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Published: June 23rd 2017
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Geo: 31.6334, -7.9996
We travelled by Ryan air from Stansted to Marrakech, on our flight we read newspapers and played scrabble so the 3 and half hour journey passed quickly. On landing at Marrakech there was loud speaker announcement informing us that "we were a part of another successful, on time, Ryanair flight". We had paid extra £10 each for the front seats so we got out quickly and joined the queue to the immigration, having filled our arrival cards on the flight.
After 35-40 minutes of waiting in queues we cleared the customs and we were relieved to see the driver from Riad Abaca Badra waiting for us at the airport which is a great relief in the heat. We chose the Riad Abaca Badra based on Tripadvisor recommendations and they were spot on as the Riad is a real gem in the heart of Medina. We booked directly with the Riad and the communications with Giles was very quick and he arranged the transfer which was great idea as it was our first visit to Marrakech.
Marrakesh, known as the "Red City", is the most important former imperial city in Morocco's history. The city of Marrakech comprises both an old fortified city, the Medina which is noisy, chaotic and an adjacent modern new city which is better organized full of roses, lemon, orange and palm trees.
On our way from airport we saw the gardens, gates to Medina. All the houses are consistent in a red colour. At the horizon you can see the snow-covered mountains of Atlas Mountains. On reaching the alleys, the narrow streets we saw the locals burning carcasses of livestock as it was Eid. We got off at one of the alleys and walked 3 minutes around a quiet alley to the Riad. We were welcomed by Giles and Dominique with Moroccan tea and homemade pasties and Giles gave us many tips about currency, tours and maps. Our room Essouira, on the first floor was spacious and tastefully decorated; the toiletries in the bathroom were of good quality. There was a safe in the room which was very helpful to keep our passports.
We decided to rest and freshen up before our traditional Moroccan meal at the Riad. The hearty Moroccan meal of soup, tagine, desert and coffee was absolutely delicious and great value
for 16 euros each. The Moroccan wine was lovely and it was the best meal we had on our holiday.
The location of the Riad was great just 10 minutes' walk to the main square, but in peaceful quiet alley. - Jemaa el Fna is one of the most famous squares in all of Africa and is the centre of city activity and trade. It has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage site since 1985 and to the one of the most important landmarks in Marrakech, the Kotoubia Mosque with the 70m-tall minaret is a classic example of Moroccan-Andalusian architecture.
We walked to the square and as it was Eid, there were crowds of locals celebrating there with lamps various activities going on. It was very nice to see the vibrant atmosphere with a sensory overload. We walked back and chilled at the roof top of Riad. The roof top was very nice with plants, sunbeds, tables, shaded seating and a hot-tub; we spent most evenings and afternoon on the roof top, relaxing enjoying the sun and the wine.
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