Last month, I finally crossed one of my dream destinations off my list…Morocco!! I took this adventure with a brave tour guide and 33 women (this included the entire DMV Travel Crew + 1 new friend) and it was an amazing trip. You ever take so many pictures on vacation that you end up not posting one picture? There were so many amazing opportunities, it honestly was overwhelming to decide what to post. Ya’ll I took A LOT of pictures of just doors. Beautiful doors. So be ready for a just doors post cause that’s going to happen. Oh, shout out to those folks that post pictures in real time.
We started our journey in Casablanca at the Hassan II Mosque. This gorgeous Mosque, completed in 1993, sits beside and above the Atlantic Ocean. It is the largest Mosque in Africa and the 5th largest in the world. Non-Muslims are allowed inside for a tour. We did not have to cover our hair but for those of us that had on sleeveless shirts we wore scarves over our shoulders. Be prepared to take your shoes off once you enter the front door (get that pedicure or wear socks!). The gentlemen at the door hand out blue, recyclable cotton bags to put your shoes in. There is a big bin at the exit to drop your bag.
Inside the Mosque there is space for 25,000 people to pray and outside there is space for 80,000 people to pray – men and women pray separately. Downstairs there are 41 marble fountains in the shape of lotus flowers that can be used to wash up for prayer – nose, hands, feet and even your mouth. During prayer, it is the peaceful opportunity to do your confessions and/or ask for what you want.
The Hassan II Mosque should definitely be high on your list of places to visit in Casablanca.
*There will be multiple posts for Morocco. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!*
