Casablanca: Morocco's Agricultural Heart

Casablanca's climate, nearly identical to Los Angeles, isn't the only thing it's got going for it. There's the European architecture, a massive modern mosque, bargain cost of living, friendly people, and a beautiful coastline, too!

Casablanca was a small port town until around 1907, when the French used a local rebellion against them as a pretext to colonize the country. This led to the death of thousands in subsequent bombarding of the city, and French architects used the "clean slate" as a surface on which to build a Europe-inspired colonial outpost. Though this led to a stunning "new city," it's important to bear in mind that this colonization was barely a hundred years ago, and there are many people living in the city who lost relatives scarcely one hundred years ago.

Today's Casablanca is a major port and financial center with a rising middle class. It's also a major migration point for the rest of the continent. Citizens of every country in the region find themselves in Casablanca, either permanently or on a stopover, as they hope to find some way into Europe.

Compared to much of the Islamic world, Morocco is fairly progressive. Westerners routinely drink alcohol, which is sold openly. In Casablanca at least, western women can confidently display their hair and not worry overly much about dressing extremely modestly-- but doing so will minimize catcalling and harassment. When visiting mosques, however, men and women alike should have their arms and legs covered.

Moroccan food is renowned all over the world. It is inspired by native Berber cuisine, Mediterranean food, and Arab food. Since Morocco was traditionally a major center of the spice trade, most food is heavily spiced (though only sometimes is it spicy). Moroccan meals are sometimes a bit of a marathon, with many dishes served one after another. Lamb is a staple meat, as is chicken. It's common to eat with the fingers or with bead from a communal dish. Many dishes are served on a bed of couscous. And of course, no Moroccan meal would be complete without a heavily-sugared mint tea.

Healthcare in Morocco is wildly variable. Public health care is quite poor, but private care is passable and affordable. For emergency situations, one should absolutely go to a private clinic. For serious, long-term illness, it may be best to return to your country of origin, or to fly across the Mediterranean to Europe to seek treatment.