Morocco by Daniele Somenzi

Morocco by Daniele Somenzi posted by iviaggididaniele [24/01/2009 17:42] We're in Casablanca, an immense port city. Standing on the highest bridge of the Costa Fortuna moored in port, you can glimpse a large mosque in the distance.

We decide to do an excursion on our own, not one of those organised by the ship's people at 4 times the normal price. As soon as we get off we climb into a taxi driven by a Moroccan, a red Fiat Uno.

He takes us straight to the mosque, which has a very large square; he says it's the largest in all of Morocco, and I believe it. To enter you have to pay for a ticket — no, we're not interested.

We continue the tour with the taxi, which takes us a bit further along the coast, from where you can see our ship, very small, and the rough Atlantic ocean.

As if we hadn't already seen enough sea. So we head into the chaotic city traffic in search of some bazaars.

Suddenly, on an uphill stretch, something happens that's worth telling: the Fiat 1 stops for some reason, but evidently he already knew about the fault; naturally the battery was dead and he can't get it going again. Being on a slope, he releases the handbrake, engages reverse; the car starts to pick up a bit of speed backwards, he releases the clutch and the Uno starts. I'd never seen a car started in reverse by rolling or push-starting.

We bought some postcards and after writing them, he offers to go to the post office to put the stamp on, and leaves us on foot for the bazaars. After a while, indeed quite a while, our driver friend doesn't come back; so, given the closeness of the port, we decide to walk to the ship. Who knows what became of him, and above all, did he post the postcards?

After the chaos of Casablanca, returning to the cruise ship feels like being reborn. From the highest deck you can see the cargo ships beside ours loading and unloading all kinds of stuff.

Just as well we're leaving. I'm a bit allergic to city chaos, of any city.

A shame we didn't have time to visit the desert.

bye