Casablanca’s great central food market lies off the lovely Muhammed V Street. And at its very center is a fish market, with dozens of stalls selling this morning’s catch, fresh from the sea.

They were still setting up the morning we arrived. A recently cut swordfish head stood by the entry. Other fish also awaited their artful placement in the vendors’ displays.

And I do mean “artful placement.” The stalls that had finished setting up were beautiful.

Dan looked at me wistfully and said, “This fish market alone is almost enough to make me want to live in Casablanca.”