🇲🇦 6 Hours in Casablanca: Chasing the Seaside Mosque

A visa-free layover at Casablanca Airport – where every flight seems to require a bus transfer. At immigration, the officer thought I’d gone the wrong way ("Transit is over there"). I grinned: "I’m going into the city!" The train station sits between T1 and T2. Hopped on a rickety train to Casa Port, where the Hassan II Mosque gleamed in the distance. Instead of retracing steps, I veered west past Marina Mall and Rick’s Café (didn’t enter – just admired). Quiet streets unfolded: military zone charm, pastel houses with flowers tumbling over walls, tropical trees hosting white herons. Then, a residential maze leading to the mosque by the sea. 💙 That view! Ocean-meets-architecture always stuns, but here it’s softer – the water like liquid turquoise. Locals kayaked, napped on rocks, waded in. A Fès tourist proudly showed me his mosque selfies after I snapped his photo. 🍽️ Quick fuel at Marina Mall’s Green Black (2nd floor): Gambas Pil Pil: Tiny shrimp swimming in garlic oil (needed more lemon!). Lasagne Bolognese: Cheese lava with pesto whispers. Rich, but the arugula garnish couldn’t cut through – needed acidity! 🚆 Back to Casa Port (trains leave at :50, arrive at :40). Ticket machines took Apple Pay – no cash needed. Almost booked a fancy tagine lunch, but glad I wandered instead. ✈️ Royal Air Maroc verdict: Meh. Survived the 7hr NYC flight, but my spine disagrees. This was my second Morocco trip (first a decade ago). Casablanca’s waves still sound the same. #Morocco #Casablanca #LayoverAdventures #SoloTravel #SeasideVibes 🌊📸