Casablanca, Morocco

Hey all!!

We arrived in Casablanca, Morocco on Tuesday morning. This was our last “working port” of the deployment. We’ve conducted a significant amount of training here so far. Two Firefighting drills, medical training and two live boardings. Additionally, we had a reception on the flight deck, painted 16 rooms in a local school, conducted 3 days of ship tours and had several planning meetings for an u/w exercise. All in all, a very busy week.

However, I did get a chance to head out and take a tour of the Hassan II Mosque. The Hassan II is the 3rd largest Mosque in the world. We got a private tour with a guide that spoke English between prayer times. Muslims are required to pray 5 times a day. 2 times in the morning, once in the morning, and twice in the evening (all based on sunrise/sunset). The Mosque was absolutely beautiful! It had the largest tower of any Mosque in the world at over 200 meters high and at sunset, a green light emanates from the top window in the direction of Mecca. It was built in 1987-93, and they constructed it around the clock, 24/7 for 6 years, all told, 50 million man hours were expended. The Mosque holds 25,000 people inside (20K men on the bottom floor, and 5K women in the balconies on the side). Another 80K can pray on the grounds surrounding the Mosque. Before prayers, Muslims are required to “wash” their mouth, nose, ears, face, hair, elbows and feet. In the basement of the Mosque there are two “washing” facilities. One was in the Style of the Turkish bath. Where there were steam baths and a pool. The other had fountains that prayer goers can used to “rinse” with. Additionally, when entering the Mosque, one has to remove their shoes. They get taken to the exit where you pick them up when you leave.

Inside the great hall, the Mosque was absolutely enormous! I’m positive the whole ship could have fit inside w/ no problems. The ceiling was nearly 60 meters high and could be opened to let air in and ventilate. There was no A/C, so during the summer months you can imagine how hot it might get w/ 25,000 people inside. The ceiling was a made of cedar with ornamental carvings and colorful paint. The walls were made of granite and ornamental plaster. The floors were made of marble and chandeliers were from Italy. With the exception of the chandeliers, all material used to construct the Mosque, all came from Morocco.

Tuesday night, I got to go out to the Seaman’s Institute Center. It was a guarded safe house for international mariners and foreign Navies. There was a bar, tv’s, free wifi, and good American food there. Everyone had a good time. One of the guys in the wardroom had his birthday party there. Last night, I went out w/ Joe and the XO. We went to the Hyatt hotel and had some drinks at the hotel bar. There was live Jazz and the Saxophone player there from Kentucky…small world. Then we went to a Moroccan restaurant there too. The food there was amazing! Probably the best food I’ve had on deployment. We had Kous Kous, Chicken Taboli, and Roasted Lamb. All in all, we had a good night.

Tonight I’m heading to the Consulate General Quarters for an American BBQ and some drinks. We’ll probably mingle w/ the foreign service officers, then head out to the Seaman’s Center. Should be a good time.

Our next port visit is our last of the deployment. We’re under 3 weeks till home now, and I couldn’t be more excited to be heading home. Life will definitely different when I return. When I left Azzy was still pregnant, and we were travelling back & forth between two separate states. Now I’ll return to Norfolk to greet my beautiful wife, handsome son and all the rest of the family!! I cannot wait to be home!!

-J.R.