Casablanca - "here's looking at you kid"

There's something to be said about refreshing one's memory of the movie Casablanca while one is on a plane heading to the place where it was (supposedly!) set!
We were expecting a "heaving metropolis - big brash and restless" (courtesy of the Lonely Planet guide) but instead we found a personable town - quiet in many places, children playing everywhere, young people wandering around in happy packs as they do everywhere in the world, old men playing endless rounds of cards at tables in quiet, empty restaurants and cafes. Ramadan fasting certainly changes the mood of a place - everyone moves a little slower and so it has been a delight to wander around getting the vibe of the place without too much hassle.
We landed in Casablanca after about 24 hours of travel, and she didn't disappoint. (Btw It was like landing in the Wheatbelt area of WA! Except for the occasional donkeys and flocks of goats!). Caught the train (half the price of a taxi!) to the city and then found our quaint little hotel which was about a kilometre from the station without getting too lost. It took longer to walk of course because I kept stopping to take photos!
Our hotel is on the edge of the medina and is very quaint with blue shutters. Our room has a tiny balcony and overlooks a little plaza where children played and locals frolicked to all hours of the night!! Though having to climb three flights of stairs, the view all the way to Casa Port is well worth the puff!
Off to go for a walk through the narrow maze like streets of the medina before brekkie. (Medina - the old walled section of a North African city/town) and try not to get lost and have yet another 'entrepreneur' take advantage of our 'tourist' look!! 😄
We spent hours wandering the highways (literally - crossing these is putting your life at risk!) and byways, up stately date palmed lined streets, admiring gorgeous old doorways, tiled walkways and the exquisite colonial architecture (though many are run down and past their glory days).
So we've been lost in the medina, almost run over crossing the road (look to the left first!), led astray by at least 3 nice men ("I only want to practice my English and give you good information" and next thing we find ourselves in yet another Berber carpet shop making excuses not to buy a rug! 😊), discussed local footy teams with a gorgeous young man just s bit older than Sanjay and taken for a local ("you look like you are born here"! My secret weapon for getting out of scrapes or when bargaining!).
We finally went to bed at about 11pm after not having much sleep in over 2 days (thank goodness for ear plugs and a quarter sleeping tablet) - no aircon, just our windows open to let in the cool air when it arrived eventually.
Photos on Instagram - @ebonyivory91 and @ben8820