To the Moon then Mars? Or Just go to Mars?

[Sgt.Rocknroll]

There's been a lot of news about Elon Musk and his Starship for a Mars mission with his company SpaceX.

https://observer.com/2019/09/elon-musk-spacex-mars-mission-rocket-starship-prototype/

NASA has plans to go back to the Moon.

https://www.nasa.gov/specials/apollo50th/back.html

What do you think we should do first?

Moon then Mars?

Or

Mars and beyond?

I would think the smart thing to do would be to go back to the Moon.
First build a habitat on the Moon so we can learn all there is to know about living on another celestial body.
Infrastructure would be the key here as to how to generate oxygen, water and foodstuffs. (Not to mention fuel)

Once that is proven, then go to Mars with all that we have learned from our base or bases(?) on the Moon so that the chances of success are greatly improved.

There is also talk of using robotic waystations on the Moon. That way we wouldn't have to worry about oxygen, water and foodstuffs.

Anyway, what do you think?

Rock, 
Edit: Added a Poll for fun... 

[ArMaP]

Moon first.

As you say, it would be the best way of testing the technology and the methods to be used on Mars, where the possibility of a quick rescue if something goes wrong, for example, is out of the question.

Also, that's how we usually do it. During the Portuguese discoveries the ships started by following the coast of Africa, until they developed new ships, able to sail better against the wind, and optimised the navigation methods and tools that allowed them to easily cross the oceans.

[The Seeker]

Definitely moon first 

A moon habitat designed for human occupation needs to provide breathable air, protection from the extremes of temperature, protection from radiation, and provisions for the inhabitants; the moon is only three days journey for resupply as needed, the same for an emergency return to earth

the tech is already available to have the assembly and construction carried out robotically; the moon provides a perfect test bed and it is the logical choice