6th Oct. Marrakesh, Morocco.
We ported in Agidar and by 8am was lining up for my ships tour to the ancient and artisan centre – Marrakesh. It was about 250 ks but so much to see.
Flat, dry and brown, or red, or pink, or orange. The soil is full of oxides so changes dramatically. Adobe (mud and straw) houses are the colour of the area.
Some parts were incredibly arid, other with many Argon trees. There are the ones the goats climb when there is no feed around.
We stopped at a petrol station – 7 buses and three toilets. And a 15 minute stop. After 20 minutes, when the mens line had finished I lead a mutiny and we took over the mens as well.
The Berber villages were so pretty. All traditional – apart from power lines and satellite dishes.
Of course it all changed as we got closer to town.
Once we got to Marrakesh the touristing began.
The Koutoubia Mosque and a stroll up the park. 70 m tall and mandated as the tallest building allowed. It was built in 1162. When it was first built, the muezzin – the guys that climbs up five times a day to do the call to pray – had to be blinded as the minaret overlooked the harem.
The people selling things were out in force and very persistent. But as my hat had committed holiday suicide and jumped ship (well bus) back in HK I was in need of a hat. So I bought one.Took me about 5 hours to realize why the sellers everywhere we went seemed to be even more aggressive and targeted me more then others. It was because I had a sign on my hat saying Marrakesh, or in local speak “this fool buys tourist things”.
Medersa Ben Youssef was built in 1565 and was the largest theological college in Morocco. It had residential rooms for out of town students and the quality of their room was based on grades – and changed each semester.
Bahia Palace was built in the 19th century as a residents for the Sultans adviser in the south. It was a copy of his palace and housed the Harem. It is described as a ‘Peacock’ of a palace and had amazing tile and wood work.
The ceilings were cedar, and the wood is coloured using spices – Tarragon, saffron, cinnamon etc.
Medina Souks are a rabbit warren of alley ways and shops. Fantastic! As well as thousands of locals and thousands of tourists and hundreds of shops, and narrow alley ways – Motor bikes, push bikes, quad bikes and things with big trailers, hand carts and a few donkey carts, roar up and down. Fast. Bumping people out of the way. Amazing.
The main square – Djemaa El Fna – was mental. Many stalls for locals, but very much a tourist area.
Snake Charmers – no wonder the snake rises up when they play their music. Poor snakes are put in buckets of water. There was a big show with many people watching. As soon as you had a good look they chased you for money!
And guys with Monkeys. When I said no I didn’t want to pay for a photo and walked away, one throw a monkey at my head. Poor monkey clambers up and posed for the photo – but i kept walking – wearing a monkey as a hat. Do wish I had the photo. I quiet liked my Monkey Hat.
The life of the donkeys looks hard. They are tiny and cart their loads with no trouble…..but then spend a full day, harness up outside the stall waiting to take it all home again. And I did see some in a paddock – wearing their full harness. Just needed to be caught the next morning and backed into the shafts.
Then the trip back. Lots of people bringing their goats in for the night. And the overloaded trucks started after dark. Hay loads twice the height of the truck and extending well over the cabin and out the back. We did see a number of police blocks. They were targeting overloading today!
We got back to the ship at 9.30. 13 1/2 hour tour. Huge day out. But awesome. Rushed but amazing – everything was done at a jog! We were late. About 45 minutes. Our two buses pulled in…and away went the ship. They even ket the Windjammer open late as four buses of people missed dinner.
Tomorrow the Canary Island…..Horray. We don’t get in until noon!!!!!!
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