The King of Morocco
With a vast view of the Atlantic Ocean the Hassan II Mosque is an amazing architectural feat in Casablanca. Finished in 1993, the mosque was built during a time when Morocco was knee deep in debt. With salty waves constantly crashing around the promontory on which the mosque stands on, it was certainly not easy to build. Up to 105,000 people can be occupied at one time on the mosque’s grounds. There are modern features such as a retractable roof to allow worshippers to pray under the stars and laser beam at the top of the 210 metre minaret that is oriented towards Mecca. On the day when I visited, king Mohammed VI was visiting the mosque.
It was pretty cool seeing the welcoming bands and crowds all waving the Moroccan flag and cheering in unison. Compared to the authoritarian rule of his predecessor the current king is much more popular amongst his people, with more reforms towards poverty alleviation, equality for women and education. Once the gathering spot for pirates, Rabat is now the capital of Morocco and where the king resides. While the interiors of The Royal Palace is off limits, the palace grounds are still great for walks, especially with the beautifully manicured gardens.
Be sure to visit the Kasbah of Oudayas. Walk past the Almohad gate and you’ll enter the historic quarters of Oudayas that is populated with the blue and white houses reminiscent of a Greek island. There’s nothing quite like sipping on a sweet peppermint tea and looking out at the vast Atlantic on a lazy afternoon in this laid-back village.
It was pretty cool seeing the welcoming bands and crowds all waving the Moroccan flag and cheering in unison. Compared to the authoritarian rule of his predecessor the current king is much more popular amongst his people, with more reforms towards poverty alleviation, equality for women and education. Once the gathering spot for pirates, Rabat is now the capital of Morocco and where the king resides. While the interiors of The Royal Palace is off limits, the palace grounds are still great for walks, especially with the beautifully manicured gardens.
Be sure to visit the Kasbah of Oudayas. Walk past the Almohad gate and you’ll enter the historic quarters of Oudayas that is populated with the blue and white houses reminiscent of a Greek island. There’s nothing quite like sipping on a sweet peppermint tea and looking out at the vast Atlantic on a lazy afternoon in this laid-back village.
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