Casa Blanca, Morocco

This picture is one of my favorite photos from the trip. This little old man was at the cash register of a shop where we purchased some souvenirs.

This mosque is the second largest mosque in the world. It is called the Hassan II Mosque.

The Muslim women are visiting the Hassan Mosque. The mosque is open 24 hours a day and can contain up to 8,000 people who come to pray at the the same time.

Here is a building in Casa Blanca that at one time was a private residence. Now it is a building of city offices. We are out in the courtyard where the women of the house could walk outside and get a breath of fresh air. The house had no windows because windows would make it possible for passersby to see inside where the women lived. The windowless home made the women "safer" from prying eyes.

Well, Casa Blanca, Morocco, had to be the most interesting of all the places we visited. It is probably because the culture is so very different from ours. In order for our bus to get into the city, we had to pass through a large gate with guards. When we came into the city, we saw soldiers (with guns) walking the streets. In several cafes, we saw groups of men talking together, but the women who were on the street were going directly to a destination and walked together in groups.

Everything about the city seemed to shout "Stay your distance. You are a foreigner." People were not unfriendly, but they certainly were not relaxed and open with us. It was quite an eye opener to be here. I am very glad I don't live as a women in this cluture. The restrictions of the clothing alone would be awful.