Postcard from Casablanca

With Hassan Hajjaj

In Casablanca, spring doesn’t rush in. The chestnut trees stay bare a little longer, waiting until late April or even May to bloom. But the city makes up for it with colour — the painted building fronts, the soft charm of the canals. This is where you’ll often find Hassan Hajjaj, walking by the water with her dog, Boogie.

“There’s always this vibrant yet laid-back atmosphere around the canals,” she says. “I used to sit there with a book, or share a take-away dinner with my husband. Now, Boogie and I wander the same paths on foot.”

As the season shifts, so does the mood. For Hassan, spring feels like a quiet awakening — a return to the outdoors and to the small rituals she shares with her family. “It’s about coming out of winter hibernation and reconnecting with my neighbourhood, instead of staying inside.”