Our train departed right on time at 9:35. For $20 CAD each, we found our seats on the Al Atlas line. The stated two-hour and fifty-minute schedule is definitely not the high-speed route. Maximum speed reached maybe 150 kph, but the train mostly coasted at 100 or 120 kph. We were assigned to a six-person compartment layout, squeezing us into cramped quarters with strangers. The true cultural immersion, however, was the relentless noise of un-headphoned telephone calls and app notifications echoing off the walls. Still, it was an experience worth the price of admission. We noted the whole train was surprisingly crowded for a Monday.
The journey eventually fell victim to track delays. Most of the slowdowns occurred within 30 kilometres of the city, costing us nearly an hour. Our arrival at Casa Voyageurs finally happened close to 13:15.
Once off the train, Jay and I dutifully followed the official taxi signs. Naturally, these directions led us to the entirely wrong side of the cavernous station. After receiving an initial extortionate quote of 150 MAD ($22.50 CAD) over there, we proceeded back through the station to emerge at the front side. This started a complex negotiation with a gauntlet of local drivers for a petite taxi to Casa Port. Jay did not just argue with one driver; he took on several. Sometimes, after another blatantly stupid offer, the only viable choice was to walk away muttering. I would have caved at 30 MAD ($4.50 CAD) just to escape the chaos. However, Jay stood firm through multiple attempts. He finally convinced one driver to accept a mere 20 MAD ($3.00 CAD). He still firmly believes it should have been 10 or even 8 MAD, but a win is a win.
We are now checked into our repeat hotel, the Ibis Casablanca City Center. The final leg of our Moroccan trip is settled for the next two nights before Wednesday's Air Canada departure. After dropping the bags, Jay and I headed just across the street to the edge of the medina for lunch at a familiar spot. The atmosphere was entirely different this time. When we were first here nearly a month ago, a national religious break had lulled the metropolis into a rare slumber. Today, Casablanca is running full steam ahead: loud, bustling, and unapologetically itself.
We are currently waking up from a late nap and have not decided how to spend the evening yet. In fact, we are presented with an entire, unplanned day tomorrow before we fly home. "Yay!"
From our hotel window at the Casa Port Ibis Central, room 618 window.