Day 100: Casablanca

 Casablanca Morocco

Local fishing boats

Pulling in next to another cruise ship

The Moroccan Royal Navy 

Shuttle bus into town to explore on our own

Entering the old city

Police Station (but didn't see many police officers) and Soccer HQ

The Morocco Royal Navy 

Base housing                                                 Fresh Onions

They must like shade

Hassan II Mosque

"The Hassan II Mosque (Arabic: مسجد الحسن الثاني, French: Grande Mosquée Hassan II) is a mosque in Casablanca, Morocco. It is the largest functioning mosque in Africa and is the 7th largest in the world.[citation needed] Its minaret is the world's second tallest minaret at 210 metres (689 ft).[2][3] Completed in 1993, it was designed by Michel Pinseau under the guidance of King Hassan II and built by Moroccan artisans from all over the kingdom. The minaret is 60 stories high topped by a laser, the light from which is directed towards Mecca.[4] The mosque stands on a promontory looking out to the Atlantic Ocean; worshippers can pray over the sea but there is no glass floor looking into the sea. The walls are of hand-crafted marble and the roof is retractable. A maximum of 105,000 worshippers can gather together for prayer: 25,000 inside the mosque hall and another 80,000 on the mosque's outside ground.[3]"  [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassan_II_Mosque]

Rick's Cafe

Rick's Café Casablanca is a restaurant, bar and café located in the city of Casablanca, Morocco. Opened March 1, 2004,[1] the place was designed to recreate the bar made famous by Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in the movie classic Casablanca. It is owned by The Usual Suspects company and is usually described as the real Rick's Café.[2] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick%27s_Caf%C3%A9_Casablanca]

"I'm shocked to find out that gambling is going on!" Renault to Rick

"Here's looking at you, kid." Rick to Ilsa

"Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine." Rick to Sam

"Play it once, Sam. For old times' sake."

When Ilsa first arrives, before Rick knows she's there, she approaches the piano player (Sam) and asks him to play "As Time Goes By," which was Ilsa and Rick's song during their love affair. Sam resists at first, knowing it will anger Rick. It does and Rick sees that the woman who left him behind in Paris has shown up in his bar after being absent from his life for years.

This line is actually one of the most misquoted from Casablanca. Nowhere in the film does anyone ever say, "Play it again, Sam," as is often repeated. However, Rick later says, "Play it, Sam," as he tries to drown his sorrows as he remembers his time with Ilsa.  [https://www.lifewire.com/memorable-movie-quotes-from-casablanca-4072866]

"I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship." Rick to Renault

View up and down from our 2nd floor table

As you enter the cafe, the bar is straight ahead

"We'll always have Paris."  Rick to Ilsa

Back to the ship

Sunsetting over the Mosque

Rob found a Cruise Duck

Th Mosque has a laser pointing toward Mecca

Final Excursion from Marrakech coming aboard (the four hour bus ride each way was too much for us)

Glen, head of Guest Services, getting to know a local cat

The cat was like, where is Glen going as the officers start back onboard

Bringing the gangways back onboard

Securing the last gangway

As we sail away, another view of the Mosque and its laser pointing toward Mecca

The day started seeing the small fishing boats and it ends the same way