In the morning after another amazing Sofitel buffet breakfast, we started on our three-hour drive to Casablanca. Our first sightseeing stop in Casablanca was a cathedral with very large stained glass windows.
We were lucky enough to get permission to see the gates of the royal palace in Casablanca. Yes, they're big.
We had lunch along the corniche, where Mohamed found the best item on the menu: fried seafood platter! The shrimp were very sweet -- I refuse to eat the bland farmed versions we have in the U.S., but these ones (presumably fresh from the Atlantic) were great.
After lunch, we visited the Grand Mosque of Hassan II. According to the Smithsonian, it is "the world's second largest Islamic house of worship, with a 656-foot minaret and a prayer hall three times the size of St. Paul's Cathedral in London. A stunning architectural achievement, the mosque boasts an equally stunning setting on the banks of the Atlantic shoreline. It is also Morocco's only functioning mosque that is open to non-Muslims...to see the palatial interior with its polished marble floor, Venetian chandeliers, and Moorish arches with 70 cedar-paneled cupolas." I've seen some grand buildings in my time, and this one ranks near the top not only because of its size but also because of its design (including location near the water).
We checked into the Hyatt for our final night of the tour, and the flowers in the lobby were very cheerful.
For our farewell dinner, the tour director had a surprise for us: Rick's Cafe! It was quite well done, with live music and tasty food. I could see why it's popular with both tourists and locals.
We said our good-byes to everyone in the tour group at the Hyatt, as Mohamed and I would be staying an additional two nights in Casablanca. They were all such great travel companions -- it was a fantastic experience together!
