Casablanca2011

Casablanca, located on the Atlantic Ocean, is the largest city in Morocco with a population of approximately three million. Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. Many americans, born before 1942, when they hear Casablanca, think about the film Casablanca starring Humphrey Bogart. I admit, that if it isn’t my first thought it is my second, so we had to go see Rick’s Cafe where a lot of the action took place in the film. But then we found out that the film was shot in Tangiers and some entrepreneur built the bar after the film was made: as my granddaughter might say, “bummer”!

The Hassan II Mosque is the largest mosque in the country and the 2nd largest in the world after the Grand Mosque of Mecca. As many as 25,000 worship can worship at one time and another 80,000 can be accommodated on the grounds. Its minaret is the world's tallest at 690 ft.

Another shot of the Mosque.

Rick's Cafe. Looks good doesn't it?

The post office built around 1918.

Close-up of the Post office. Beautiful mosaic on the front entrance.

Some of the local beauties with the lovely Jenny!

Local market with the Medina Mosque in the background.

Malaga2011

Yeah, I know I didn’t know where it was also! I had to look it up. Malaga is located on the coast in the southern part of Spain; it is one of the oldest cities in the western world. Founded in the 8th century BC by the Phoenicians; its claim to fame: Pablo Picasso was born here in 1881.

Now that is about all I going to say about Malaga (you can go to the web site and get much more), since we spent our day in Mijas a beautiful resort village, with its white-washed homes, located about an hour from Malaga.

These beautiful white wash buildings in Mijas, located in the Sierras de Mijas mountains, was what I was attracted to when we saw all the information about our trip. It looked so beautiful and reminded me of scenes we saw years ago in the Mediterranean.

A side street in the village. I read somewhere that an ordinance existed that prevented any structure in the village that wasn't "White"!

I loved the informational signs!

The Immaculate Conception Church is set in a beautiful gardens, beside the famous bullring at the top of the old part of the village with breathtaking views down the mountain to the sea.

The Grotto of the Virgin de la Pena on the cliffs overlooking the valley; in fact "Pena" means Cliffs in Spanish. There is a interesting legend about this chapel, so check it out!