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@Casablanca الدار البيضاء

Casablanca, Camels & Couscous
As they arrived, it was getting dark, and a golden sun­set suffused the harbour, high­lighting the light­house cast­ing wel­coming rays. The scent of the salty sea wove through the warm air, carrying hints of spices, orange blossom and mint.

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@Casablanca Sunset over Atlantic

The drive to the hotel was a blur of colour and clashing sounds and shouts as vendors shut their stalls for the day. Then, as if by magic, the harbour emerged, the sea­front un­folding before the pets, reveal­ing a bar nestled in the crook of sway­ing palm trees, their fronds a whisper­ing chorus above tables dotted with large parasols.

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@Palm Trees Silhouetted at Sunset

They were greeted by a silhouetted palm trees at sunset within a large oasis. It was a serene and pictures­que land­scape with the sky dis­play­ing a gradient of colours ranging from lavender to pale orange, contrast­ing with the dark outlines of the palm trees.

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@Harbour on Atlantic

The pets slept soundly that night, most having decided to put off exploring Casablanca until the follow­ing morning. Frank and Merlot were awake very early, and went for a stroll along the harbour before breakfast.

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@Casablanca, Medina

It had been a very strenuous past few days! Karim had promised them that the coming day or two would be much more relaxing.

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@Silver Teapot, Moroccan Style

By popular vote, the pets went down to the main souk before lunch.
"What do you think of these silver teapots, Unique?" asked Merlot. "I could get one to go on the side­board beside my coffee pot from Turkey!"
"Great idea, Merlot!"

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@Spices at Market

The spice market was fascinating, a delight to all the senses. Most pets purchased some cinnamon and star anise to take home.

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@Traditional Arabic Pottery

The mini tagines as usual had a wide appeal as souvenirs of their trip and to take as gifts for those at home who hadn't been able to come. Karim had advised them that it would actually be better to buy a full-size tagine back at home rather than getting one here with the risk of it breaking on the journey home.

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@Pulses and Beans Market

Morocco produced a variety of pulses and beans, with faba beans being particularly important. Other common pulses and beans included green beans, chick­peas, dry beans, dry broad beans, dry peas, lentils and even lupins as a high-protein fodder crop.

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@Traditional Moroccan Design

Karim explained that the use of the arch was inherited from Roman and Byzantine architecture. The Romans introduced basic forms like semi-circular round arches. However Moroccans, like other sophis­ticated Islamic cultures, later adopted then develop­ed a wealth of classic new arch shapes including the horse­shoe, multi-foil, pointed and the ogee arches.

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@Moroccan lamps

"These lamps remind me of our trip to Turkey," remarked Odin. "Do you remember that huge bazaar in Istanbul?"
"I do indeed!" confirmed Merlot. "I got completely lost at one point and thought I'd never get out!"

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@Old Timbuctu poster

"Just look at this amazing wall!" remarked Merlot. They both noticed a large poster sign­posting the way to Timbuctu. "It looks so romantic! Is that near here, Rose?" queried Merlot.
"No, I'm afraid Timbuctu is a journey of some 3000 miles," replied Rose. "It's in Mali."

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@Moorish Design

Karim described the influence of Moorish design on Moroccan architecture. Merlot studied the red and white stripes on the build­ing in front of them. "It's funny," he said, "but this reminds me of West­minster Cathedral next to Victoria Station in London. We were there exactly four years ago, you know."

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@Cones of Spice at Market

Karim beamed happily. "That is just an amazing observation, Merlot!" he observed. "It's too large a topic for today, but many grand buildings in Britain were influenced by Islamic design, from Big Ben to the Brighton Pavilion to Durham Cathedral. Westminster Roman Catholic Cathedral, with its red and white striped outer building, is an example of Byzantine architecture and combines Moorish, Levant­ine, Venetian and Norman styles. Did you see the mosaics inside? So vivid! It is an amazing place!"

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@Vegetable Couscous in Tagine

The pets were soon ready for some lunch, and enjoyed a vegetable couscous tagine in an open air café. After­wards they had ice creams of various flavours: banana, orange blossom, pistachio, hazel­nut, mango, black cherry cream, lime and basil, and passionfruit.

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@Orange Blossom

"This ice cream is divine!" said Merlot, licking his spoon. "Who would have thought lime and basil together would be such perfection? I want to live here forever!"
Stryper gave him an indulgent, pitying look. "You do know that in summer it gets to around 99° here? Could you cope with that?"
Merlot waved his spoon airily. "I'd just have more ice cream."
Stryper snorted. "You'd be drinking it."

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@Fruit market

As the pets meandered through the bustling, vibrant marketplace, the tantalising aroma of exotic fruits led them to a kaleido­scope of colour and life. The vendor greeted them with warm smiles and a welcom­ing wave. His display was a veritable treasure trove of nature's jewels: pyramids of plump dates; velvety-skinned mangoes; crimson pome­granates; glisten­ing piles of emerald-green figs; and a rain­bow assort­ment of oranges that seem to radiate the very essence of sunshine. The air was alive with the scent of sweet, ripe melons, their deep purple and golden skin giving a promise of their juicy interior.

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@African Daisies

As they progressed through the vibrant, sun-drenched market, their eyes were drawn to the striking African daisies that bloom­ed in a kaleido­scope of colors. Their velvety petals, embraced by the Moroccan sun, danced play­fully in the gentle breeze. Each delicate bloom made up a perfect harmony of fiery oranges, vibrant yellows and soft pinks.

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@Window Shutters with Moroccan Flag

It was nearly time to go on the afternoon's sight­seeing. The pets had a last mint tea in a charming little café. Its blue window shutters stood out like sapphires set against the white­washed walls, and draped elegant­ly under­neath each shutter was the Moroccan flag, its vibrant red with a luminous green pentacle.

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@Sickle bird

The pets spotted some creatures perched gracefully on the edge of a crumbling rooftop. Some sickle birds, with their distinctive curved beaks and piercing eyes, stood out against the fading blue of the sky. Their feathers, a rich tapestry of green, blue and rusty red, shimmer­ed with the warm glow of the setting sun. The birds seemed to be watch­ing over the city, like the ravens of London's Tower, as if they were the guardians of this ancient place.

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@Tiled Courtyard Fountain

The fountain is octagonal, with a smaller, round basin on top, and is adorned with intricate geometric tile­work, a hallmark of Moroccan design. The surround­ing court­yard features similar tile­work and is enclosed by columns with detail­ed carvings and a decorative metal screen.

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@Courtyard Fountain, Morocco

Karim explained how the architectural style and the use of tile­work are character­istic of Moroccan Islamic architecture.

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@Mosaic tiled fountain, Casablanca

Each tile, meticulously placed by a master artisan's hand, created an intricate tableau of geometric patterns that swirled and inter­twined like a kaleido­scope frozen in time. Water gently trickled from the top in a soothing melody.

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@Mosque of Hassan II, Morocco

Their afternoon trip was to view the exterior of the Mosque of Hassan II. As Karim described its history, the pets gazed awe­struck at the crafts­man­ship of the intricate mosaics and tower­ing minarets. The mosque was built right next to the sea, at the end of the Maritime Promenade, within sight of the lighthouse.

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@Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca

Karim said it was the second largest mosque in Africa. Its minaret is the world's second tallest, at 210 m (689 ft). Built by artisans from all over the king­dom, it was completed in 1993. The minaret is topped by a laser, the light directed towards Mecca.

Merlot has enjoyed touring Morocco, but it is time to go home. Please select another pet as visitor, so they can also enjoy this event!