October 17 Marrakech Morocco

Out for coffee again early this morning. Back to same little place. The young guy knew what coffee I wanted. He tried to teach me a new word, I think, but I have no idea what it was. The old guy beside me was discretely filling a pipe. He had done the same thing yesterday. I could not smell what it was but he later told me it was cannabis! Too funny. He finished, jumped on a bike and was off.

Breakfast at riad and then off to catch the free walking tour of the city that came with my bus ticket yesterday. The tour started with 6 people but we picked up another couple later on. A German and Spanish couple to start and then an Italian girl and a Spanish girl. It was good. A trip through parts of the medina. We stopped at the medersa Ben Youssef. A Koran school. A huge place that housed about 100 boys. 2 full stories with the first story the courtyard and prayer room, and the 2nd story the rooms. 2 boys to a room. Amazing as this place is not far from my hotel. It took me 20 minutes to walk directly to the meeting place. The tour took 10 minutes to get to the medersa! I guess it pays to know your way around.

Generally a good tour but like all, we had to first see the workshops and then the 'cooperative' where we could buy the goods produced. The 'real goods not like the China market in Place Jemaa El Fna (the big square)'. Too funny. As usually not much time with the 'how it is done' and more time with 'now you can buy'. So much for 'no shopping'!!!! All interesting stuff but...... The tour itself was about 1 hour with an equal amount of time for the shopping. After the leather and metal works off to the almond oil

Does this count as selfie

factory. This time 2 seconds, 'this where the ladies grind the nuts' and off to the show room. There was at least 5 floors of showrooms, and about 20 guys hanging around. They had oils that would cure everything! Soon as we said we had enough, they could not get us out of there. Funny as the Spanish couple took off, the German couple and I were rushed back to the starting point, as the Italian and Spanish girls were shopping for oils! He was going back. To get his commission no doubt.

I stopped for lunch and then for coffee as it started to rain. It came down pretty good for about an hour. I then headed off for the Palace Bahia. A huge palace that has been restored. Very nice. I ran into the German couple again. They were here for a long weekend. I then went to the Palace Badi. This one is still in ruins with mostly just walls. Apparently the marble was taken to build the palace in Meknes. Storks now inhabit the palace. Very interesting. They also had on display the minbar (the altar) from the La Koutoubia mosque. A huge wood piece that was used for about 500 years. This one made in Spain and was special as the doors opened to revel the minbar

automatically. That part was not shown.

Back to riad for a rest and then out for dinner. This time at a small little place I had passed by a few time. The guy wanted to get me a tagine but I said too much tagine! He just laughed and that was the joke the whole time I was there. He served by cheeseburger by calling it a tagine! All good fun!


October 16 Marrakech Morocco

Awake early this morning, even after there was someone yelling at the door at 1 am for Mohamed!
Breakfast not until 8.30 and now 7.30 and I am ready to go. So I head out in search of coffee. I find a small place open just down the street. Young guy knows an americano and makes a good one. My chair is outside, it is a bit chilly, on the side of the road, at a fairly busy intersection. I am in the medina so the streets are fairly narrow. There is a lot of cars, motorbikes, bikes, pedestrians, donkey carts, and buses going by. The catch is the I do not dare stretch out my legs or they would get run over by one of the above. Amazing place for a 'quiet' morning coffee!

Breakfast at riad and then off to the main square area. I end up on the hop on hop off bus They have 2 circuits, Historical and Oasis. I rode them both. The Oasis trip went through many date plantations, each one with a group of camels waiting for riders. This tour also went by a very expensive looking development. There were not many people around, not even on the golf course. The historical trip spent most the time in the new city.

It did go by at a couple of gates. Interesting as there were not many people getting off except at the circuit exchange place or the by the large minaret, La Koutoubia. The historical tour went by many fairly new looking hotels and some abandoned ones.
It looks like there are many plans for building new places.

I went into the Place Jemaa El Fna, a very large square. Many restaurants on the perimeter and a many snake charmers. Cobras and rattlesnake looking ones. Creepy. At one point one of them was 'running' away! Damn, not what I wanted to see.

Had a rest and then headed back for dinner. I went to a restaurant with a terrace overlooking the square in front of the La Koutoubia. Very busy place and the best part was the sunset was amazing!

I then went back to Place Jemaa El Fna square. The place was packed with people. Overload on sight, smell and sound. Lots of people, many portable food stalls, and musicians playing everywhere. It was difficult to separate the music!
Back to riad, enough for one day.


October 15 Marrakesh Morocco

I was on the 11 am bus for Marrakesh. A very scenic drive up and over the High Atlas Mountains. The rocks were very red and were showing many layers. We did go by a hydroelectric dam. The lake was not very big and the water level was very low. This makes sense as it is the end of summer and there is not much rain during the summer. The land is very dry, rocky and mostly barren. There are a few trees, the desert ones I think. The trip itself was only 3 hours. The bus made 1 stop, after about 2 1/2 hours. Why I am not sure when such a short drive after.

riad door and street

The bus station for Supra is right behind the train station. Apparently they are the same company. It is is the new city. My hotel, or Riad is in the old city. I caught a taxi and he dropped me off in a parking lot in the old part of the city and pointed me in the direction I needed to go. It was down this narrow street, no cars, but I had to watch out for the motorbikes! He said it was only 5 minutes. I hit this low ceiling over the road.... wondering what I

inside riad

have done to myself. Decided to turn around and ask. I was just a few steps from the riad. The door is very nice, but the street is narrow and empty. But wow when the door opens. The place has a very nice courtyard and a small dipping pool in the middle. Total contrast to the outside. But this is what houses and riad are here apparently. This is my first.

I was starving so I headed off to find some food and stopped at the first restaurant I found. Turns out that today is their first day of operation. About 5 guys running around and all over each other. Interesting to watch. They are working out the bugs. And buying the missing items. It seemed someone was running off to the store to buy something every few minutes. I asked for a Schweppes Citron, my drink of choice and they were about to send someone off to buy but I stopped them! Too funny, they would not say they did not have it, they just go get it so they do! The food was pretty good.

I then headed off to find a pharmacy. I needed some cough medicine as I coughed most of the night. Found one, and ended up with some strong cough syrup and some anti antibiotics (amoxicilline 1g in powder form)! Amazing as the pharmacist just gave them to me. It cost about $25.

I then went for a walk, I needed to find a map of the city. I ended up at the Mosque La Koutoubia where I found a map in a nearby shop and also stopped for coffee. This is the tallest minaret at 77 metres. Built in the 12 century.

I headed back to the hotel and there was no one there! And I did not have a key to the outside door. So back to the new restaurant for some water. Then headed back to hotel. They were not going to give me a key, but I got one anyway, especially after I said I was there and no one answered the door.

Tried the internet but very very very very slow! Google home page has not loaded after 20 minutes. The worst I have seen.... so i headed out for dinner. I was not up to walking far so went back the same new restaurant. Too funny! Hand shake and welcomed in. The meat (beef) and vegetables were really good. The beef was excellent in flavour and tenderness. The skewers for lunch were a bit tough, but tasty!
Back to hotel and to bed I think!