Erica couldn't believe her eyes, "This is just incredible," she exclaimed, as she caught sight of the main symbol of Casablanca, the breathtaking Hassan II Mosque.

It's also worth noting that this mosque is the largest one in operation globally, and it's open to people of all faiths, including non-Muslims. This aspect was highlighted by Arian, who valued the intellectual discussions that took place there.

You can visit the mosque by joining a guided tour, which takes place at specific times. Once inside, the guides will share lots of fascinating information with you, and they even offer tours in multiple languages. What really stood out to me was how welcoming they are to visitors of all backgrounds - women don't need to wear traditional Muslim attire like a hijab, abaya, or burqa, just covering your shoulders is sufficient. This made the experience feel really inclusive and respectful.

The mosque was constructed based on the vision of Hassan II, the father of the current king, who had a dream of creating a place of worship in Morocco that would stand proudly on the ocean's edge. He believed that this location was fitting, as the Quran states that God's throne is above the water. By building the mosque here, Hassan II aimed to bring together faith, art, and ambition in a single, breathtaking structure. This unique blend of spirituality, creativity, and grandeur reflects the king's desire to create something truly special, a temple that would be a testament to Morocco's rich heritage and its people's deep devotion.

The mosque's construction was funded not just by the government, but also by the people of Morocco, who saw contributing to the project as a great honor. A French architect designed the building, but it was the skilled Moroccan craftsmen who brought it to life with their beautiful decorations. To create this stunning place, materials were brought in from all over - glass from Italy, granite from Morocco, and huge crystal chandeliers from Venice. What's really amazing is how the old and the new come together here, with modern technology meeting traditional craftsmanship in a unique and breathtaking way.
The mosque is full of symbols. The guides point out that if you add up its length, width, and height, you get 365 - just like the number of days in a year.
In Casablanca, you can find not only beautiful mosques, but also old Christian shrines that still exist from the time when France controlled the area. These shrines are a reminder of the city's interesting past.

The Sacre Coeur Cathedral is a really important church in the city, and what's interesting about it is that it has a unique mix of styles - you can see elements of neo-Gothic, Art Deco, and even some Moroccan influences in its design. But what's really notable about this cathedral is its history: after Morocco became independent, it stopped being used as a church, and nowadays it's more of a cultural hub, hosting all sorts of events like exhibitions, concerts, and other cultural activities.

Notre-Dame de Lourdes Church stands nearby. It is quite restrained from the outside, but inside it impresses with its huge colored stained glass windows created by the French artist Gabriel Loire.

We then made our way to the Royal Palace of Casablanca, which is one of the King of Morocco's official homes. This beautiful palace is where the king and his family stay when they're in Casablanca, and it's also used for important events like state receptions and official meetings.
As we were on our way, I mentioned to Erica that our next stop was a palace where the actual royal family resides from time to time, and this really left her in awe.

She said that's right, I thought kings no longer existed anyway.
For her, kings and princesses are not about reality, but about fairy tales or antiquity.

The palace didn't quite live up to her expectations, though. What really let her down was that you couldn't go inside - it's closed off to visitors. But even from the outside, it's still pretty impressive. The huge bronze gates, the fancy mosaics, and the beautifully carved cedar doors are all great examples of traditional Moroccan style. There are guards from the Royal Guard watching over the place, and the square out front is always perfectly kept. It's clear that a lot of effort goes into maintaining the whole area. The attention to detail is striking, from the intricate patterns on the gates to the neatly arranged gardens. Despite not being able to go inside, the palace still manages to make a big impact from the outside.
To wrap things up, we decided to pay a visit to the Atlantic Ocean and get to know it a bit better.

Arian was thrilled when he saw it, the waves were huge and he's a big fan of that. But, it turned out the water was pretty cool, not warm enough to stay in for long. So, Arian and his husband just ran into the water and back out, while Erica and I just got our feet wet and then joined in, doing the same thing.

Erica had never seen waves like that before, she said.
Arian said they would sweep you out to sea like a tiny piece of wood, without any effort at all.

"So, is the ocean really bigger than the sea?" Erica asked, looking for clarification.

That's a big difference, Arian said with a laugh, it's like comparing apples and oranges, you and me are just not similar.

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