Moroccan Adventure #2 -- Day 1 (Cont.)

Hello friends:

Today has been a very big day and I am glad that I survived to tell you about it. We started with breakfast in the hotel, which was O.K. But the coffee requirement worked out well. We purchased a lot of various kinds of individual packets of coffee both at home and in England. We were able to get hot water from the hotel machine and make our own coffee; it was really good. They offer espresso, but that is not for me.
After that we prepared to be gone for the day and had an introductory meeting in the hotel before going for a tour of Casablanca. Our guide, Ali, is very proud of the French style architecture. Some of the older buildings, with wrought iron balconies, remind me very much of New Orleans French Quarter.

We stopped see an open area where the French Embassy and other buildings were located. People were protesting the lack of jobs. We went to an interesting market area, mostly dedicated to the sale of meat and fish, much more interesting in its varieties, but I can't tell you what they were because.other than lamb and beef, I don't know what we were looking at!

We were taken to a specialty restaurant for lunch; it was almost all fish. I ordered calamari which arrived in a small iron pot with a delicious spicy sauce and vegetables piled on top, it was piping hot (degrees) and moderately hot (spices) and absolutley delicious. Served with big crusty bread rolls, I was in heaven! Ron and several others ordered mixed grill. It arrived on an enormous plate covered in many fish, shrimp, and calamari. It looked beautiful but with so much food I was glad I didn't order it. The sight of that amount of food made me feel full! Ron made a Herculean effort to eat his, and he took care of the big shrimp first, but even he couldn't make it. Most people complained that the fish was actually cold; they would have liked it hot! With the Atlantic ocean beating on the shore, fish is big in traditional Moroccan food.

Next was a trip to see the Mosque of Hassan the Second. How the building was paid for when the building was started in 1987 is for conversation; but, now it is there, it is magnificent. The workmanship is beyond comparison. It is the third largest Mosque in the world and has the tallest minaret anywhere. The marble, the tiles, the inlay, the wood work etc. are enough to make one gasp. I wore my Mosque-visiting-respectful headcovering and demure clothing. Photographs were taken; we will be prepared to bore you with them on the slightest indication of interest. We walked up and down long flights of stairs until I felt like my legs would never work again. It was well worth our time, but left me with mixed feelings about the construction of such an exquisite buulding in a place where many people are so very poor.
We were taken back to our hotel for a rest (which was badly needed) and then out to dinner. The restaurant was Berber, the decor was wonderful, but I was really still full from the good lunch. I loved the soup that was served piping hot with just the right amount of spices, again served with really good bread. I declined to order an entree, the soup and bread were plenty. Ron ordered chicken and lemon targine. The targine is the covered pot in which the food is slowly cooked, Fortunately the portion was quite sensible so he enjoyed it. As he said, chicken was not his favorite food, but he just couldn't eat lamb every night; he loves lamb but does not want to risk getting tired of it. This chiken he thought was quite special.

I have to stop writing now as we have to get up early in the morning to begin our journey to Rabat, and where we will meet members of Friendship Force for lunch and political somebodies before returning to Moroccan citizens private home-stay for one night.

AND SO TO BED.

Hugs, Noreen