Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Marrakech

After a week of hard core traveling we took a more laid back approach to visiting Marrakech. We new that we only had two days in the city, so it would be impossible to see everything and we opted instead to just relax a bit. Our riad had an amazing roof top terrace and we took full advantage.

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During the day we wondered the Medina, bartered for some slippers and a fun basket, and ate at cafes. We also had some amazing street food from the mobile restaurants that set up every night in Place Jemaa-el-Fna. The hustle was everywhere, with every restauranteur wanting you to choose his place but it was really amazing walking the rows between the fifty or so restaurants with bench seating that are completely absent from the main square during the day. The square was completely alive with street performers and orange juice kiosks. The oranges are amazing in Morocco and we had orange juice every chance we got.

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We did stop in at the Ben Yusuf Madrasa, which is an architectural wondering. The former residence for Islamic scholars must have been like a little city in its day, with rooms of different shapes and sizes housing students from very different walks of life.

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We also went to the Dar-Si-Said museum which has a somewhat limited collection focusing on pottery, jewelry, clothes and some weapons, but again has really neat architecture. For examples just look at the  door (above) and the central courtyard (below).



Morocco was not on our list of places that we needed to visit, but now that I have been I would love to go back. And I think that this has taught me something more, that is that no matter how much planning you do, sometimes the best times are when you don't have a plan. This is something I need to live by more often, and the other thing I learned that will improve my life is that I definitely need to travel more.

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1 comment:

  1. Haven't read your stuff for awhile but spectacular pictures. so enjoy reading your adventures. you have a real skill Caroline

    Janie

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