Navigating the Souks

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After a decent night sleep I was packing again and headind for Gatwick airport to meet Tania and Debbie. This was my last international trip before heading home in 2 weeks and we intended to have a great time.

It seemed like a terribly long flight of 3.5hrs (which scares me caus I have 36hrs of travelling to get home) and we were exhausted. We were picked up from the airport feeling like millionares after changing pounds to dirhams and headed for our Riad just off the Souks (Markets) in the middle of Marrakesh.

It was a perfectly spotless Riad (Guest House) that had a quaint room for the three of us upstairs. We managed to hit the sack at about 1.30am and rose early to the sound of the local call to prayer. No rest for the wicked and after a breakfast large enough to sink a ship we took our lonley planet map out for a spin. Let me be very clear when i say.....THE SOUKS CANNOT BE NAVIGATED, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE A WHITE FEMALE!!!! We had a ball getting lost for about 4hrs in the alleyways and shops where the only phrases know of the english language where 'Fish and Chips' and 'Chicken and Chips'. Many hours were spent bartering over leather bags, shoes, and all manner of bits and pieces that of course we had to have. We got an absolute bargain and bought three leather ottamans for each of our houses for about £10 each. According to Debbie they are now capable of creating a vortex, so no matter where each of the ottamans end up we will all be in constant contact - I think sun was starting to get to her!

I was very interesting watching the locals begin preparation for their evening meal (called breakfast) which began at around 4pm and at 6.10pm exactly the loud speakers annouced it was time to eat - yup it was Ramadan, the holy month in the Muslim calendar. We had to hit the tourist spots to eat when the sun was up, but we survived.

We tried to see the sights but were more amused with the events happening in the main square well into the night. We ate, shopped, got henna tattoos, avoided the street food and the cobras that were being charmed, jumped on a horse carriage and general drank heaps of mint tea. After 2 days of the intensity of Marrakesh it was time to head out into the country and off we went via 4x4 up the High Atlas Mountains to visit a Berber Village. Our Riad owner was building a hostel about 4 hours out of the city in the mountains and he showed us his progress so far. It was an amazing place of complete subsistence living which was very humbling. We saw a lamb being slaughtered and eventually fed to us for lunch, which no one else could eat.

Overall it was an eye opening trip and on our last night we enjoyed a traditional Tangier of beef with wine before passing out and ready for the flight back home to London the next morning.

So after having unpacked last night and remembered why I love London so much I am finally up to date with my blogs. yeah!

I am off to Manchester on Monday so I will write again in about a week.

Luv heaps
Tania

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Photos

A stunning sunset just before dinner
The Main Square in Marrakesh

Tania getting lost
The iron area within the souks

Snake Charming
From a distance!

Henna Tattoos
Don't worry mum it comes off in 6 weeks!

U-Park for Donkeys
A Souks in the High Atlas Mountains.

Lunch being served
A lovely Berber girl preparing our meal.

The Berber Village
High Altas Mountains

Group Shot
The three world travellers in the mountains.

Comments

[Mum]

Love your photos
Hi WWT I just love the photo of the Berber Girl making your lunch. Where's the one of the kids? Do you have a allergy to donkeys as well? love Mum

[Tan_willy]

donkeys, mules, horses - all the same effect! Needless to say I hate them all really.