Denise - You had asked how does the Grand Mosque in Casablanca differ from the Blue Mosque in Istanbul? Although I've been to the one in Istanbul several times, I've not seen the one in Casablanca until Ken posted his wonderful photos today. Here is my reaction, for what it is or isn't worth:

We definitely intend to visit the Grand Mosque in Casablanca and take the interior tour. It looks fabulous. The Casablanca mosque is entirely different from the Blue Mosque. The Grand Mosque is in the Moorish style inside, much like the Alhambra, with all of that astonishing plaster work. And it appears to have only the one very tall minaret. It is also quite new.

Istanbul's imperial Mosque of Sultan Ahmet I (called the Blue Mosque because of its interior tiles) was built in the early 17th century and is very much in the Ottoman style with its six delicate pointed minarets and a great cascade of domes.

Thus, the two are extremely different, while each is quite remarkable in its own right.

We eagerly look forward to touring the mosque in Casablanca on CROSS, and then revisiting the Blue Mosque on CAVIAR next year.

Cheers, Fred