Spain, Gibraltar and Morocco

A trip from March 24 through April 12, 2008

Rabat
	Most of our time in Rabat was at the Center for Cross Cultural Learning. We had a good bus tour, but I am reluctant to take pictures from a moving bus. It is so often a waste of bytes. Rabat is the capitol of Rabat, and it has three general eras. Old Rabat is represented by the Medina, and there is a colonial Rabat, largely shaped by the French. Finally, there is modern Rabat, marked by glass curtain wall high rise buildings, just like every where else. CCCL is located in the medina, and its front entry shows a bit of Moroccan style. From the front door, you see no more than the owner wishes you to see. To get into the heart of the house, it is always necessary to turn a corner.
	Looking down from above, you can see that CCCL has the common floor plan, a courtyard surrounded by multistoried galleries. Private rooms open to the galleries. In this case, the courtyard has been covered by a roof, creating a relatively formal central atrium.
	On the way to and from CCCL, we always passed this old man in his chair. If he is a beggar, he is very subtle about it. His mobility is limited by his having just one leg.
Casablanca
	Casablanca is the largest city in Morocco, with a population of at least 3 million. It is a port and the economic capitol of Morocco. Thanks to Hollywood, it is also the best known city in Morocco. We had limited sight seeing here. The exception is shown here. The Hassan II mosque was built over 7 years, commencing in 1986. It was designed by a French architect Michel Pinseau, but its style is very reminiscent of the Alhambra in Granada and the Mezquita in Cordoba. The mosque is the second largest in the world. Number 1 is in Mecca. Its minaret is the tallest in the world. The unusual feature is that non-Muslims can go in, albeit in formal tour groups.
	The top of the minaret. It is 689 feet tall.
	This is one of many fountains surrounding the Mosque. The mosaics mimic the work found in historic buildings throughout Morocco and Andalusia. Up close, I think the old work showed better craftsmanship.
	The interior of the Hassan II mosque can accommodate 25,000 people. Since the ground floor is reserved for men, I don't know if that number includes the balconies where women can worship. Portions of this floor are glass, showing the ocean below.
	Beneath the main floor of the mosque, there are spacious ablutions areas. This one is for women, but the men's is identical.
	An adjoining palace has this spectacular (men's) bathing pool.
	The Port of Casablanca is the largest in North Africa, and it is also the home of the Moroccan Royal Navy. It role as a host for pirates in the 15th century prompted Portugal to destroy the city, and started the colonial period, which only concluded in 1956.

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