Day 112 & 113 - April 25 & 26 2025 - Friday & Saturday - Casablanca, Morocco

We had mostly a sea day on Friday, arriving in Casablanca, Morocco around 8:00 PM.

Our excursion took us about 60 miles southwest of Casablanca along the coast to the old city of El Jadida, an old Portuguese Fortress Town.  The old city and for, which was named Fortress of Mazagan, was constructed in the early 16th century.  El Jadida was given up by the Portuguese in 1769 and incorporated into Morocco.  Today, in addition to the old wall city, El Jadida is a major port city on the Moroccan coast and boosts a population of around 250,000.

After deboarding our ship and beginning the long walk along the pier to the terminal building, we saw this cruise ship, the Marrakesh.  

It was in such bad condition, I couldn't imagine  it being a cruise ship.  After some Googling, it appears the ship was purchased after being seized for non-payment of wages.  I believe it is now being used as a "hotel" for sea workers.
 

I was surprised to learn Morocco is a large breeder of horses.  There were many horse farms and trainng grounds along our route.

We stopped just outside town for a refreshment break.  It was a very moders service station.  The fuel price is about $4.50 per gallon.

Due to lack of time, we are having port days and excursions daily now, the commentary will be kept to a minimum.  I am only hoping I will be able to keep up just posting photos!

These exterior fort walls were 8 to 10 feet thick.

Our guide kept referring to the public bakery.  I thought he meant public in contrast to a commercial bakery, but he meant it was a bakery where locals took the bread, they had prepared, to be cooked in a communal oven.  This photo is of a young man taking his bread to be baked.

We had a very nice lunch at this restaurant.

Back in Casablanca, we passed several slums.  Housing for the poor is a problem, but to their credit the Moroccan government is trying to address the problem.

This is not a great photo, since taken from a distance from the moving coach, but there were many huge projects with housing being constructed with the intention of moving people from the slums.

This gentleman was waiting at a bus stop.  The temperature was in the high 70's, it looked uncomfortable to me...

We made a photo stop at the Hassan II Mosque. It is the largest mosque in Morocco and is also one of the largest in the world. 

Casablanca is a very modern city.

We arrive in Cadiz, Spain tomorrow morning, Sunday.  I will try to keep up with the posting.