January 3, 2007
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Morocco – Day 1: Casablanca Arrival
Date: December 22
Location: Casablanca
Weather: Mild and Sunny
Hours Awake: 36
The first thing you should know is that we have family in Morocco. If you recall, in mid-2005 my cousin got married to a fellow from Morocco. Well, my cousin (call her TQ) a few months thereafter moved to Morocco to live with her husband (call him YH); so, now, we have family in Morocco.
I’d counted on his family–at least YH’s father and mother–to show us hospitality. But, I honestly couldn’t imagine the degree to which his entire family welcomed us. It was literally like they were taking us in as part of their own family–well, like YH’s father said, sommes de la même famile. Throughout the entire vacation, we didn’t need to stay at a single hotel–our cousin and our new extended family invited us to stay with them instead. Perhaps half of the time we ate, also, it was home-cooked. Those two things you’ll notice throughout this vacation. So, let’s begin with the events of the first day…
After our flight, we arrive in Casablanca in the early morning. TQ and YH meet us at the airport; they both live in Rabat, while YH’s parents live in Casablanca. So, we first go to YH’s parents’ home in Casablanca to rest for a bit. Now, bear in mind that I don’t sleep on flights, and the only way to prevent jet-lag is to avoid sleeping until the evening whenever you arrive. This meant I had to stay up for another 20 hours after not having slept the previous night. We greeted YH’s mother and father at their home–and then, they treated us to an amazing breakfast at their home:
We’re talking fresh orange juice, coffee, mint tea, croissants, fried bread, biscuits, three different cheeses, marmalade, and several other things I don’t recall anymore. This was an excellent way to start the day–I also shot the first video with my camera at this.
After breakfast, TQ takes us to part of the medina (an open-air market area with several different shop stalls, selling food, housewares, and other merchandise) near her in-laws’ home–which also happens to be down the street from the King’s Casablanca Palace. Because it’s Friday, and shortly before prayers, it’s rather desolate. We mostly browse around and get some coffee/tea.
Now, I ordinarily go to Friday prayers (it is a requirement for men), although on vacations amd journeys, there is an exception. But, YH offered to take me to the Hassan II Mosque for Friday prayers that day if I wished to go…
The Hassan II Mosque is the grandest structure in Casablanca, the third-largest mosque in the world, has the tallest minaret in the world, and can accommodate hundreds of thousands of worshippers. It was completed in 1993, and despite mixed feelings about its construction, financing, and the King after whom it’s named, most Casablancans do really appreciate the mosque. So, I couldn’t pass up being able to visit something this grand for the purpose for which it was made.
After prayers, YH and I returned to his parents’ house for lunch. The traditional, after-Friday-prayers Moroccan dish: couscous. This isn’t the kind you can find at supermarkets, or even what you can find at restaurants. Nothing beats this:
So all of us, as family, enjoyed this together. After a little nap, we set off for Rabat, where YH and TQ both live. Rabat is the capital of Morocco, and only an hour east from Casablanca. We have dinner there, and rest up for the evening.
Tomorrow: Fès (Fez). KF
Comments (2)
wow, very awesome! love the couscous, it looks like at least 3 whole chickens on there! do they have servants who do the cooking, or do they do it all themselves?
They have one servant. She, my cousin’s mother-in-law, and I think my cousin, did most of the cooking. And yeah, there were three whole chickens on there, and seven different kinds of vegetables. KF