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Published: March 27th 2014
Marrakech
Peacock at our campsiteWeek 4
After a very hot day and evening where we could sit outside drinking and chatting for a change, we woke up to a wet, grey morning! Our guided tour to Marrakesh took us to the Yves St Laurent gardens which had an amazing display of cacti, the Bahia Palace – lots of ornate ceilings and archways and the royal tombs. We then were taken through another maze of alleyways which were a lot wider than those in Fes. There are just so many goods for sale in these souks, it's hard to imagine how they can all make a living. The Jmm El Fnn – Square of the Dead – is the main attraction in Marrakesh, there were musicians, men in traditional costume, snake charmers, men with monkeys, women painting henna designs on hands, people selling tortoises, chameleons and other lizards and lots of other sellers trying to attract our attention. Apparently the area comes alive at night but we decided to forgo the evening trip the following day and had a few drinks and nibbles together on site as a send off for Stuart and Moira who were returning to Spain early the following day.
Marrakech
Yves St Laurent gardens They have both been great company and Stuart has kept us laughing all the way to Marrakesh! Then there were three!
We did go back to the city on the second day to a government run shop where things actually have a price and you can browse without being hassled and we actually bought a rug for our hall. The sun was shining, we managed to fit in another pancake with honey and it was a very pleasant experience wandering around the square. We are getting very good at saying Non merci!
The final stop on our tour was the coastal town of Essaouira. This was a real contrast to the rural and mountain villages and cities we have visited so far. It is a popular tourist destination for Europeans and Moroccans, particularly wind and kite surfers – it's not hard to see why as the wind has been blowing strongly since we arrived. It is also a busy fishing harbour with some of the oldest, most dilapidated fishing boats I have ever seen. There are many fisherman lining the harbour selling some very unsavoury looking fish – Chris said it would give him
Marrakech
Yves St Laurent gardens nightmares! The town has a very busy souk area with a more relaxed selling style than some of the bigger places we have visited. It is obviously a popular holiday destination for Europeans and Moroccans alike and we enjoyed exploring the old walls which enclose an attractive town centre with interesting artisan shops as well as the inevitable food market. We all had a meal at a local hotel on our last evening - some of us had the local fish which was delicious - then we parted company with Hammed who was heading back home the next day for a week or so before he starts his next tour. He has been good company on the road trips and has given us a more in depth understanding of what life is like for a more forward thinking Moroccan from a very traditional village. The final morning we parted company with Andy, Edith and Hendrix who were taking the coast road to travel north. Chris and Malcolm have decided they have had enough of bends and potholes so we are going back towards Marrakech to join the motorway. Then there were two!
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maureen
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I can almost hear the sounds and smell the smells by reading your descriptions a nd looking at the photos. That olive stall is stunning. Remember to get your saffron before you leave! It is all so exotic, so rich and colourful. Life here is quite differently coloured but nevertheless the chaenomeles, magnolias and forsythias are out and so very beautiful, and although the blossom from the winter cherry trees has been blown away or faded we can see little hints of the blossoms on the plum trees beginning to emerge. Two little wrens are making a daily appearance in the back garden and the thrushes are busy at the front. There is definitely a sense of Spring even though it has been quite cold this week. I went on a charity dog walk today, even though I don\'t have a dog. The walk was in Arlesford and was followed by lunch in the huge restored barn with a vaulted roof belonging to Lord and Lady Wakeham very impressive. We were blessed too because it rained before we walked and after when we were having lunch but while we walked the sun shone brightly and it was dry. Happy travelling. I look forward to your next blog.