Casablanca, Morocco

Northern Africa, North Atlantic Ocean – November 2021

I’m not sure what it was I was expecting, when touching down in Casablanca, the once capitol of Morocco, in late November of 2021. A trip that planned mostly on a whim, we just decided to jump in with two feet feeling really starved for some rich cultural experiences in the wake of, well COVID lockdowns. With great thanks to my on the ground DMC partners, Activ Travel, I was able to pull off what now seems like the impossible.

Morocco is an excellent destination for incentive groups, small group luxury travel as well as corporate off-sites and retreats. Easy to reach from the United States with several direct flights, as well as very short flights from the UK, Spain, Portugal and France. The two main languages are Arabic and French, the signage is multi-lingual, and many speak English. However, it’s great if you can learn a few words of Arabic, like “Shukran” which means “Thank you”. It only took me half the trip for that to imprint in my non-lingual brain, but alas, I kept trying.

“Though each path is different, there is only one way.”

Moroccan Proverb

Nestled on the edge of the North Atlantic Ocean, Casablanca was far more industrial than I anticipated. The weather was not on our side, so part of me wonders if I went when it was warmer and sunnier, would I have another perspective. We were thanked profusely for bring the torrential rains; the first rains since last season. I opted for comfort for the first two nights of our stay and settled into The Four Seasons, Casablanca, certainly worth the comfort and of course impeccable service that you would expect from any Four Seasons property.

We kept warm and rested up by drinking our weight in Mint Tea, the traditional and daily drink of Moroccans, and slept two really great sleeps and ate our share of Tajin and various Moroccan salads.

The biggest attraction, and main reason tourists do come to Casablanca, beside attempting to relive their Hollywood, Bogart fantasy, is to visit the Hassan II Mosque. This is the only mosque in Morocco that will allow non-Muslims to enter, with a minaret soaring at over 200 meters, it stands as one of the largest and tallest Mosques in the world. It’s worth touching down in Casablanca, for this experience alone. The structure, although not old, seats over 20,000 people inside, and presumably at least that many more outside. The intricacies of the mosaic are breathtaking and we received what felt like a private tour, something that seemed to ironically follow us throughout our adventures in Morocco over the next 8 days.

The rest of our rainy tour was brief, I think we were too exhausted and cold for too much. My mom enjoyed feeding a massive flock of pigeons which entirely grossed me out. Apparently I have more of an aversion to flocks of birds than I knew. We bounced through the old Medina, and were most impressed by the massive amount of Olives in one of the market alleyways. The call to prayer, which happens several times a day is soothing and reminds you to to breathe, life is short, beautiful and bigger than we are. Travel as often as you can. Make your way to Morocco, it will not disappoint.

Our adventure continued, from Casablanca to Fes by car, the first of many long days…It was a trip for the books.

Follow @masterfullyplannedevents and connect with Alison McMaster on LinkedIn. Alison’s company, Masterfully Planned Events is a tailor-made travel planning company and an independent affiliate of Travel Experts, Inc a Virtuoso Member.