Of all the gin joints in the world, Casablanca here we come. 3/5/25

Morocco has recently invested in a modern high speed train network connecting its major cities. As ever it is cheaper, more efficient and cleaner than anything that the UK can offer. For just over £20 a head I booked first class tickets for the three and a half hour journey from Marrakesk to Casablanca. Below you can see the entrance atrium to Marrakesk Station. It is built in the new town, a fair distance from our medieval melee.

As you can see this is a first class compartment with the usual corridor arrangement. I was able to book the tickets online which reserved the seats and was paper-free. This picture is in fact our return journey. Our outbound compartment was, in addition to us, filled with Americans heading for Casablanca airport. We got talking about travel, as you do, and they were amazed and inspired (so they said) by the extent and nature of our travels. When I explained that I had hired a car in Casablanca, the guy said it was the last place he would want to be driving. He obviously hasn't tried Beirut or Kosovo

Some desertly views front the train whilst travelling at 200kph towards Casablanca. 

One is much like another, I'm afraid. 

We alighted at Casa Voyageurs, the main station in Casablanca, the Americans having departed at the previous stop. The next problem was to hire a taxi to get downtown to the car hire depot. There was as usual a queue of drivers touting for business but quoting 500 Dirham for the trip. As this equates to about £40, we weren't accepting this and a bit of an argument ensued. Eventually a little chap offered to take us for 200 which we accepted. When we got there, I gave him a 50 Dirham tip and he gave me a big kiss in the middle of my forehead! Incidentally the cost of the hire car for 5 days was just over 850 Dirham.

So we set off for our accommodation about half an hour's drive south from the dreaded centre of Casablanca. Driving in Casablanca, in fact presented little problem, although crowded, the other drivers showed consideration for the rules of the road. 

This is our apartment block. It is three storey with the basement being a car park with a dedicated space for each apartment. The whole site is secure and gated. There are four pools within our particular concourse. The apartment in on the ground floor to the left as you look. The accommodation is really quite luxurious with two bedrooms and en suites, a dining room/sunroom a kitchen and a huge lounge. There are no less than seven setees in this flat!

Quite why there are two eight seater setees in our living room is something of a mystery. As it happened we only really used this room as an entrance hall, despite its size. 

A pretty well equipped kitchen but with some anomalous omissions, for example, no scissors or chopping board and a shortage of sharp knives. 

A generous bed and plenty of wardrobes. 

The nearest beach from the apartment was a bit less than one km away. It is called Tamaris. Beach life is a lot less organised here compared to Europe. Although a few parasols and wind breaks have been brought along, by and large people are just enjoying playing on the sand. The accepted dress code is much more modest. The temperature was about 22° C although the wind was cool off the Atlantic. 

We are sitting at a table on the edge of the beach and enjoying an excellent coffee. The three generation family arrived at the next table. The youngest in the centre of the picture. We got chatting with them as we had offered our table to give them more room. They then proceeded to share their picnic with us. 

Firstly there was a mixture of nuts and seeds. The latter tasted better after we discovered the woody cases needed removing before consumption! This was followed by the gift of a large deep fried doughnut. Moroccans are naturally friendly and helpful and the sharing of food is quite common. 

Back to our home for the evening and the swimming pool area is decorated with illuminated fountains which change colours regularly. I'm not sure my photo does the effect justice, but just use your imagination. 

Having the hire car available was a real bonus, not only did it give us easy access to the shops but we could plan day trips out.