Friday

Day 19 ....... Marrakech



Awake at 7 am but no sound of the call to prayer here.   We are 8 km outside of Marrakech on the Casa Blanca road.
Breakfast is bananas and oranges.

There are so many Peacocks wandering about the camp site.



9.30 am  Bus to the government's price controlled shop.  No bargaining here but the prices are higher than expected.  It is a huge emporium full of the most fantastic objects, artefacts  you could ever want to decorate yourself or your house with.  Not just from Morocco but from all Africa. And from China I noticed.  Souvenirs and presents galore.
Walked back to the Medina.  Tried to buy a plant of the 'Retama', sweet smelling white Broom that is on all the cut flower stalls but no luck.

Cokes and burgers at the cafe opposite the Koutoubia Mosque.



1.00pm  Minibus back to camp.   Drove back past the golf course and expensive looking houses and apartments and then through a desert park area with camels here and there to be hired for rides.  Saw two very sweet baby camels, one white.  This must be the 'Palmeraie'.   



Now very hot again. Relaxing by the side of the van in the shade.

5.00 pm  Back to Marrakech for the evening.


Walked around the Medina for a while.  Saw a Snake Charmer, the Monkey Man,  Dancing men dressed as woman - drawing a huge crowd,  a Henna Lady and couldn't resist offering my hand.  She sprinkled some irredescent powder over the wet henna. Very pretty.
















So many orange juice stalls and flower stalls as well as all the hot food stalls.  Such busy, bustling people.  The atmosphere so different from the afternoon. 
As it grew darker we sat with coffee and coke watching the goings on whilst waiting for the others to arrive for the meal that was planned on the first floor of the Argana restaurant over looking the Medina.
The view was terrific as was the atmosphere; noise, lights, drums, music.  Blue bubbles floating up from below which turned out to be a children's toy.


The food was excellent.  Soft delicious omelettes,  melt in the mouth meat tagine,  sliced oranges with cinnamon. Oh those spices.

Walked back to opposite the Mosque and drank tea while waiting for the mini bus at 9.30pm.
This must be the latest night we've had yet.