It’s Thursday, it must be Marrakech

Honestly, the days are starting to all run into each other. Some have been long with travel and others long with amazing activities.

Today we left our hotel in the new part of the city to go by bus, just 15 minutes to the medina (the old walled city with gate openings on various sides) with a local tour guide. He was a fantastic story teller and like the others before him, we learned so much.

Today’s challenge walking through the medina was motorscooters. The land is flat here, with no steps and the alleyways wide enough to allow them to be the main mode of transportation in the medina rather than the donkeys they use in Fes. And they go ridiculously fast down this alleys so one needs to have their wits about them and stay to the right as much as possible, while following the guide, not stubbing your toes on cobble stones, taking pictures and taking it all in. Ha, another day of adventure.

We stopped first to see the Koutoubia Mosque minaret in the Kasbah – a fortified area where administration of the city, armoury and barracks were. It is one of three sister mosque minarets including one we’ve seen while visiting Spain. You can see at the top of the minaret, the pointer indicating east to Mecca.

We walked through more of the winding alley ways, dodging motor scooters to the Saadian necropolis. This complex was hidden from view from when it was built back in the 17th century (I think) until the French took over Morocco in 1917. They were flying over the area and saw the structures covered in brush and dirt, but could tell there was something there. They built a small tunnel into the complex and unearthed this area where Saadian Sultan Ahmed al Monsour Ed Bahb and his wives and children and special people were buried. The guide explained that the bodies were buried on their sides, with the body facing Mecca in their last sign of respect.

We were supposed to visit the Bahia Palace, the King’s palace in Marrakesh which he doesn’t visit very often, but there was an unscheduled closure today for a wedding apparently for a wealthy American. So let me know if you hear anything on the news about someone famous being married in Marrakesh today!

We visited a shop where they sell all sorts of natural spices and healing agents that they have been using for generations. They described each of them and offered back and foot massages, and after all the steps we’ve taken over cobble stones in the last few days I opted to treat my feet. You knew those toenails would put in an appearance didn’t you? The shop did a fine business from our group and it was really nice to buy our spices over a cup of mint tea, in the comfort of this shop instead of in the bustling alleys.

We walked deeper into the medina to a small guest house with an opening to the sky over the courtyard. The guide explained it was like a riad but technically a riad has to have a fountain and garden in the courtyard. None the less it was lovely and cool inside while it was starting to get really hot outside. It was forecast to hit 37 degrees and when you got out of the medina and darkened alleys, you could certainly feel it.

We were ushered into a room upstairs in the riad where we met the wonderful chef who would lead us through preparing our own lunch. Small tajine pots with wonderfully smelling spices were set along the centre of the table along with a cutting board for each of us. After we were properly attired (apron, hair net, gloves) we each got a chance to participate in the slicing and dicing and preparing some part of the meal. I made the eggplant dish, called Zalouk, following her great instructions. It took an hour or so and we made the Zalouk, a cabbage salad, a pepper salad, and chicken tajine. Mike from Australia became known as “chicken chef”, a nickname I fear he will wear for the rest of the trip. Every one was game to do their bit and we had a lot of laughs along the way, and even the presentation was done to perfection.

We retired to the dining room on the main level and enjoyed the rewards of our hard work. One of the best meals we’ve had!

We had the option of staying in the medina or heading back to the hotel for a rest before heading back in to the main square of Marrakesh Jamaa el-fna tonight to sample some street food (from vendors who the guide knows are safe). I opted to head back to the hotel. It was getting really hot and quite frankly I was terrified I’d never find my way out! I’m so enjoying the culture, the food, the history, the food, the people, the food, the smells, the sounds, the food… you get my point. It’s definitely sensory overload, but in a good way. Also makes you appreciate a nap in the afternoon.

So off for a shower before heading out for more adventure. Not taking my camera tonight but may take my phone. So may or may not have more pics to add.