November 3, 2012 Morocco, Africa

We spent today on a tour to Marrakesh, Morocco. That was an adventure.

The trip to Marrakesh was long, but gave us an interesting glimpse into the everyday lives of the people who live in the rural areas of Morocco.  The land was stark with little vegetation, but we saw many shepherds tending small flocks of sheep and goats, olive groves, and several small villages. 

After a 3 hour bus ride from the port we arrived in Marrakesh known as the Pink City.  

We were taken on a tour of a city park which consisted of lots of olive trees and a coy pond and a burial palace for the kings and their wives – lots of mosaic tile work in the ceilings, walls, and floors.

Next we had lunch at a local hotel in the old city. The architecture was very ornate and the food was very different and very good. During lunch we were entertained by musicians and a Moroccan dancer – a unique experience.

After lunch we were taken to the old medina – the area enclosed within the old city walls. It is a shopping area consisting of many souks – narrow alleyways lined with tiny shops and lots of men, who don’t like to take “no” for an answer, attempting to sell their wares – also an unique experience.

Our last trek was through the Kasbah – a huge open air market with row upon row of stalls and people selling everything you can imagine. The food stands were rampant and the smells delicious. There were also fortune tellers, tooth-pullers, acrobats, musicians, dancers, and snake charmers. Unfortunately we got to spend no time in this area but were rushed through to the bus. Although it was very dark, I did take a picture of the snake charmer and the two king cobras. It wasn’t until I got back and down loaded the pictures that I realized that the four large snakes were in front of the cobras and that I was very close to stepping on them. That raised my blood pressure just a bit.

Anyway, we can say that we have been to Marrakech and have learned a bit more about yet another culture and that is what traveling is all about.

Charli