Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world she walks into mine....
Released in 1942, and one of my favorite movies of all time (next to Life is Beautiful) the iconic film tells the tale of Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) and Ilsa Lund's (Ingrid Bergman) devastating romance. A story of love and places, things that have always pulled at my heartstrings. Not my main motivator for yet another trip from yours truly, it's more that I have seen a great deal of Africa and the lure of the exotic North and the fascination of the West have led me to this -- yet another little adventure. 😉
The idea is that I'll explore Casablanca a bit then go to Marakesh (3 hour train ride south of Casablanca) to meet up with my great friend and travel companion Barry. We'll then make out way to Merzouga near the Algerian border ... there-- we'll cross the mighty Atlas mountains and mount camels (meaning get on top of them) and explore the mighty Sahara desert!!! (Or at least a small taster)
From there it's onto Senegal where we'll rent a car in Dakar and explore north up to the French Colonial town of St. Louis. Just after that - onto Ghana where we'll do a similar trip renting a car and exploring north from Accra up the coast. Then back to Nairobi for me. Well that 's the best laid plan. Let's see what happens!!! In mind is more of a historical tour trying to make a bit of sense of the Berbers, Bedouin and Bastards -- the last of that triad who made fortunes trading slaves through these main coastal ports.
The idea is that I'll explore Casablanca a bit then go to Marakesh (3 hour train ride south of Casablanca) to meet up with my great friend and travel companion Barry. We'll then make out way to Merzouga near the Algerian border ... there-- we'll cross the mighty Atlas mountains and mount camels (meaning get on top of them) and explore the mighty Sahara desert!!! (Or at least a small taster)
From there it's onto Senegal where we'll rent a car in Dakar and explore north up to the French Colonial town of St. Louis. Just after that - onto Ghana where we'll do a similar trip renting a car and exploring north from Accra up the coast. Then back to Nairobi for me. Well that 's the best laid plan. Let's see what happens!!! In mind is more of a historical tour trying to make a bit of sense of the Berbers, Bedouin and Bastards -- the last of that triad who made fortunes trading slaves through these main coastal ports.
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| Kentucky Fried Chicken Morocco style |
Though I've just arrived in Casablanca, I took the opportunity to stretch my legs a bit given the longish flight that doglegged through Dubai. The walk from the train station in Casablanca to my hostel was super interesting. Cool and sunny I enjoyed the new sights and sounds as I ambled along. More European felling than African, language is definitely an issue and my smattering of French came in handy more than once. I was warned a couple times about my safety and agree having the sense that Casablanca was not the best place to stroll with all your belongings on your back. Armed robbery with knives is popular amongst some of the young, brave yet misguided loitering menacingly about.
Admittedly, I have a hyper-sensitivity to danger in the streets but see this is preferable to the reverse. Casablanca very much reminds me of a combination of Cairo and Paris divided by 25.
A couple shots below from my stroll and later on the ocean front where the Atlantic crashes majestically onto the shores of the Dark Continent.
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| Lots of fruit around ... conspicuous is lots of big pomegranate |
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| Masjid al-Hassan ath-thani - more on this cool place later |
Thanks for reading ....Layno!!!
You're the travellin' man! Thx for the vicarious tag-along.
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