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Discovering
Casablanca
by
Jerry W. Bird
 As
originator of a travel series
called
Railways
of the World,
going
to Casablanca, Morocco's largest city, by rail on
our personal version of the Marrakech Express was a
wonderful way to start off the week and celebrate
the new year. We enjoyed the journey so completely
that the route from Marrakech (3 hours in total)
seemed far too short. However, as we soon learned
from the staff on board, visitors can travel
between many of Morocco's principal cities by rail.
That includes the Northern port of Tangier, a few
miles from Spain with its famous Talgo Train
service
(see
notes below).
As
many will agree, Rail Travel is still one of the
most practical, inexpensive and relaxing of all
modes on
transportation, and this route to Casablanca was a
shining example of price plus convenience. We
traveled in a modern, first class coach, enjoying
the privacy of a 6-seat compartment all to
ourselves, with ample overhead storage for luggage
and carry-ons. The one way tickets purchased at the
counter without reservations were less than $15 in
U.S. currency.
 A
simple lunch was served on board, and the price was
nominal. I settled back in the sofa-like seating
determined to savor every moment and take in the
scenery like a passing parade, which is exactly
what it was. The views were varied and
unforgettable, from scenes of shepherds and flocks
that seemed right out of the bible's Old Testament,
to multi-layered desert vistas, lush grassy plains
in the foothills country and modern city scapes as
we approached our destination. Cattle, sheep and
camels grazing side by side was quite different
than your typical pastoral scene. Both the
Marrakech and Casablanca terminals are clean, well
maintained and convenient to taxis and other
transportation from the heart of the city (this
keeps the stress level low and the pleasure scale
high). We were in and out of the railway terminal
and on our way by Petite Taxi to the Residence
Casablanca
Apart'Hotel
within a very few minutes of arrival. Quite a
change from the average plane trip, where it would
takes us that long just to reach the arrivals area
to retrieve our luggage. Above photo: Friendly
staff to greet you at the Casablanca
Appart'Hotel
Getting
Around: It is now close to a month that we have
been visiting Morocco and I am amazed at how easy
it is to get around in a city the size of
Casablanca. We have found the taxi drivers
courteous and knowledgeable, and the prices
affordable. I will comment on this aspect later in
this series because I had the same impression on my
first visit to Casablanca in 2001, when we saw and
photographed many of the city's main attractions in
a very short time. Much more to come regarding our
latest visit to Casablanca.
Background
info courtesy of the Morrocan Tourist Office
Morocco's largest city, Casablanca has a population
of over 3 million and is the nation's commercial
hub. Being
Morocco's hub, it is also the largest port of the
Maghreb, a facility that authorities claim has more
activity than Marseilles, the French Mediterranean
port city on which Casablanca was modeled many
years ago. The historic architecture, known as
"Moresque," after the Moors, is a combination of
traditional Moroccan design with what were at the
time the very latest in Parisian
styles.
Visitors
to Casablanca will enjoy the seacoast area with its
fine dining spots, the famous Hassan II Mosque, the
bustling central market area, the Habous district,
the Royal Palace, the Mohamed V square, and the
residential area of Anfa.
Located
near the capital city of Rabat, Casablanca is also
the site of Hassan II University.
The
above photo was taken by Africa Travel Magazine's
Editor Jerry W. Bird in 2001 during his first stay
in Casablanca.
Where
to stay in Casablanca?
..Here
is an excellent recommendation ...
Click
on the ad above -
mailto:chakib@techno.net.ma
or go to the web site http://www.residence-casablanca.ma
NOTES:
About Morocco by Rail
ONCF -- l'Office National des Chemins de Fer du
Maroc
Morocco National Railway Rabat
Marrakech Express: "Plus Classe"
Casablanca-Marrakech service is AC-cooled,
meal-inclusive and takes only 3 hours. Morocco's
moden rail system supplements national services
with the Al Bidaoui Airport Shuttle to Casablanca's
Mohammed V Airport and Extended European Rail Plans
for ONCF passengers.
E-mail
Africa
Travel
Magazine
with your own travel experiences in Morocco or any
destination in Africa.
- For
Further information, Contact:
USA: Moroccan Tourist Office: 20 East 46th St.,
Suite 1201, New York, NY 10017, U.S.A. Tel.:
212-557-2520. Fax: 212-949-8148. Web Site:
http://www.tourism-in-morocco.com/
-
CANADA:
Moroccan National Tourist Office: Suite 1460, 2001
rue Université, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A
2A6. Tel: +1 514 842 8111/2. Fax: +1 514 842
5316.
Jerry W. Bird is President of ATA Canada Chapter,
Editor and Publisher of Africa Travel Magazine, and
Webmaster for the ATA site www.africa-ata.org. He
is also Publisher of Air Highways Magazine, the
Journal of Open Skies, featuring aviation, tourism,
transportation and business worldwide. His career
began with the Edmonton Journal Daily Newspaper,
and expanded into the full spectrum of media -
radio, television, magazines and Internet. He has
won international awards for creativity in audio
visual and print production.
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