This evening we set out for Jamaa El-Fna Square once again for a taste of street food. What was an empty square when we visited it at 10 am, was now full of people 60 or so food booths, each with their own little tables and chairs, and the fabulous smells of fresh food being prepared.
Around the square there were also vendors selling tourist trinkets, ice cream and fruit. And there was a huge section where musicians were playing, women were doing henna patterns on hands and ankles, and there were people with trained monkeys encouraging you to have your picture taken with them, for a fee of course.
There were maybe 10% tourist but mostly it was locals who had dealt with the heat all day and were energized now that the air temperature had cooled off. The whole family unit came out – most usually 3 generations – and there were also groups of young men, and young girls hanging out together as well.
We had some great fried egg plant (and I thought I didn’t like egg plant), and five small kababs of meat and vegetables. Of course we finished with mint tea.
We then had a chance to wander the market for an hour or so before heading back to the hotel. It was an incredible experience. One that will be remembered by all of my sensory receptors.
Nanci and I discovered a roof top bar this afternoon and so after our trip to the square we came up here for a drink and to enjoy the lights of the city. I am sitting a bit apart from the 7 of the group who have assembled and I can hear that they’re discussing the current inhabitant of the White House. Ha! Glad I begged off to finish this blog.
Tomorrow Abdul is excited to show us his part of the world as we will leave the chaos and energy of the cities to head into the High Atlas Mountains and south toward the Sahara desert for our next big adventure. Should be some interesting scenery tomorrow. The driver said not only will we say goodbye to the cities, but also to the highways and good roads. Think I’ll aim for a seat near the front of the bus tomorrow.
Lois' Adventures 