Casablanca Archives ⋆ The Passenger

November 3, 2024December 30, 2024

En train

When I decided to visit multiple cities in Morocco I also took the decision to do the round trip by train. It is a pleasure you can’t have in many countries, but in this case you see the strong influence of the French colonialization: the high-speed trains are the same model like the TGV trains at France and the doors even close two minutes prior to departure like only in France. The rail network is suitably good, the stations have a great quality, you can buy tickets online upfront and travelling with locals and foreigners through the country is an absolutely nice experience.

November 2, 2024December 30, 2024

Here’s looking at you kid

The city of Casablanca is two-faced: first of all it is the economic powerhouse of Morocco. If it is about business in Morocco, it is most probably at Casablanca. That’s a factor that shapes the modern parts of the city and influences infrastructure. From a touristic point of view, the city attracts visitors with something virtual, an illusion created far in the past. If you say the name Casablanca all around the world people immediately see Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergmann sitting at Rick’s Café in Casablanca struggling with the German influence on the Vichy-regime-controlled Morocco during World War II.

November 2, 2024January 2, 2025

Villa des Artes

There aren’t too many places in Morocco to see contemporary art, especially local contemporary art. The one place I liked most is the Villa des Artes at Casablanca, located in an art déco villa build in 1934 close to the Parque de la Ligue Arabe. it is not a vast museum, but a beautiful building with two floors full of artworks by current Moroccan artists. While I was visiting the museum a large tent in the garden even extended the available exhibition space.

November 2, 2024January 2, 2025

Mosquée Hassan-II

The modern mosque of Casablanca is an unreal place. You wouldn’t expect such a vast building in a city like Casablanca which isn’t even one of the former capital cities of Morocco. When standing in front of this giant house of prayer made for 25,000 worshippers directly at the sea you can’t be anything else then impressed: it is one of the largest mosques in the world and its minaret is the second highest ever built.

November 2, 2024January 2, 2025

Habbous

The medina of Casablanca has unfortunately been destroyed by the earthquake of Lisboa in 1755. Most historic sights have been lost and the city has received a more modern style since then. A great place to explore is in fact the second medina which is called Habbous. It dates back to the year 1916 when a Moroccan Jewish merchant donated the land to the king. As the king wasn’t allowed to receive a donation from a Jew (antisemitism can unfortunately be found in many places), the donation was redirected to a new foundation. This Habbous foundation created a special city quarter with low-price housing the cannot be sold by the inhabitants.

November 1, 2024December 2, 2024

Kenzi Basma

Casablanca is the economic powerhouse of Morocco and its medina has unfortunately been destroyed by the earthquake of Lisboa in 1755. It feels acceptable to in this case not aim for a classic guesthouse but to check-in at a plain vanilla hotel. The Hotel Kenzi Basma is located at the Boulevard Hassan I between the medina and the Place Mohammed V with its administrational buildings. From the hotel main entrance it is easy to reach the central Place des Nations-Unies and to access the tramway network.

November 1, 2024December 2, 2024

Nouasseur

Mohammed V International Airport, Casablanca

The international airport of Casablanca (CMN) is located 30 kilometers south of the city. It was built in 1943 during World War II by the United States (who used it until 1963) and has two runways. 7.6 million passengers use the Aéroport international de Mohammed V – Nouasseur Casablanca every year, making it one of the top 5 airports in Africa.