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Discovering
Casablanca by Rail
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 Petit 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 design, known as "Mauresque" 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 2002 during his first stay
in Casablanca.
Where
to stay in Casablanca?
..Here
is an excellent recommendation ...
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.
- 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.
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