see. You have to book before going as they don't accept walk ins. Ofcourse this isn't the real Rick's cafe as seen in the movie Casablanca, as that was simply a set made and filmed in Hollywood. However an American woman got the idea to create a Rick's cafe in Casablanca and so now it is quite an icon. Here's looking at you kid...

A short drive back to the hotel where our holiday started, Barcelo Hotel. We are pleased to say farewell to Ahmed as he had managed to wear both of us out to varying degrees, however we didnt let him spoil our trip in any way. Once booked into the hotel we find that we are back in the same room as before. We were so hoping for another room in the fervent hope we would have a bathroom that had walls and a door! Oh well, something else for us to have a laugh about. Not much of a view either, but that's to be expected in a bustling city. I mean that it's not much of a view outside through the window, not a view of Julie in the shower!!!

We have settled into our room, got our Euros out ready for tomorrow and repacked our suitcases in readiness for a 7am pickup to go to the airport. Hope you have enjoyed your trip with us to Morocco. You have been lovely company and very easy to please! Portugal, here we come.