The ship sailed into the port of Casablanca at 8am. We were greeted by many industrial cranes and container ships alongside the docks, and the feeling of a very busy port with piles of containers stacked on top of one another ready to be shipped all over the world. The overall impression was of a very busy, thriving, and important center of commerce and industry.
Margaret and I will be leaving the ship quite early, as we have reserved our places on an organized tour of the city of Casablanca. We enjoyed an early breakfast in the Verandah restaurant, then picked up the tour tickets from our cabin. After the usual formalities we took our seats on a somewhat less than luxurious coach.
We commenced our tour driving through some very impressive Palm-tree lined avenues. There was not much traffic on the roads and our guide informed us this was usual on a Sunday morning and the roads would be very busy later in the day.
Many local people, and visiting tourists were visiting and admiring this tribute to Islam, and the Muslim religious way of life. People from all walks of life, drawn here, to worship and find peace.
We then enjoyed some refreshments at a hotel and continued our tour of Casablanca; through the Habbous Quarter, past the Royal palace and many fine buildings and residences, before we returned to the Saga Sapphire.