So now Al Queda has hit Morocco, striking four locations in Casablanca. Morocco is an, um, interesting choice because it was considered one of the more moderate, Western-friendly travel destinations in the region. Given the rainbow coalition of targets (a Jewish community center, a Spanish club, the Belgian consulate, and a five-star hotel), I guess the point is to make Morocco less attractive to Western tourists and weaken the king's position the government postponed elections recently and supported the "liberation" of Iraq"). Casablanca is a pretty modern (and unattractive) port city; lots of industry, located near the airport, lots of international connections. I'd guess that also made the city a choice target.
When I read about the attacks, I realized that the hotel in the story sounded familiar...
It's now called the Farah Hotel, but it used to be the Hotel Safir. I'm pretty sure that we stayed there four years ago on our trip to Morocco. Yep, it was our final night there, and I remember looking at the grey skyline with all the other ugly tall buildings, and walking to a cafe down the street where it seemed that Moroccans and tourists of every type were sitting there drinking coffee and being solicited by small boys selling cigarettes. Then we got dinner at this Italian restaurant in the hotel, which, apparently was called Marco Polo, and I had pasta. We were all so sick of b'stilla by then! Actually, we were all just kind of sick, having all picked up some local bug along the way.
I digress. It's just so weird to remember that place, and then see it in the news. I've never had a strong desire to go back to Morocco — it was interesting, but uncomfortable — but since September 11 and the Bush junta, I have felt like I couldn't visit again, even if I wanted to, and that makes me sad. Would we have gone if we thought there was real danger?
