1st Blog ever - Day 6 Marrakesh

Ok here it is folks, so many of you requested that I do this while abroad, so I am trying this blogging thing out, then you guys can read at your leisure and not be bombarded with constant update emails from me while you all work frantically to forget me.

first forgive my spelling and typos as I am trying to get used to the french/arabic keyboards.

Speaking of french and arabic, LaRue and I speak neither and it has posed quite some obstacles for us but we are managing.

We arrived in Marrakesh on Friday after 4 hours on a very steamy train from Casablanca. Again the taxis were trying to over charge us so we walked for about 25 minutes in the brutal sun towards the Medina. Once inside the faded red walls the atmosphere grew more and more exciting as we approached the famous Djemaa el Fna. (by the way at the time neither of us knew we were getting close) Along the way we stopped at every hotel that did not look swanky asking for prices.

In front of the Koutoubia there was a beautifully tiled staircase hidden amongst the store fronts with a very small sign that read "hotel". Since I was panting for air I sent Rue up to check. When he came back it was in our range FINALLY... and we both climbed the stairs to take a look at the room. I was not shocked to find a row of showers and a toilet outside of the rooms, as my guidebook had already taught me this would be the norm for budget hotels. I asked to clarify and the innkeeper instead of answering showed us another room with a "Douche" inside... no change in price, SWEET! one catch, no hot water until after 6 pm, agreed.

We found out later that it was more like NO WATER roughly in between the hours of about 1pm to 5pm. oh well.

We are happy and content in our tiny little room.

The Djemaa El Fna is a grand spectacle of vendors and performers. Our hotel is only a two minute walk away and after a short rest we headed over. Not even a minute had passed before Rue had 2 snakes wrapped around his neck and was sitting cross legged on the ground with about 4 other men and I was pulled away and my arm was being covered with Henna. All I kept hearing was, "just try - free", yeah right, they get very angry if you dont slip them anything. And of course with the minimal English they spoke it was hard for me to explain that I did not ask for the artwork now on my arm. It is very hard, especially for LaRue to find the balance between not getting scammed out of all our money and being rude. We are getting better though. Every four feet someone is offering directions to another site and then next thing you know they are coming with you or walking in front of you even though you were walking in that direction to begin with... they demand money for being your "guide" we turn to walk another way...

The medina alleys are bursting with color and smells, most pleasing, some not so much. Yesterday we wandered into the Apothecary Souks and discovered caged turtles, lizards, osprey, and uncaged severed camel legs... yikes. I read later these things are used for magic, both white and black.

Back to the square, the first night we watched the sunset from a rooftop cafe overlooking the square and we watched the square come to life with gas lit lanterns and plumes of smoke from the 100 or so food stalls that were not there just one hour earlier. So beautiful, so awesome. We took many photos and sipped on our The de Menthe (tea) that LaRue is in love with, turns out I read later that sometimes the Tea is brewed with absinthe, no wonder he gets all loopy!

Today, our third day in Marrakesh we will venture out of the Medina to Gueliz, the french built city and check out some of the gardens.

Did I mention that it is very hot and shade is hard to come by? Yes I know you are all feeling very sorry for me, I am sure.

Will write again soon... much love,
Yazmin

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