Adventures in Morocco - Casablanca to Marrakech

It is second morning in Morocco and we are in Casablanca. We woke up early with plans to see Hassan II mosque second time, because yesterday we went in the evening and started rain. So we had breakfast extra early, at 7 in the morning:)

After that we packed all luggages, because we had to leave our hotel at 12, and we went to see mosque. We went to the main street to get a taxi. We paid about 13 MAD (about 1,30 euro). And here is our photoshoot ;)) it was really nice sunny day, even warm day :)

Sorry for millions pictures, just it's hard to choose few of them :) after that we run to our hotel, to meet with my friends friend (he is Moroccan). She wanted to say good buy to him :) so we got a taxi. Just be careful with taxi near tourist places. They will try to ask more money than actually you have to pay. And you have to make a deal before sitting in the car. Not after when you will get where you need. So we asked a price, and our smart taxi driver said 30 MAD.(when we paid 13 MAD in the morning with taxi who used taxi calculation). We said no, we will pay 13 MAD. He said ok. We said again - 13 MAD.. 1 and 3. He said yes 1 and 3 :)) so our taxi driver was trying to be extra good and telling here is this, here is that. And even he showed his grand grandfathers pictures, who was a football team player :))

I said to my friend that for this nice chat he will charge more money, and I was right :)))  when we reached our hotel he asked to pay 30 MAD. Off course we could pay it, because still it is cheap, but we made a deal, that we will pay 13 MAD. When he saw 13 MAD in his hand, he start argument. And we said deal is deal, it is 13 MAD. 1 and 3 :) and we left the car. So be careful about it. It's better to pay in the start. :))

So we met our friends friend :)) and we went to walk a little bit around, because we had time till 12 o clock, And we cross Notre Dame de Casablanca. 

and here is just pictures :

After a little walk we went to our hotel to take our luggages and moved to train station. But we had to wait 2 hours till our train to Marrakech. We decided to eat some food because will have long way to Marrakech. And it was the best decision :)) because it took about 4-5 hours to reach Marrakech. And train was full of people. We were happy to find empty seats :) After boring and long journey, Marrakech welcomed as with rain :( one advice for you, when you will reach Marrakech don't take a taxi just outside of train station, because you will pay more. Just when you will leave station, you will see men who will ask maybe you need taxi. We went a little bit from station and took a taxi. And we paid 50 MAD (about 5 euro). It was rainy and dark evening. Taxi driver called to our hotel, to ask exactly how to reach it. Because our place it was not in the street where cars can pass, you have to walk a little bit. So lady from hotel came to take as from the street. But it was really near to walk :) We stayed in Riad Aliya. It was very nice stay there. If I am going back to Marrakech one day, I would love to stay there again.  Here is some pics :)

And short video:

 We left our luggages in the room and went to look around. It was evening, dark and raining. So we walk around, had our dinner (chicken kebabs), and back to our room to rest :) 

Good night,

Ruta x

Adventures in Morocco - Casablanca

It was our first morning in Morocco - Rabat. And our plan was to go to Casablanca. After breakfast we went by walk to Rabat train station. (you can find more than one trains station in Rabat). Our nearest one was Rabat Ville station. On our way we met moroccan girls, who was pointing at us. They wanted to take pics with us. For sure we wanted too :)))

Feelings was very nice from morning :) warm, very friendly people :) in the train station a man helped with tickets. Journey from Rabat to Casablanca takes a bit more than one hour. Just you have to check which train station is near your hotel. And that hour in the train just flied away. We were looking through the windows. You can see a lot of new buildings and close to them a lot of slumdogs. And that contrast give me a shock. Also I can say that Morocco is a green country. All fields are green. Also you will see the sea! It looks very nice. So we enjoyed our trip in the train :) Here is a short video from our trip by train :)

When we reached Casablanca, we decided to reach our hotel by walk. It took us about 20 minutes :) We took a short rest and went outside to see beautiful Casablanca. So we had a walk. And of course we took some pictures:

After a short walk we decided to take a taxi and to visit Hassan II mosque. It is the largest mosque in Morocco and Africa, and the 7th largest in the world. The mosque not only big, but also very beautiful and stands on a promontory looking out to the Atlantic Ocean. The mosque also has very beautiful history. We reached the mosque by taxi. In Casablanca you will find all taxi in red colour. And it's really cheap. Plus drivers can't cheat you, because you will pay for distance how much taxi calculations will show. And almost all taxi cars are very old.  :)

 here short video of Hassan II mosque

We came here a little bit too late, we wanted to take pictures on every corner :)) but rain started.. :( so we went to get a taxi to go to try some moroccan food :) 

and here is a video: 

We went to eat in La Sqala restaurant. You have to try in Morocco their traditional food - Tajine. I got chicken tajine, and my friend lamb tajine :) food was really nice, especially we liked starters :) after food we went to walk by the ocean. That evening we decided to sleep early, because we wanted to get up early and to go to take some more pictures to Hassan II Mosque.  

Ruta xx