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Discovering Casablanca by Jerry W. Bird As originator of a travel series called Railways of the World, going to Casablanca, Morocco's largest city, by rail was a wonderful way to start off the week and celebrate the new year. We enjoyed the journey so completely that the route from Marrakech (3 hours in total) seemed far too short. However, as we soon learned from the staff on board, visitors can travel between many of Morocco's principal cities by rail. That includes the Northern port of Tangier, a few miles from Spain with its famous Talgo Train service (see notes below). We were on our way to visit Benachir Akli (right) of Olive Branch tours who worked with ATA on the last two great events hosted by Morocco National tourism Board. As our friend will agree, Rail Travel is still one of the most practical, inexpensive and relaxing of all modes on transportation, and this route to Casablanca was a shining example of price plus convenience. We traveled in a modern, first class coach, enjoying the privacy of a 6-seat compartment all to ourselves, with ample overhead storage for luggage and carry-ons. The one way tickets purchased at the counter without reservations were less than $15 in U.S. currency. A simple lunch was served on board, and the price wa nominal. I settled back in the sofa-like seating determined to savor every moment and take in the scenery like a passing parade, which is exactly what it was. The views were varied and unforgettable, from scenes of shepherds and flocks that seemed right out of the bible's Old Testament, to multi-layered desert vistas, lush grassy plains in the foothills country and modern city scapes as we approached our destination. Cattle, sheep and camels grazing side by side was quite different than your typical pastoral scene. Both the Marrakech and Casablanca terminals are clean, well maintained and convenient to taxis and other transportation from the heart of the city (this keeps the stress level low and the pleasure scale high). We were in and out of the railway terminal and on our way by Petite Taxi to the Residence Casablanca Apart'Hotel within a very few minutes of arrival. Quite a change from the average plane trip, where it would takes us that long just to reach the arrivals area to retrieve our luggage. Above photo: Friendly staff to greet you at the Casablanca Appart'Hotel Getting Around: It is now close to a month that we have been visiting Morocco and I am amazed at how easy it is to get around in a city the size of Casablanca. We have found the taxi drivers courteous and knowledgeable, and the prices affordable. I will comment on this aspect later in this series because I had the same impression on my first visit to Casablanca in 2001, when we saw and photographed many of the city's main attractions in a very short time. Much more to come regarding our latest visit to Casablanca. Background info courtesy of the Morrocan Tourist Office Morocco's largest city, Casablanca has a population of over 3 million and is the nation's commercial hub. Being Morocco's hub, it is also the largest port of the Maghreb, a facility that authorities claim has more activity than Marseilles, the French Mediterranean port city on which Casablanca was modeled many years ago. The historic architecture, known as "Moresque," after the Moors, is a combination of traditional Moroccan design with what were at the time the very latest in Parisian styles. Visitors to Casablanca will enjoy the seacoast area with its fine dining spots, the famous Hassan II Mosque, the bustling central market area, the Habous district, the Royal Palace, the Mohamed V square, and the residential area of Anfa. Located near the capital city of Rabat, Casablanca is also the site of Hassan II University. The above photo was taken by Africa Travel Magazine's Editor Jerry W. Bird in 2001 during his first stay in Casablanca.  Where to stay in Casablanca? ..Here is an excellent recommendation ...     Click on the ad above - mailto:chakib@techno.net.ma or go to the web site http://www.residence-casablanca.ma NOTES: About Morocco by Rail ONCF -- l'Office National des Chemins de Fer du Maroc Morocco National Railway Rabat Marrakech Express: "Plus Classe" Casablanca-Marrakech service is AC-cooled, meal-inclusive and takes only 3 hours. Morocco's moden rail system supplements national services with the Al Bidaoui Airport Shuttle to Casablanca's Mohammed V Airport and Extended European Rail Plans for ONCF passengers. E-mail Africa Travel Magazine with your own travel experiences in Morocco or any destination in Africa. For Further information, Contact: USA: Moroccan Tourist Office: 20 East 46th St., Suite 1201, New York, NY 10017, U.S.A. Tel.: 212-557-2520. Fax: 212-949-8148. Web Site: http://www.tourism-in-morocco.com/   CANADA: Moroccan National Tourist Office: Suite 1460, 2001 rue Université, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 2A6. Tel: +1 514 842 8111/2. Fax: +1 514 842 5316. Jerry W. Bird is President of ATA Canada Chapter, Editor and Publisher of Africa Travel Magazine, and Webmaster for the ATA site www.africa-ata.org. He is also Publisher of Air Highways Magazine, the Journal of Open Skies, featuring aviation, tourism, transportation and business worldwide. His career began with the Edmonton Journal Daily Newspaper, and expanded into the full spectrum of media - radio, television, magazines and Internet. He has won international awards for creativity in audio visual and print production.