Casa Cool

Bonjour,

Casablanca is often compared to New York, while Rabat is compared to Washington, D.C. But unlike the Big Apple, Casa doesn't seem to attract many tourists.

We have been no exception: We didn't get to Casa for a long time, except for brief visits while in transit. But over the last couple of weeks, we've finally made a few trips to this city of four million, located about an hour from Rabat. And we've found it's much cooler (and, frankly, cleaner -- at least where we've been) than expected.

We discovered that, as advertised, Casa really does have upscale galleries with good modern art for sale. Below, the Matisse Gallery, which features art by well-known Moroccan artists like Nouredine Diafallah.

There are also interesting sites to see, like the Mosquee Hassan II. The mosque, exceeded in size only by the mosque at Mecca, was built in 1993 and is still controversial among some who weren't too happy to pay the $750,000,000 in taxes needed to build it.

The tower is more than 600 feet high, and the tallest structure in Morocco. And the mosque itself can seat 25,000 people, with 80,000 more in the courtyard (see below and photo at top).

Unusually, the mosque is open to non-Muslims who want to visit and view the work of the 2500 people needed to construct it.

And you can visit the 18th century fort with an underwhelming museum but a good restaurant (Maure at La Sqala) in a leafy garden, and, importantly for Tommy, some old cannons. At Maure, Bob and Anna sampled the Moroccan Jewish chef's newest creation -- based upon his mother's recipe -- and talked at length with the chef about the spices used.

While on the subject of food, Casa has a reputation for having a cosmopolitan restaurant scene, with places like the 1930s-style Rouget de L'Isle, where Bob and I had, perhaps, our best meal out in Morocco.

Naturally enough, you see lots of businesses, but many are located on spacious, palm-lined boulevards that remind us of Southern California.

And, despite a line in the movie Casablanca about the city being situated in the desert, there's also the beach, including right by our friends' house.

Here's Anna, Tommy and Lucy on the beach, shortly after Lucy and Sarah arrived in Morocco last week (and with a rather large dog that Tommy "adopted").

Despite their jet lag, here's Sarah and Lucy looking pretty awake.

One thing we haven't checked out in Casa? The hip nightlife scene.

And, alas, time is running out... it's definitely looking as if Bob won't be dancing at a cool Casa nightclub this year...

A bientot,

Kim