Nothing Like Hollywood, Casablanca, Morocco, 5th Dec 2006

The port city of Casablanca, the economic powerhouse of Morocco, and the view from our room.

The Hassan II Mosque, which is the third largest mosque in the world, after Mecca's and Medina's. I've lived opposite a mosque for eight years and I haven't seen anything quite like this.

Would you think it plausible that almost everything that decorates the interior was carved by hand?

Chilling by the Atlantic.

I would too, if I had brought a deck chair.

We climbed to the very steeple of an abandoned cathedral, and were rewarded with this magnificent view of the city. The minaret towards the left is that of the Hassan II Mosque.

And oh, I didn't watch the film Casablanca, but it might interest you to know that none of it was filmed here.

This was what we climbed - poorly maintained, almost derelict flights of steps chock full of pigeon dung, feathers and dust.

Modernity lying cheek by jowl to tradition.