October 20 Casablanca Morocco

After really bad wifi in Marrakech, it took forever to load the google web page, I was hoping for good wifi here. But no luck. Using a mobile USB connected to a wifi and it will not work.

So after breakfast of great bread, cheese, kiwi fruit and yogurt I headed off to find a shop to help. I ended up in the telephone office. The first office was the wrong one but the security guard pointed me in the right direction. At the next store, it took a bit as the security guard had little English, but worked out where I needed to go. A short wait an spoke with one guy. He just submitted a work request for me for tomorrow. We will see how that works out.

Off for a walk to the beach. Only about 30 minutes. Interesting as the same street changed from high density to single family large houses with guards and high fences. At one point the was some very very low income housing just across the street. The beach is fairly small and of course McD's has the prime location. Walked a bit further and ended up at a shopping mall. Very nice place, but very quiet. All the stores are US based.


October 19 Casablanca Morocco

Off for coffee, but the usual guy was not there!

I had a 3 hour train trip to Casablanca. Wow this is luxury! After all the buses. Lots of leg room and a bathroom, even if it flushed directly onto the tracks.
There was actually 5 people in the 6 person compartment. 2 ladies from Florida. Retired from New Jersey. Nice to talk to them for a while. Always funny as no matter who you meet, as a traveler the topic of bodily functions comes up! Way more detail than would ever happen if not traveling! Always funny.

I had rented an apartment while here. Interesting as the house number was not on the building and the taxi driver was not going to let me out of the cab until he was sure this was the right place. he had been driving me around the block a few times and asking many people. Interesting to hear that even he did not get the same answer 2 times! Finally a young kid from the building said yes, and the taxi driver left me. I waited a long time and then went for coffee at a restaurant down the street. I had not way of contacting the manager without a phone so I needed to get wifi for skype. Amazing as I must have had 4 people check with me to make sure that everything was ok. I finally got into the place at 7.30. Off to get some food. A short wander and I found a fruit and vegetable market. 2 tomatoes, a cucumber, 2 kiwis and 5 bananas, 20 dirham, $2.60. A bit further down the street a bake shop with bread. 1 dirham each, $0.13. Amazing! I found some cheese at the shop next to the building and I was set! The cheese was expensive but really good. Nice to have something different than the process cheese that seems to be everywhere. The people in neighborhood all seem nice and willing to help.


October 18 Marakech Morocco

Not much done today. Off for coffee in morning at my now regular spot... at least for the 4 days I am here. I then just went for a walk in the new city. I walked down the main Mohamed V avenue. The most interesting part is there is a fairly new looking park, but it is a cyber park! Amazing. I did not have my tablet with me so I could not check.
I ended up at the main square for dinner. Still as crazy as it was the other night!