Journey to Morocco: Explore the Timeless Charm of Casablanca!

In what promises to be a busy year of travel, one of the places I’m thinking of visiting is the North African country of Morocco. Just a short flight—or even a boat ride—from Spain, this historic nation has some of the most intriguing destinations for American and European travelers, especially movie buffs, because one of Morocco’s most famous cities was the scene of one of the greatest movies of all time.

            Eighty-one years ago this week, the Academy Award nominations for films released in 1943 were announced. The top two films, in terms of nominations, were The Song of Bernadette (12) and For Whom the Bell Tolls (9). But the movie that came next, with 8 nominations, is the one everybody remembers: Casablanca. It would go on to win Best Picture, along with Best Director and Best Screenplay. The star of the film, Humphrey Bogart, was nominated but lost out to Paul Lukas of Watch on the Rhine. Nobody remembers Lukas today, but everybody remembers Bogie.

            I’m not a film buff like my husband, but Morocco is also an intriguing destination because of its history and culture. When the French colonized Morocco early in the 20^th century, they envisioned Casablanca as the country’s New York, its international port and economic hub, and the capital of Rabat as its Washington. Since gaining independence in 1956, Morocco has slowly been climbing its way up the scale of preferred international destinations, thanks in part to its close proximity to western Europe, and of course its association with the movie.

            The biggest attraction in most Moroccan cities is the medina, the walled historical center of the city. With labyrinthine streets, quirky restaurants and unique shopping opportunities, the medina of a Moroccan city is often the most interesting place to visit. Many cities are now refurbishing old buildings in their medina and converting them into boutique hotels. Graham Cornwell of the Washington Post recently wrote about his trip to Rabat, in which he described a morning stroll along Rue Bouqroune: “…vendors line both sides of the street, where you’ll encounter half a dozen varieties of mint piled high on little tables, silver sardines on big trays of ice, and beautiful ‘heidi’ eggs still with traces of feathers stuck to them.”

            Rabat also boasts ancient ruins dating back thousands of years, as do many other Moroccan cities. These historical locations, many of them preserved as UNESCO World Heritage sites, tie in well with the country’s many and widely renowned museums and art galleries.

In Casablanca, the medina is smaller than those in other major cities (about 125 acres) and its charm carries the visitor away when you pass through its gates. It’s essentially a large bazaar, where you can get everything from native-made leather goods and rugs to spices, linen, antiques and so much more. In Arabic, the place is known as a souk, which makes it even more exotic.

Where can visitors to Casablanca find Rick’s Café Americain, where much of the action in the film takes place? The movie was filmed entirely in Hollywood, but about 20 years ago, some restaurant entrepreneurs opened Rick’s Café Casablanca near the harbor and right on the edge of the medina. The café’s interior is a faithful replica of the movie set, there’s music and high-end dining, but no back-room casino. Reservations are required, and there is a dress code.

Ready to go to Morocco? Give us a call, and when you get to Rick’s, toast your companion with the classic line, “Here’s looking at you, kid.”