Navigating the Major Cities of Morocco

Casablanca

Casablanca is the largest city in Morocco, and is located on the Atlantic Ocean, as the country’s biggest port. economic and industrial center of Morocco. It’s a good city if you like warm and hot weather that doesn’t change much. A metro and a tram are both under construction, but will not be finished for at least another few years. There is a scenic old town of Casablanca that has lots of mosques, historic landmarks, open air markets and other activities. Some nice neighborhoods in Casablanca are Gauthier and Anfa. Casablanca has a population of over 3.6 million people, and then extends even further with some slum areas. Locals call this city “Caza,” and its ancient name is “Anfa.” It is located in the Maghreb area, and is considered to be the

Rabat/Salé

Rabat is the capital city of the Kingdom of Morocco. It is situated on the Atlantic Ocean, as well as the river Bou Regreg. About 2 million people live in Rabat. There are many textile and food processing factories in the area. There are also many foreign embassies located in this city. There is some culture in the city, such as the Theatre Mohamed V, some galleries and an archeology museum.

Salé is the city outside Rabat, and is home to many poor factory workers. It’s not a huge destination to relocate, as it’s considered to be polluted, poorly planned and ever-expanding. About 900,000 people live in Salé.

Tangier

Tangier is located in Northern Morocco, near the Strait of Gibraltar, which is where the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean connect. Spain is only 20 miles away from Tangier. About 700,000 people live in Tangier. This city has long been a location of diversity and heritage from many cultures, like the Berbers and Phoenicians, and has become a place for many Europeans, Americans and Indians to visit and live. It also has much Spanish and French influence. Several famous Western artists, from William S Burroughs to Tennessee Williams to the Rolling Stones, have spent time in Tangiers. The city is currently going through many stages of development and modernization. Five star hotels, a business district, a new airport terminal and soccer stadium are all in the works. This is likely to change the city a good deal in the future. After Casablanca, Tangiers is the second most important industrial center of Morocco.

Exploring the Cities of Chile

Santiago

Santiago is the capital and largest city in Chile, with a population of 5.2 million. It is one of the most modern cities in Latin America. It is very developed, full of malls and high rise apartments. It has a good public transit system, with the extensive Santiago Metro and the Transantiago bus system. It is a regional headquarters for many multinationals, and an international financial center.

The city lies within the Santiago Basin, between the Andes Mountains and the Chilean Coastal Range. Because of its geographical position in a valley, it holds in air pollution, creating a smog problem. Because the city is often hit by earthquakes, few of the historical buildings have been preserved. There are many universities in Santiago, so it’s full of students. Santiago is a diverse city full of many different districts, such as the hip old district, Barrio Brasil, or the upscale, upper class area, Los Condes. There are various nature attractions outside of the city, including hiking, skiing and hot springs.

Viña del Mar

Viña del Mar means “Vineyard of the Sea” in Spanish, and this city has a population of 286,000. The city does have a local scene, but it is a huge tourist destination that is full of resorts and casinos. It is in the middle of Chile, on the coast. Several universities are situated in Viña del Mar, which range from architectural to Christian colleges. Viña del Mar also suffers from earthquakes, so it is hard to preserve any historic buildings. The city is full of lovely parks and gardens. It is most famous for holding the annual International Song Festival. It is a nice place to relocate if you like a beach town and do not mind lots of tourists.

Temuco

Temuco is located in central south Chile; about 245,000 inhabitants are stationed here. Two famous Spanish poets, Gabriela Mistral and Pablo Neruda both lived in Temuco. The land around the city has many plantations of confierus forests, which are by the foothills of the Andes Mountains. Temuco has a temperate climate, and is on the Cautín River. The constant rain in the winter keeps Temuco from suffering from high air pollution. There is a bus system in Temuco, but no rail system. It is close to many resort centers, and it is a modern city with a shopping mall.