Page 74 - Clipper Cruise Book

The renaissance came with the French protectorate under the
first resident general, Lyautey. He gave Casablanca its public
parks, fountains, wide boulevards and imposing Mauresque

civic buildings.

The Port of Casablanca has no dedicated cruise ship terminal
facilities at the docking pier. From where the ship docks, the
distance to the city center is approximately 1 km (0,07 mi). The
cruise pier is located in an industrial port area and walking
through it isn't that appealing.

Rick's American Cafe opened in 2004. Developed by Kathy
Kriger, a former American diplomat in Morocco, it was designed
to recreate the bar made famous by Humphrey Bogart and
Ingrid Bergman in the movie classic Casablanca. There is an
authentic 1930’s Pleyel piano and As Time Goes By is a common
request to the in-house pianist. Owned by The Usual Suspects
company, this Casablanca landmark is usually described as the
real Rick’s Cafe , finally bringing the legendary “Gin Joint” of
cinema fame to life in today’s Casablanca.

The restaurant is open for lunch from 12:00 noon until 3 pm; for
dinner from 6:30 pm until 1 am. Rick’s Cafe is open 7 days a
week including the month of Ramadan and holidays.

Long before Ingrid Bergman and Bogie made Casablanca a
symbol for romance, the city was famous for intrigue and
mystery. Veiled by overlapping mantles of French, Arabian and
African culture, Casablanca reveals new faces at every turn.

The enormous Hassan II Mosque (holding 70,000 worshippers)
is the new Morocco, while the fanciful Mauresque buildings in
the Medina impart visions of pre-war Casablanca.

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