7th day, april 22nd 2023

Casablanca

Last night, I started feeling hungry, but because of Ramadan, finding an open restaurant wasn’t easy. Fortunately, near the hotel there’s Al-Mounia. The reception confirmed it was a good spot and, of course, I couldn’t go alone, an employee kindly accompanied me to make sure I didn’t get lost.

The setting was lovely, both outside and inside, with traditional Moroccan décor. I settled in, and the head waiter, dressed in traditional clothes, handed me the menu. I chose the chicken with almonds, a decision I certainly didn’t regret, the dish was excellent. During the meal, a musician sang traditional songs, accompanied by a four-stringed instrument, a kind of guitar. It was a truly beautiful evening.

Today in Morocco, they’re celebrating Aïd el-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan. It’s a day for families to come together and celebrate. Tradition has it that children receive a new wardrobe for the occasion.

I joined a guided tour of Casablanca with GuruWalk (www.guruwalk.com). I met up with our guide, Yassir, and there were five of us: an Austrian couple, a Spanish couple, and me. Yassir explained that, due to the Ramadan festivities, most places were closed. Still, we walked around the Great Mosque and the Medina.

I wouldn’t say Casablanca left a lasting impression on me. Even though it’s Morocco’s largest city, with five million inhabitants, there’s nothing particularly spectacular about it, except for one of the world’s largest mosques.